my son’s teacher is a pusher | ADHD Information

It' s a teachers responsibility to report a set of behaviors which they feel are interfering with the child's ability to learn properly. ADHD is not an academic problem but academics can become an issue by 3rd grade as things get more abstract and students are expected to work more independently.

Some are of the belief that ADHD is a school problem only but in reality, if the child does have ADHD, the limitations are vast because it affects every area of life. Children with Inattentive type ADHD don't normally have behavioral issues in school but the Inattentive type can also have a major negative impact in all areas of life as children get older.

A teacher is not an expert in the field of diagnosing childhood disorders and it is extremely negligent of one to do so as well as suggest medication. However, the school is correct in that ADHD medication is very safe but I guess they forgot to include that it is safe when taken as prescribed and administered by a doctor who is trained in the field of diagnosing and treating childhood disorders. They are not addictive when taken as prescribed and if they were so many adults wouldnt forget to take their medication at times. The body would crave it and therefore remind them.

 If a parent is taking a child to a pediatrician who in fact is not an expert in the field of diagnosing and treating childhood disorders of such nature expect that many pediatricians will in fact just write a prescription. If the parent suspects that something is not right with the child it is their responsibility to first take the child for a full medical to rule out a medical condition and if that is ruled out proceed to take the child to a child psychiatrist or a neurologist who can in fact give an accurate diagnosis and effectively handle med management.

Every parent knows their own child and regardless of what others say, the parent knows if the child is having struggles out of the norm but only a qualified physician can identify the reasons for the struggles. Non professionals try to make an educated guess based on similarities but true professionals make a determination based on the distinctions between the disorders, not similarities. Many things may look like ADHD to a non professional but in fact it could be something different or far worse. The child with Inattentive type ADHD may be overlooked for some time because there are no behavioral issues. The parent is in charge and no one can treat the child for anything unless the parent gives consent to do so.

Parents that do have children with ADHD who choose medication to treat the symptoms do not drug their children. The children are not drugged up. The medication allows them to focus so that their true abilities could be unleashed.

You know your child best and if something arises in the future that gives you cause for concern, you always have the option of having your child tested. Good luck!

my son seems to me like a normal little boy. I really don't think and my family
and freinds don't think he has ADD. I was going to take him to a  speicalist and
see, but since he has been in this new school I haven't had any problems. He even
wants to go to school now. I believe that alot of children, more boys than girls are
being
misdiagnosed, because the behavoral is sometimes just being a boy.
I am just shocked at how easy it was for me to get drugs. I could have  be a addicted
and wanted them for myself. Some of these doctors that are giving out these drugs d
barely know anything about ADHD
my son is not hyper. His teacher said he couldn't focus on his school work so he
was add. I think she was just a very boring teacher.

If you do not feel your child has ADHD, then why would you medicate him? It seems you must be somewhat concerned as you are here and reading and seeking some answers. If you are unsure of or if there is a diagnosis, can I suggest a GOOD neuropsychological evaluation. Then discuss where to go with it from there. How/if your child is treated is you as the parent's decision. As is how any/all childrens path of treatment goes, it is up to the discretion of their parent.

Good luck to you, it can be overwhelming to sort it all out. I'm sure you will do what is best for your child and your family.

[QUOTE=redhairlady]My son's second grade teacher called me into her class after 2 weeks and
told me that my well behaved child who is passing very test given  has a major
problem... He is daydreaming alot and isn't getting is work sheet done on time in
class and that I should consider putting him on medicine (Ritalin)..that he will not make it
thru the second grade if I don't address this problem.
OK, hold the phone here....When did teacher become quaified to diganosis medical
disorders???  She tells me he had ADD and I should go see his doctor. So, I go
to the doctor and he writes a prescrition out for Adderall without proper diganosis..
do you see where I am going with this?? what is happeining here? I am furious about this.. If my child has ADD or ADHD it is news to me. When I ask my son what was going on in class, he told me she was pushing him to hurry up and decribed to me what appeared to be an anxiety attack. (heart beat fast, breath hard, really hot face and that is when the tears came)
Well, let me tell the converstation between his teacher and I was not a good one atfter that . right??  I WENT OFF!!!
The school is telling parents that their kids have ADD and that these drugs are
very safe and non-addictive. LIES!!!
there should be only 5% of school age childern who suffer from this and that percentage is quaidtriple of the kids that are medicated for this just in my son's
school. THIS IS A OUTRAGE!!
I am not saying he doesn't have it, I'm saying that I'm expected to treat him without even knowing that he has it... The is becoming a trend here where I live
and i am sick about. The teacher are putting pressure on our kids and on the parents to drug our childern.. I pull my son out of that school and he is going to a new private school now and so far no problem...
[/QUOTE]

