Need Help re: 12 Yr Old Daughter | ADHD Information

Diane - What med are you using without side effects?

 

 

StratteraThe Connors does not mean a diagnosis, or ADHD, you need to have an evaluation done with a Neuropsychologist for a comprehensive evaluation. I'm pretty bummed out tonight.  My daughter is in 7th grade and struggles significantly with school.  She always has - since first grade.   It has taken up 6 long  years to get her tested for learning disabilities or associated disorder.  It took a letter from my pediatrician urging the school to do this.  Anyway, I have a follow up PPT meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the findings - which were emailed to me this afternoon - 14 pages of clinical information.

It tells me that my daughter is highly intelligent but she suffers from inattentiveness, anxiety, and memory sequencing events. The ADD/ADHD Connor's assessment was completed by 6 individuals, wherein one teach reported zero issues - all other resported findings of ADD and ADHD behaviors.

The report says to seek medical evaluation - which I will no doubt do first thing Monday morning...but in the meantime, does anyone have children with this that can tell me what to expect - what will happen - will they treat her for all of this, what will the school do for her?  I haven't told my daughter about the findings - I don't know what to say to her.  I don't want her to feel badly.  she keeps asking to read the report but I won't let her.  thanks.hmmm weird, he doesn't mention that in his evaluation.  I guess I should touch base with our pediaitrician on this.  I know that the pediatrician had the school fill out another ADD/ADHD assessment type form but the school didn't like the questions being asked, so the MD couldn't diagnose her one way or the other.  the school recommended the Connor's assessment as another means.  No one has mentioned a nueropsychologist - our ped's office just has an assessment filled out and if it looks like add/adhd, they start meds.  Should I be concerned about that?  Sorry for my ignorance, but I don't know very much about this.  Thanks.

who did the evaluation that gave you a 14 page report. it probably was a neuropsychologist. It sounds to me like they've already given you the answer. She sounds a lot like my daughter, who also is inattentive and anxious (with a couple of other issues). School isnt going to suggest anything. Did they do academic testing? Look in the report, you need to see if she at grade level or behind. If they have not done academic testing tell them you want it done. In the meantime start researching so you can start to think about what she needs. Wrightslaw and ADDitude (magazine, online option) have GREAT classroom modifiation ideas. Medication will come up, so start thinking about it and researching..................good luck, keep reading, the begininng is the hardest!

I can feel for you, I alos have 7th grader who generally struggles A LOT. we're having a good year this year, but we found a medication that finally works without side effects and she has a LOT of school support and a wonderful special ED teacher this year.

The evaluation came from the school psychologist - his credentials after his name say:  M.Ed.,C.A.G.S..  His report indicates that we should seek medical guidance from the pediaitrician regarding the identified issues.  They did do the academic testing - it took about a month of all sorts of tests.  I have the results of everything they did.  She shows as on grade level for most everything - the report states (and he told me on the phone also) that she is extremely bright - but has academic issues where she spends hours doing homework then doesn't turn it in, freaks out when given a test so she fails it, can't organize herself.

Then yes go to your pediatrician and go from there. They may or may not suggest mediciation, my guess is they will, and IMO I'd ask for a psychiatrist referral, especially with the ADHD/anxiety combination, if you are going to choose that route. At your meeting Tuesday see if you can get some accomodations, like extended homework time, taking tests in pieces or in a separate classroom so as not to be distracted. Organizational help is very difficult. It's taken us YEARS to get something that works even most of the time. WE have more folders than anyone. We have 2 sets of books, one for home, one for school. If she gets a book for a book report, sometimes I get a second copy so she can leave one at school, and have one at home. Their school uses an agenda book which helps us to now what homework was supposed to beonde. This way I can double check the agenda and what she has and make sure she gets it in the folder.

Good luck!