Assessment | ADHD Information
We had our preliminary assessment yesterday. The initial dx is ADHD (inattentive) and ODD. We will have an appintment with the councilor soon. Yesterday was good/bad all at once. Good because at least now I have someone who's in a position to help me on my side. Bad because now my kid has a "label". It almost makes me feel like a failure as a parent. I hate that it's that way but even some of my family doesn't believe she is ADHD because they "don't see it" when she's with them. I don't know if medication will be the answer for her but if that's what's recommended, I'm willing to try it. I want her to be successful in school and in relationships so we'll do what we have to do to make that happen. I'm so glad I found you guys on this board because it makes things a lot easier knowing I'm not alone in this.
That is one of the hardest parts of dealing with the ADHD - we too have family members who say "if only you could make her listen" and other comments that make me feel like a bad parent - it is very upseting when your own family doesn't stand behind you - and don't even get me started on strangers and their comments! Hang in there - you are not a bad parent and you are defintely not alone!
My daughter is 6 1/2 and starting 1st grade.
Thanks for the encouragement 
thats right you are not alone..by far" how old is your daughter?
you can send reply back to my private email if you like"
stay_cee_d@yahoo.com
ASSESMENT!What exactly do they do at this Assesment? Do they ask the child or parents questions? Do they do any tests, etc. to the child? I am sorry for sounding ignorant to the whole ADHD matter, I really do not know & just trying to gathe rinformation.
Which type of professional performed the assessment? Do you feel the results are accurate? Has your child ever been seen by a NeuroPsych? I feel for you
[QUOTE=GLORIA7769]ASSESMENT!
What exactly do they do at this Assesment? Do they ask the child or parents questions? Do they do any tests, etc. to the child? I am sorry for sounding ignorant to the whole ADHD matter, I really do not know & just trying to gathe rinformation.
[/QUOTE]
Ok, I'll start with answering this one. The "assessment" was at a counciling center. We're starting there. As soon as I can get some back up from someone to go to my doctor with, we'll get a referral to someone else. We are on state insurance so have to play by a few of their rules. So far, our family doctor has just told me "it's just her age, she's just a normal 4 (or 5 or 6 now) year old. I'm sorry, I have friends who have 6 year olds and none of them got calls from the principal's office twice in one day to discuss their kindergartener!!!
Ok, the assessment took about 2 hours, which just about killed Kaylee. 
The lady was very nice and had some toys and stuff for her to play with and did include her in some of the stuff by asking her questions like "Who do you think cares about you and loves you" to get an idea of who she sees as her support system. Another question she asked was something like "do you have things at home that you are supposed to do or help with like chores?" to see what kinds of things she sees as her responsibilities. They asked me a ton of questions to get a feel for what it's like in our house and what kinds of things she does at school. She actually left the room with her sister to go to the bathroom and the lady asked me if there was anything I felt she should know but couldn't really say in front of Kaylee. There was a list of questions that she read from and said "Only say "often" if she truly exhibits this behavior most of the time. The list of questions for ODD was a little scary how "right on" they were about her. 
There was one for the ADHD (inattentive) that my older daughter and I were kind of in disagreement about but all the rest were right on.
Ok, this is long enough for now but if you have any more questions, feel free to Private Message me and I'll tell you whatever else I can.
I'm sorry. But you're definitely not a failure, although I remember feeling that way. I knew there were several people in my family who had ADHD (a brother, possibly my father, at least two of my brother's three kids, at least one of his grandkids). But for some reason, I didn't think my kids would have it, because I don't and my sister and her two girls don't.
I always knew my son was hyperactive, but his behavior problems didn't start until after my daughter was born three years ago. So at first, I was thinking the behavior problems were more prominent and there was no ADHD. But it seems like the impulsivity is the kicker these days. When they're really young, it can be difficult to tell what exactly it is, but the interventions are the most helpful when the children who need them are young.
Hang in there.