ADHD - Has your child ever been diagnosed with it? How do/did you handle it?

@mentalward (14690)
United States
June 2, 2008 7:12am CST
Are you still sane? Did you need therapy because of it? Those of you without kids like this won't understand; those with these kids are probably nodding right now. My youngest child was diagnosed when he was in the 3rd grade. From nursery school until that year I was called in for conferences with every one of his teachers. "I don't know what's wrong with him." "I don't either." "If you find out, will you please let me know?" I'm sure you've had your share of conversations like that. I thought I would lose my mind! And I practically had to take the school to court in order to get him the type of educational needs that his diagnosis warranted. I had to force them to cut his tests/lessons in half and only give him one half at a time so he wouldn't feel overwhelmed by so much on one page. It did help! How did you handle it? or are handling it? It's a real strain on parents, but especially the mother. Have you found your ADHD child to be exceptionally intelligent? Mine was, and I heard that they usually are very gifted children. Any comments? Please share them because they might just prevent one more ADHD parent from going insane! Thanks!
1 response
austinbell
@austinbell (491)
•
3 Jun 08
I sympathise with you my youngest grandson has also been diagnosed with this condition. It took ages for them to do this and he has tried school several times but every time he is excluded because they cannot deal with him. At last he is being taught at home just two mornings a week but this is better than nothing. It is very difficult on family life having a child like this Karl is the youngest of four.
mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
4 Jun 08
Home schooling is sometimes the only answer. Public schools ("Free education for all") are not equipped and do not want to deal with children with this diagnosis. There needs to be a change in the system. There are so many children diagnosed with this problem and public schools should be equipped to deal with it. My son had to go to the school nurse at lunchtime every day to get his medication. But that was basically all they did "voluntarily". They kept telling me that, after testing him themselves, he did NOT have ADHD. I had already had two doctors diagnose him with it but that wasn't good enough for the school system. I took him to Kennedy Krieger Institute (part of Johns Hopkins Hospital) for two days of testing (which I had to pay for). Their diagnosis? ADHD! The school finally accepted the diagnosis and designed a new teaching program for him so that he could stay in the mainstream system. He was too bright to be put in Special Education, and the school knew that I was ready to get a lawyer and take legal action against them if I had to. I wish you and your family the best. I know that it's difficult. Oh, my son actually 'outgrew' the hyperactivity part of it, but he still has attention deficit at age 24.
austinbell
@austinbell (491)
•
5 Jun 08
thank you for your kind wishes I hope things get better for you as well. It is very difficult having a child like this and having to fight all the way for them just makes it a much harder job