Attention Deficit Disorder: Seeking feedback (method, autism, diabetes, single parent)
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If he is having any kind of trouble in school, just go get him tested.
From what you've described, sounds like a normal kid, but normal kids don't have the teacher saying that there are issues. LISTEN to the teacher - she spends about 6 hours a day with your awake child, probably more than you do, and she sees him in the group setting of school - very different from the home setting. If she is telling you she's seeing problems, there are likely problems.
School can do testing, pediatrician can do some superficial checklists and take a history, psychologist who specializes in children, and educational/behavioral issues can do in depth evaluation. If necessary, pediatrician or psychiatrist can prescribe.
In Texas, a licensed physician has to diagnose ADHD. It can't be done by the school, though the school will likely need to gather input for the doctor. We've also been told that we can't even say that a child has ADHD because then we are diagnosing them. I'm sure other states may differ on who can diagnose it, but perhaps this is also the legal requirement in your state.
As for the OP, I'd recommend you talk to a doctor about it.
No school can diagnose - in any State. If a school or a district has a psychologist on staff or acting in a consultative capacity, that person can diagnose on behalf of the school.
I'm not in Texas (thank G-d), but would wager that it's not only a licensed physician who can diagnose in that State. My very strong guess is that a licensed psychologist can as well.
And just because an MD can diagnose ADHD doesn't mean they are good at it and get it right. It's not as black and white as doing a blood test and then getting a positive or negative result. That's why a psychologist is best. A primary care doc will look at the DSM criteria and check the boxes based on history, observation, parent reports, and forms. A psychologist has more insight and better judgement IMO on ADHD.
If he is having any kind of trouble in school, just go get him tested.
From what you've described, sounds like a normal kid, but normal kids don't have the teacher saying that there are issues. LISTEN to the teacher - she spends about 6 hours a day with your awake child, probably more than you do, and she sees him in the group setting of school - very different from the home setting. If she is telling you she's seeing problems, there are likely problems.
School can do testing, pediatrician can do some superficial checklists and take a history, psychologist who specializes in children, and educational/behavioral issues can do in depth evaluation. If necessary, pediatrician or psychiatrist can prescribe.
Canada has some great information on ADHD - I can't find the video I saw that had teacher training with people actually learning what ADHD did in the brain, but here is a resource: https://www.youtube.com/user/adhdvid/videos
The one I remember had adults sitting around a table trying to write down the lyrics to a song they all knew. But, what you had to do was continue until the buzzer rang and then pass your paper to the next person and they had to continue with the song. There was more to it than that, but that's what I remember and I thought it was a very interesting idea in terms of why people with ADHD could not focus.
In Texas, a licensed physician has to diagnose ADHD. It can't be done by the school, though the school will likely need to gather input for the doctor.
I'm in Texas, so your information is not accurate. My district has licensed people on staff, and they are running the tests. They take about 45 days, so it's lots of work to run the tests. It's not just testing, it's observation too. They have people sit in the classes and watch things.
No school can diagnose - in any State. If a school or a district has a psychologist on staff or acting in a consultative capacity, that person can diagnose on behalf of the school.
I'm not in Texas (thank G-d), but would wager that it's not only a licensed physician who can diagnose in that State. My very strong guess is that a licensed psychologist can as well.
And just because an MD can diagnose ADHD doesn't mean they are good at it and get it right. It's not as black and white as doing a blood test and then getting a positive or negative result. That's why a psychologist is best. A primary care doc will look at the DSM criteria and check the boxes based on history, observation, parent reports, and forms. A psychologist has more insight and better judgement IMO on ADHD.
I know that our school psychologist cannot diagnose it. It has to be from a licensed physician. [Texas administrative code 89.1040(c)(8)]. Every OHI form I've seen has come from a doctor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FalconheadWest
I'm in Texas, so your information is not accurate. My district has licensed people on staff, and they are running the tests. They take about 45 days, so it's lots of work to run the tests. It's not just testing, it's observation too. They have people sit in the classes and watch things.
