my son is 16 years old and was recently diagnosed with adhd. Today his primary doctor put him on Concerta 36mlg. my first question would be, how long does it take to take into effect. Didn't think to ask the doctor yet. I am not sure on this drug - but congractulations on taking a pro-active approach for your son.
I feel I should take legal action. does anyone agree with me at all? my sons is just so far behind I think you should definately get some legal advice and see where he stands on this issue. But also, sueing the education system also takes funds away from education - just keep that in mind.
Personally - if this was my son. I would want all his medical records, for the 6 years that he was with his father, to ensure no head injuries were sustained during this period.
I would see a child psychiatrist, have a neuropsyche assessment and immediately start on some counselling to help repair his self esteem.
..... this might be a good start - see how you go from here.
my son is 16 years old and was recently diagnosed with adhd. Today his primary doctor put him on Concerta 36mlg. my first question would be, how long does it take to take into effect. Didn't think to ask the doctor yet. My son had been passed through the school systems even though he failed just about ever single year. He never was made to stay back. when he went into the middle school after he failed the seventh grade it was then that I brough his failing grades to the school psycholists attention. My son was tested and was found to have a learning disability. It is a language based disability to where he does not understand verbal instructions. He can usually just understand things if it is shown in a film strip or hands on things. After failing the 8th grade I knew he had further problems. He was put into the 9th grade and failed that as well. I finally just took him out of school all together until I could find the testing. the schools told me to ask his doctor and the doctor told me to ask the schools. It was like no one could tell me where to have my son tested . the school psychologist from the high school told me that he himself could test him. He wasted three months of my time just to say that the test was "inconclusive" but he felt my son did not have adhd. I was just so frusterated. My sons behavior was just so horrible that he was getting detention after detention, suspention after suspention. One of my son's friends had adhd and i was able to ask his mother as to where to get this testing done. I owe this woman so much. It did take about 6 months to find out but my thoughts were right and he did have adhd. The problem now being is that my son is just so far behind in school it is not funny. My son did live with his father for about 6 years because i had a work accident to where I could not take care of him. I just didn't realize how far he was really behind. I almost feel as though I could have some kind of lawsuit for the schools neglect in letting my sons illness go when I repeatedly asked for help. When my son was in the 7th grade going for picture day I was sick when the pictures came back. my son had writen on his forhead with his girlfriends name accross it. I was irate to think that this picture was taken knowing my son had writen on it. when i brough it to the vice principals attention, he laughed at me stating I had to take it up with lifetime. the outfit that took the picture. the woman that tested my son was irate with the way the school has been handling nick over the years that I feel I should take legal action. does anyone agree with me at all? my sons is just so far behind right now. my sister lives in the same state as me but we are two hours away. where she lives if a student does not pass the seventh grade then they are held back. where i live they just pass these students along. when i had asked as to why they dont' hold students back I did not get a good enough answer. their answer was "we just don't" what kind of answer is that? when my son failed the 9th grade, during and iep meeting it was stated that my son did not have enough credits to go to summer school. now does that make sence? isn't that what summer school is for? to make up credits you don't have? so he did not even get that opportunity. I am so angry right now I feel like taking my sons adhd report and all he has wrong with him and shoving it right up the schools ass. exuse my language but I am upset. does anyone have any suggestions? No one would ever listen to my son when there was a problem. there was a time that the vice principal shoved my son off the table and denied it from happening. I went to the police station to file a complaint but because my son did not get physically hurt the police station questioned the vice principal and that was about it. the vice principal admitted that he could have pushed my son but didn't remember. so it went from didn't doing it ... to ... I could have. It was at that point i had my son removed from school all together knowing that the vice principal would for sure make his life hell from us trying to press charges. this is how they have treated my son. any input on this would be greatly appreciated . thanks Donna
Hi Big Blue
My son , 16 years old,was also recently diagnosed with add. His pediatrician says he had adhd when he was a kid but now it's add. The past 3 years have been HELL. His academic performance declined and he started acting 'different'. None of the teachers or the principals ever said he had a condition, perhaps. He was just getting retentions at school. This year we changed his school but he hates this new school. There are 35 kids in the class and for the last month he has refused to go to school. He says he can't understand anything and he can't participate in the class. Here in Canada, especially our province , gives you the option of following a skills program - carpenter, plumber etc courses with modified academic courses. The other option is homeschooling. He refuses to take medication .
Definitely sue the school since they were negligent in their obligations. Work on your son's self-esteem and find out what he's good at and take it up from there.
GOOD LUCK.
Hi there,
I am 20 and just diagnosed. It's a relief but also scary. Well done on taking a proactive approach with your son. My mum tried for years with my teachers, however as my IQ is off the scale I managed to blend in, mimic and I had a photographic memory which got me through.
Sometimes I feel cheated too. I am in 3rd year uni and have just failed for the first time as I couldn't concentrate enough to sit through the 2 hour tutes (the part of the course was practical). You can choose to be irate, but in a sense be glad that you know now. My little brother got diagnosed at 8 (I never had behavioural problems). It's frustrating to think what might have been, but try your best to be positive, seek support and be there for him. At least now he gets to see what the future holds.
Kristen