I believe that is a violation of your child's rights. She can't say that. Releasing medical information is a HIPPA violation. I know we had to sign this statement in the beginning of the year about who can know our son's medical information. I'm not sure how long of an arm HIPPA has, but the educational system must have some sort of procedure or we wouldn't have had to sign the form. I would be all over that teacher. But that's just me, I turn into mama bear when it comes to my kid. That being said, you have to pick your battles. To add humiliation to what he is already dealing with is just awful.
I'm feeling for you and your son.
MissyG,
I see why you do not want to use the meds. I would not either if it caused a negative personality change. For us it is the opposite. Rahter than being withdrawn in class and home, the meds gave us back the quirky, fun daughter that we lost when the stress of dealing with school and ADHD got to her.
Hopefully you can get the principal to do the right thing. You might try to use buzzwords like "public humiliation", "infliction of emotional harm", "anxiety", "targeting an individual with a disibility", etc. Think about terms that you can use to trigger the thought "she knows her legal rights and may use them".
Good luck with the principal.
Hi I'm new here... in need of your knowledge/thoughts/suggestions/support.... Long story short... My son has been diagnosed with ADHD for 2 years he is 10 now. He had been taking concerta for the past 2 years.. and has gained no weight.. I was concerned about his growth.. therefore, stopped the medication and trying natural alternatives, etc... which have really been working GREAT! His mood has improved and his appetite great now.. I bet he has gained atleast 5 pounds in the past few weeks. Trouble is... math is difficult for him to concentrate and maintain focus. His teacher told him in class in front of the class.. "you have really lost your math ability since your mom took you off of your medicine".. My son is embarassed and humiliated! I feel that the teacher had no right to say this to my son at all ... I used to work in a hospital and am aware of "patient rights/confidentiality" doesn't the same apply to students don't they have a right to confidentiality? Any thought on this would be very appreciated. ThanksFirst, I would go to the principal and have a discussion about the teacher's unacceptable behavior. Also tell the principal that you will be watching out for any signs that the teacher is retaliating against you son because you talked to the principal. THese kids have a hard time with self esteem without teacher's insensitive and inflammatory comments. Depending how the principal responds, you might end up sending a letter to the district. OK, off the soapbox for me...
If the concerta helped, did you try summers off meds to catch up with weight? My youngest has always been skinny. When she was on a stimulant, she was taking christmas and summer breaks to gain weight. I know she is fine even though she is thin, because her dad was thin growing up and she had no delay in puberty. Even so, we watch and do everything we can to make sure she does not lose any more wieght.
Another approach would be to look into straterra (non stimulant). We are trying this now. If it is not good enough we will go back to the previous treatment (Concerta+guanfacine), or try a higher dose of guanfacine alone.
Hey Vickie, Thanks so very much for the reply. Yes, we did summers/ vacations off concerta..... etc.. still no weight gain. But, now that he has been off the concerta for a few weeks.. he has gained about 5 pounds.. He has such an appetite and I am watching him grow before my eyes! The concerta did help him to settle down and focus.. however, he changed... he didn't have the same sparkle and smile.. he was not happy.. increasingly moody and it just didn't feel right for him anymore. I don't plan on going back to it. I am giving him "phosphatidylserine" a natural supplement and I do see/believe that it is helping him. He is also doing some meditation and breathing exercises to try to bring down his hyperactivity. I really didn't plan on telling the teacher that he was off of his rx... (I think if she never knew.. she wouldn't have had a clue) But, he told her.. one of the first days that we stopped it... he told her he was having trouble concentrating bc I took him off of his rx... So, once she knew.. I requested a conference and let her know that we changed it due to problems with weight gain/ growth.. She was somewhat sarcastic.. replying to me something like.. all mothers want to have their boys grow (well of course we do).. I asked her if she had any suggestions.. and she again was sarcastic saying their is a "lovely"504 program. I felt disappointed in her responses. Then she called me and told me his handwriting was becoming poor and that he failed a math test (actually, since stopping concerta all of his other grades have held steady and even with concerta math was never his strongest subject).
I told her that I wasn't planning to put him back on the rx and that I thought he was doing so much better with weight and mood... etc. I am from my end really pleased with the change. But, I was so disappointed with her responses and now with the way that she humiliated my son. So, I will go in and talk with the principal.. do you know if it is legally wrong for her to discuss what I feel to be confidential info. in front of other students? I am just wondering if the principal will realize how wrong this is... and I know if it is legally wrong she might be even more concerned. I don't want to take any legal action.. but, I just am wondering if I am going to be taken seriously. I really want the teacher to apologize to him. (Actually, I would like him to be moved to another class but, I doubt that will happen). I have always held teachers in the highest regard and appreciation. I have never talked negatively to my son about a teacher.. However, in this case at this point I don't feel she has respected him (or me). It is hard to give respect when you are not getting it in return. I am afraid that he is going to shut down with her... and not want to cooperate any more. And, thanks for mentioning "retaliation" oh man, I didn't even think of that. I feel really backed into a corner with a bad situation here.
Vickie, thanks for listening and responding. I appreciate the support immensely.
I am so sorry that you and your son had to endure this episode. Truly our worst nightmare. You are on target to address it. My intitial response to what the teacher said in front of the class was "WT#?" That is so wrong. You need to protect your son, the teacher be damned. Still, having said that, the school year is only half over. THe beauty of this situation is you can use it to educate the school. If your son cannot switch rooms/schools, take this opportunity to remind the teacher that you and her are a team, working together to make school a positive experience.
On the med front, it's not for every child. I can relate that it took 3 tries (the average is 4) attempts to find the best med/dosage for my 9 yr old son. He is a toothpick and has mild tics. We find focalin xr 10 mg works best. Sounds like you are on high alert for self esteem issues, that becomes even more important as puberty looms. We also do some occupational therapy at home to help my son focus and self regulate. Also see a behavior doctor regularly.
Can you take steps to ensure that he has the best possible teacher next fall? Most grades have 2-3 different teachers, and simply voicing a preference makes a difference (my son's current homeroom teacher has a special ed background). Good luck obtaining an apology from the teacher. May happen, but again, if you can just let her know about boundries and appropriateness, it would be huge. Congratulations on your calmness about this. I am a mellow person, but I would be foaming at the mouth.