Is ADHD "real" to teachers? | ADHD Information
Teachers cannot "diagnose" ADHD or even to tell a parent to take their child to a doctor, but we can find ways to suggest it. As a matter of fact, teachers have the responsibility to refer students for Special Ed testing if we feel they may qualify for special sevices....then the school psychologist, who CAN mention ADHD steps in from there.
As a teacher, though, I work hard to develop a really good rapport with my students and their parents. I make sure that each parent knows that I genuinely care about each child's well-being. Then, when I mention "symptoms," parents will often feel comfortable enough to ask me if I think it may be ADHD, etc. AT that point, I can answer their question by saying that I am not a doctor, but from what I have seen..an evaluation would be a good idea. I also make it WELL KNOWN that my own son has ADHD and that it is NOT a BAD thing! I know of other teachers who do the same...most of them have someone close to them with ADHD..but there are teachers...who have no experience with ADHD and who want no experience with ADHD...they are the ones who give us all a bad name!
I'm sure you remember, many years ago there was this "push" (real or imaginary) to put kids on ritalin for ADHD. Nobody talks about ADHD anymore. I don't see teachers taking ADHD seriously. They just complain about the "lack of organization or focusing" by the kid like it's just a behavioral/parental problem. Do you think they really see it as a disability? Now with all the focus on Autism, has ADHD taken a back burner?
I think that it is more than putting it on the back burner. It is probably that there are now so many children with adhd now. There are probably atleast 2 or more special children like ours in each classroom, making it harder on todays teacher. It wonder if it would be easier to put a group of special children in a class with a teacher and a couple of aides to allow for more one on one time, huh something to think about. I might make our kids feel segregated.I think teachers (myself included) are aware that ad/hd is out there, but sadly there isn't much we are allowed to do about it I'm also not sure that even teachers have the true understanding of ad/hd. Thus, meaning there is not the adequate training being provided to keep up with the children we are working with. I am an adovocate for our children, mine included, when a fellow teacher speaks up about ad/hd. I often try to provide tools to my friends and co-workers on how to work with a student.
Being a parent of a child with ad/hd, it makes it even more of an emotional thing for me when I see a child that has the characteristics of ad/hd and I can't say anything specific to a parent. Now if the parent ask me point blank my opinion I can say what I have observed. The sad thing about this whole thing is that unless the parent is truely wanting help for their child some of these children never receive the help they need. Too many parents are listening to the news vs. making their own educated decisions about their child.
I think that until society in general starts seeing that this is definitely a "problem" and educates teachers, parents, etc. , we won't see anything different. I'm fortunate to work for a principal that believes in the ad/hd situation and she periodically will send out articles to teachers on the topic. We have to start educating individuals on a regular basis if we are going to make any real significant difference for our children and the children of the future that have ad/hd.
YES, they know. When they say your child has a "lack of organization or focusing" --- they are diplomatically telling you to get your child evaluated for ADHD. The parent either tunes in or they don't.I don't think teachers take ADHD seriously, and I think that is because they lack the knowledge of what ADHD really is. I think it should be MANDATORY for teachers to get adequate education on ADHD.
I also think that teachers use our ADHD kids as the kid they push all the blame on to. My dd takes the brundt for things that other kids do too. It's really annoying.
I agree that some teacher believe in it and some don't. Get one who does not and what a terrible year. Kind of like family.lol I have family members who don't and it is not pleasent for any of us.
This year my son has a teacher who has it and it is the best year he ever had. She is so understanding and helps them to organize themselves, Maybe that is what the school systems need is more teachers who are adhd and take their meds, they should educate the teachers who want to learn about it and are serious about helping our children.
In our experience, there have been a few teachers who really seem to "get it" and a whole bunch who don't.
They didn't even suspect our ninth grader had it at the beginning of the year when he was trying meds for the first time. They all told me what a joy he was to have in class and how bright and respectful he was.
By Nov. he was freaked out about the side effects and the change in personality, so he decided to quit taking meds. His grades plummeted and his second semester teachers rarely have anything kind to say about him. I've still gotten a few "bright" comments and a few "respectfu" comments but those are usually qualified with a "BUT..." like "BUT he doesn't try to pay attention" or "BUT he gets easily annoyed when other kids ___" and now it's like everything is his fault. I've even had a teacher I like say, "I am asware he has ADHD BUT he likes to good off" even though that is a big characteristic of the condition...goofing off because they lose focus!
The way the high school in general handles all problems, including mess ups do to ADHD forgetfulness, tardiness and impulsiveness is to suspend the, give them detention, and give them bad grades to punish them for not trying harder.
You know what? I never thought about this before reading the above post from Mondi but my son is always the one in trouble all the time no matter who starts the fight or who is talking, etc. He actually doesn't want to ride the bus anymore because a kid who is younger and smaller than him keeps bothering him, but knows if he "puts him in his place" who is going to get into trouble, and talking to the bus driver, principal does zero.I need a xanex suddenly.
Elizam says, "The way the high school in general handles all problems, including mess ups do to ADHD forgetfulness, tardiness and impulsiveness is to suspend the, give them detention, and give them bad grades to punish them for not trying harder." Omigosh - I think my son goes to that high school (tee hee)! 
My son's high school mostly wanted to remedy his difficulties with tougher and tougher punishment. Note that he was twice tested and their conclusion was ADHD, inattentive; BUT he did not qualify for an IEP because, according to them, he scored "too high" on standardized testing. Of course, I do support discipline in school; on the other hand, IMO, in my son's situation, there was not enough support or help available on site in middle school and high school. It's been real fun over the last five years.
I don't think teachers take ADHD seriously, and I think that is because they lack the knowledge of what ADHD really is. I think it should be MANDATORY for teachers to get adequate education on ADHD.
I also think that teachers use our ADHD kids as the kid they push all the blame on to. My dd takes the brundt for things that other kids do too. It's really annoying.
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I agree 110%!!!!
I am a public school teacher. I have ADHD and my son also has ADHD. I have been in so many battles with teachers over DS that their ignorance disgusts me!
The half-page in our textbooks in college on ADHD does NOT mean teachers know how to deal with it! Teachers who really care seek further training once they are in the field. Many teacher CHOOSE to remain ignorant! Adequate training should be mandantory.
I, too, am sick of my son being used as a scapegoat! His ADHD has improved dramatically with all that we are doing. We see it, other family members see it, his psych sees it, His baseball coach sees it, a few teachers see it....but a few other teachers refuse to look at him without bias! IMO-- they are the ones with a problem!
I think that teachers are not allowed to even mention ADHD first anymore. Pointing out the symptoms is their way of letting you know they are seeing a problem that needs addressing.
My BF's brother in law was a teacher in a low income area a few years back. It was the policy to only tell the parent that they believe the child to be "exceptional." As you can imagine this caused something of a problem since most of the parents were not very well educated. They ended up with children who were mentally retarded whose parents just thought they were "exceptional", and children with adhd and learning disablilties not getting treatment, cause who needs to treat and "exceptional" child? Luckily the policy was modified after a couple years, but. . . 