 

I would gently remind her that she has Violated Federal Law by mentioning ADHD, and/or meds. AND ask WHEN she got her Medical License, because I was under the impression that an ADHD diagnosis can only be made by a  DR.

Also, studies show that at least 1 in 5 kids have ADHD. It is very possible your son has one of the forms of ADHD, and you won't know without an accurate diagnosis by a Psychiatrist, NOT a pediatrician.

edbson39337.7476851852My son's second grade teacher called me into her class after 2 weeks and
told me that my well behaved child who is passing very test given  has a major
problem... He is daydreaming alot and isn't getting is work sheet done on time in
class and that I should consider putting him on medicine (Ritalin)..that he will not make it
thru the second grade if I don't address this problem.
OK, hold the phone here....When did teacher become quaified to diganosis medical
disorders???  She tells me he had ADD and I should go see his doctor. So, I go
to the doctor and he writes a prescrition out for Adderall without proper diganosis..
do you see where I am going with this?? what is happeining here? I am furious about this.. If my child has ADD or ADHD it is news to me. When I ask my son what was going on in class, he told me she was pushing him to hurry up and decribed to me what appeared to be an anxiety attack. (heart beat fast, breath hard, really hot face and that is when the tears came)
Well, let me tell the converstation between his teacher and I was not a good one atfter that . right??  I WENT OFF!!!
The school is telling parents that their kids have ADD and that these drugs are
very safe and non-addictive. LIES!!!
there should be only 5% of school age childern who suffer from this and that percentage is quaidtriple of the kids that are medicated for this just in my son's
school. THIS IS A OUTRAGE!!
I am not saying he doesn't have it, I'm saying that I'm expected to treat him without even knowing that he has it... The is becoming a trend here where I live
and i am sick about. The teacher are putting pressure on our kids and on the parents to drug our childern.. I pull my son out of that school and he is going to a new private school now and so far no problem...

redhair, I can completely commiserate with you.  Although my son's second grade teacher handled it much more tactfully, it sounds, my experience was pretty similar.  Two weeks into the school year, she called to tell me my son was having trouble completing work and sitting quietly and still.  She was a very experienced and wise teacher, so she had observed him closely and gave me a concrete list of the behaviors she was seeing in the classroom.  I told him I would talk with him about this at home, which I did.  The problems continued, so the teacher called me and my husband and asked for a conference.  She was fully prepared at the conference, with another list of observed behaviors and some samples of incompleted work.  She told us that she had an adult son who had been diagnosed with ADHD as a child and that she thought we ought to have our son evaluated.  (She did not attempt to diagnose him herself, however, and expressly stated that she was not qualified to make a diagnosis.) 

Unlike you, we had suspected for some time that our son might be ADHD.  But, his grades had been good and his teachers silent, so we had concluded we were overly sensitive parents and he was an ordinary kid.

Of course, we did all the internet and library research most parents do when they realize ADHD might be in the picture.  I learned about the diagnostic criteria and the debates about whether or not to medicate.  We made an appointment with a very well-respected psychiatrist and brought our son thinking this would be the first step in a thorough evaluation process.  We walked out an hour later with an ADHD diagnosis and a perscription for Focalin.  I was stunned.  I didn't actually think he wasn't ADHD, but I was truly dismayed to find the diagnosis and the medication being handed out on such slim evidence and in a way that was inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria.  I was concerned enough that I made an appointment with a second psyciatrist for a second opinion.  He agreed with the first doctor.  My pediatrician, on learning of my concerns, said that he would not question this psychiatrist's diagnosis because he had such a stellar reputation in the field nationally.  But, I couldn't understand how such a highly regarded expert wasn't even following the diagnostic process.  He labled my son and gave him strong medications without having seen any information from his school (or anywhere else) and without having us fill out any rating scales.  He spent roughly 20 minutes talking with us and 20 minutes talking with my son and wrote out the prescription.