I am in Texas and an educational diagnostician, so I do the testing of which you speak. Please refer to the Texas administrative code I mentioned above. What they are doing is the language, academic, intellectual, sociological, behavioral testing. The LSSP is likely part of that team (some districts use LSSPs exclusively for testing, some use Diagnosticians, some use both). However, they cannot diagnose ADHD without a licensed physician being part of that team. The OHI form in the special education software we use includes this language: Professional Evaluators: The multidisciplinary team that collects or reviews evaluation data in connection with determination of a student's eligibility based on other health impairment must include but is not limited to a licensed physician, as well as a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP), an educational diagnostician, or other appropriately certified or licensed practitioner with experience and training in the area of the disability.. The form also states by the signature that it should be signed by a physician.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, so I hope it doesn't come across that way, but I just wanted to provide the data that supports the information I provided earlier.
Dr. Amen did a webinar a few years ago that I took part in. Its quite fascinating. I'm not sure if you can find it anywhere but it really helped me see my son's ADHD in a different light.
I know that our school psychologist cannot diagnose it. It has to be from a licensed physician. [Texas administrative code 89.1040(c)(8)]. Every OHI form I've seen has come from a doctor.
I am in Texas and an educational diagnostician, so I do the testing of which you speak. Please refer to the Texas administrative code I mentioned above. What they are doing is the language, academic, intellectual, sociological, behavioral testing. The LSSP is likely part of that team (some districts use LSSPs exclusively for testing, some use Diagnosticians, some use both). However, they cannot diagnose ADHD without a licensed physician being part of that team. The OHI form in the special education software we use includes this language: Professional Evaluators: The multidisciplinary team that collects or reviews evaluation data in connection with determination of a student's eligibility based on other health impairment must include but is not limited to a licensed physician, as well as a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP), an educational diagnostician, or other appropriately certified or licensed practitioner with experience and training in the area of the disability.. The form also states by the signature that it should be signed by a physician.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, so I hope it doesn't come across that way, but I just wanted to provide the data that supports the information I provided earlier.
You aren't sounding like a jerk to me.
I didn't search out the TX admin code but if you are correct then I would reassert that I am glad I'm not in TX. The most qualified professional's opinion is not acceptable...unbelievable. What if the kid is diagnosed by an outside licensed psychologist?
I didn't search out the TX admin code but if you are correct then I would reassert that I am glad I'm not in TX. The most qualified professional's opinion is not acceptable...unbelievable. What if the kid is diagnosed by an outside licensed psychologist?
To clarify, a psychologist can be part of the assessment, but a licensed physician MUST be part of the assessment. I've honestly never had a kid that was diagnosed by a psychologist - literally every form I've seen has been an MD. Maybe they aren't allowed to diagnose it in my state? (I don't know anything about that at all - I just know the special education law I shared earlier). It may have to do with insurance - it's easier to go to a doctor and/or more affordable, especially with prescriptions. I do know that when I was still teaching I filled out forms for some of my students about their level of attention in different scenarios and different times of day, so it seems doctors usually get the school involved as well.
Maybe it's different now, my son was asked to perform a series of tasks at the doctor's office AND I was handed a stack of questionnaires to give to pretty much anyone and everyone he spent time with AND there was some sort of observation journal I was supposed to fill out and bring back after several weeks. Then there was the follow up visit with a psychiatrist for confirmation and discussion of meds.
Oh, or are you talking about the teachers? We were mostly blessed in that area, and had an IEP for the ADHD, but ADHD was a lot less common then I think
Yep. We received Conners and BASC assessments from the school/district psychologist following a parent/principal/psychologist/counselor meeting. His teachers also filled out assessments. We gave those to his ped who looked them over, asked questions and then prescribed meds. It was more than obvious he has ADHD, and I knew since he was a toddler. It took some time to actually get him in to see a specialist (psychiatrist) since we needed a referral from the ped and there are longer wait times. We took the same assessments, along with another from his teacher for the current school year, and he looked it over for maybe a couple minutes before confirming the diagnosis. We were certain about his ADHD, but also observed traits and mannerisms of ASD, which was a big thing for us to have assessed. He has both ADHD and ASD. The official diagnoses were needed to more forward with an IEP.
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