What are the biggest concerns/needs y... - CHADD's ADHD Pare...

CHADD's ADHD Parents Together

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What are the biggest concerns/needs you have for your child with ADHD? Tell us in comments and let us know how old your child is.

KarenADHDWeekly profile imageKarenADHDWeeklyPartner25 Voters
11
Social skills & friendships, I'll tell you in the comments.
5
Effective treatment, I'll tell you in the comments.
5
Educational needs, I'll tell you in the comments.
3
Family relationships, I'll tell you in the comments.
1
I'll tell you in the comments.
17 Replies
wendyks profile image
wendyks

My 15 year old’s adderall is really effective. My worry is that she’s sounds like she’s Solely dependent on it and not bothering to even try others strategies to organize, focus, etc. She says she does but I don’t think she’s really trying and barely listening to ideas. I also worry about addiction. I know that’s a bit unfounded, but still...

shellzbells profile image
shellzbells

My son is 23 and just now going through the process of getting a formal diagnosis. My biggest concern is if he will ever be able to function as an adult with a job, paying bills, and taking care of his physical and emotional health. My second concern is will he be able to have healthy friendships/romantic relationships. If not my fear is that he may decide to end his life.

craftyvulpine profile image
craftyvulpine

7 years and going into Grade One. I am worried about how much the teacher can support or understand a child with ADHD with regard to friendships, not just academics. I haven't yet told him that he has ADHD as we do not have an official diagnosis - just a lot of doctors who agree that he does.

Sunshine104 profile image
Sunshine104

Helping my 6 yr old snap out of defiance. She is the sweeteat girl but she turns Defiant in a second and won’t stop. I feel that her first answer to every request is no. How can I flip that switch? Especially in melt down situations where her safety is at stake.

Lauraz180 profile image
Lauraz180

Very interesting survey - i thought of putting education needs first but the meds sort most of that. Its the social interaction that is the bigger residual for us. Without the meds would have been educational i think.

My grandson is 8. My concern is his attitude when told no. He becomes very belligerent.

ADHD_DAD profile image
ADHD_DAD

Teacher education. The majority of teachers with whom we have interacted appear ignorant of or in denial regarding ADHD and the need for accommodations. The Dept of Education circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter to all US educators in July 2016 but 100% of educators we have encountered have denied receiving and reviewing it. I cannot think of a more important population to educate about ADHD than teachers. They have the ability to assist these children in reaching succes despite a disability or to sabotage their self esteem by blaming the child for actions symptomatic of their diagnosis. Unfortunately, in our experience, the role of most teachers has been the latter.

Onthemove1971 profile image
Onthemove1971 in reply toADHD_DAD

Just curious.. have you thought of having your son write a letter to his new teachers? About which his is his strengths and weakness? I have heard this really impacts teachers.

ADHD_DAD profile image
ADHD_DAD in reply toOnthemove1971

Thanks. He has switched schools this year and everything has been quite good at his new school. No amount of self advocacy worked for him at his old school. Thank for your willingness to help.

Danseuse profile image
Danseuse

My 12 year old son has yet to learn to control anger which can be damaging to family relationships.

penn_adhd profile image
penn_adhd

7. Effective treatment. His counselor doesn't seem to really know anything about ADHD as we've had maybe 6 tele-visits and no real advice yet. He's still getting to know him. My husband has zero interest in meds and I want to try some other methods first since he isn't severe and I was able to get by without meds. Although he's the hyperactive type and I am not. I'm getting pushback from the school already about how he may not even get a 504 Plan despite diagnosis because it depends on how severely it affects him.

Onthemove1971 profile image
Onthemove1971 in reply topenn_adhd

If you bring a letter from the doctor who gave him the diagnosis, stating he needs accommodations this forces the school to give him a 504 plan.

penn_adhd profile image
penn_adhd in reply toOnthemove1971

The school has a letter showing he was diagnosed. I contacted the PEAL Center last week to see if they can help. (pealcenter.org)

(edited to correct chool to school)

Onthemove1971 profile image
Onthemove1971 in reply topenn_adhd

If you have a letter, the school needs to allow him a 504 plan in addition to seeing that he is having issues in class. These issues would be not remaining focused, needing extra times to finish assignments ( this will be life long), taking breaks when needed ( our son had a signal for his middle school teacher), chunking long tests, all standardized test need to have their own focus ( separate room, many breaks).

Seating near teacher, turn.in missed home work assignments.

CHADD has a large number of accommodations listed on their site.

penn_adhd profile image
penn_adhd in reply toOnthemove1971

When I was in school I was given a separate room for standardized tests and extra time, but I don't remember ever being given breaks. It was like they were scared if a kid left the room or got up we'd tell someone else what was on the test or help them and cheat. I did have some extra time for assignments but that was generally only in math class because that was my worst subject. I was sat near the teacher, but it was because of my hearing -- I didn't think ADHD got preferential seating or whatever jargon they use for it.

Sorry for the delayed response, the notices are getting lost in an influx of e-mails I'm trying to get a handle on and unsubscribe to left and right.

Onthemove1971 profile image
Onthemove1971

Our son is 14 years old.. our biggest worry are about the choices he makes about his future. We also worry he become a happy, healthy person who can finds some career and a healthy someone who loves him.

Eboll profile image
Eboll

My biggest concern is my 22 year old’s compulsive lying. It is impossible to help if we don’t know what’s going on. And this is a trait that he may take into adulthood which will be damaging to all of his relationships.

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