I was, and still am, truly appalled, despite the fact that I concur with the diagnosis in my child's individual case.  But my opinion is based on a lot more information than the psychiatrist's.

Since then, we've had a very expensive neuropsych evaluation that confirmed that he is a normal, bright kid with attention problems.

I don't know whether your child is ADHD, but I would trust your instincts on this.  If this possibility is coming like a flash out of the blue, it may not be ADHD and I'd get a second opinion, preferably from someone who will collect all the necessarily information before making it.  One of the fundamental hallmarks of ADHD is that it affects the child in more than one sphere of his life.  So, if he's having trouble at school, but nowhere else, it probably isn't ADHD.

My school won't even mention the words ADHD/ADD. I have asked if they could let me know if his meds need a increase(due to observation in school by his teacher) but they refuse.

I would never go by what a teacher says. That is like believing what hollywood has to say about politics!

I also can't believe that the pediatrician would just write a script for a med, mine wouldn't!

We had an extensive Neuro Psych evaluation that lasted hours in order to diagnose. Then we waited almost 2 years before we even thought about medication.

Once he was struggling socially in school, it was time!

 

Our experience is more like Bethann's. The school evaluated my youngest for learning disorders and set up an IEP and behavior plan to help her in school. ADHD was never mentioned. She went into anxiety and depression and wanted to die so we took her to a psychologist. She helped ensure our parenting was right for our daughter and that we were using a good behavior modification plan for home and school. With further evaluations, the doc referred us to a child psychiatrist for final diagnosis (there was a question about bipolar and other co-morbids).

Teachers should never diagnose and should be reported for doing so. Their observations are important for reporting behaviors and learning difficulties and working with the special ed team for any accomodations and help needed to increase success.

Hi redhairlady, and welcome to the board.  I would figure that you're probably here because although you don't feel your son has ADHD, you don't want to ignore what the teacher has said, and want to learn more about it.  I agree that schools are way too fast to want to whack kids onto drugs. I had major pressure from my son's school last year to put him on drugs. I ignored this and decided to treat him with diet, which is working.

From what you say though it could be the inattentive type (ADD), only a doctor would be able to tell you, so it would be a good idea to take him.  But remember, even if a doctor does diagnose it, it's still your choice how to treat him. The doc will advocate medicine, but there are ways of treating this by diet too.  Fish oil is helping my son tremendously for example.

Just my 2c worth.

hmmm i am not sure if someone else mentioned this or not, but isnt it against school rules for a teacher to suggest medication to a parent? I was told a few years ago that a teacher is not allowed to suggest meds to a parent, i was told by Codys kindergarten teacher who was also my friend that if it got out she suggested it as a friend that she would lose her job.I am not against take him to a proffessional. You are right, I came here to
learn more about ADD because  If my son does have it I want to know
everything about it. I went into the school knowing nothing about it. The teacher
told me to go to his regluar doctor and that is what happen. I'm shocked at how
easy it was for me to get  drugs. The doctor never even talked to my son.
What I am finding out is that alot of people were I live here are using this drugs for thier children. They don't even know anything about add adhd. They do it because
the teacher are telling them to do it.

redhairlady, you know your child better than anyone else. You also care about him as well.

Please take him to a professional who diagnosis ADHD, not a teacher or a pediatrician.

My ped. told me that he is here to help my children get better, fix any broken bones, etc BUT has NO training or experience with ADHD or other disabilities.

He would referr us to specialist, and listen to me talk, but didn't really have the background in the field.

Our psychopharmacologist, who the pediatrician referred us to, knows about depression, bipolar, autism, aspbergers, adhd, opposional definace, etc and can prescribe meds for these disorders. He also helps with therapy if old enough and wanted.

You first need an accurate diagnosis. Your son may NOT have ADHD!!!!!!!!!

Remember, these meds. needed only by those who are professionally and correctly diagnosed, like my son, leave there bodies within hours.

We are on concerta so it leaves around 10 -120hours after taking, but his behavior is still better after it has left, like on a late night friday night. Mornings are still tough this is when he acts immature and years behind his age and intellect!