Vanderbilt - what if teacher scores don't match?

[wendyks]

Hello! First post as we embark on this! My 13 year old proposed asking the doc about ADHD. And wow, when I really considered it, it explained ALL the behavior that I'd been questioning for her whole life (why she won't watch a movie with us, why she can't put her laundry away properly, why she can tell me a story about her day properly). So we have Vanderbilt forms and an appt with the doc in a month. I am being a bit too smart for my own good and have read about how to interpret the scores. My parent report would clearly show ADHD. However, her grades are good A's and B's mostly, she's has decent/typical 7th grade behavior, her test scores are average or just slightly below. There's the symptom section and the performance section. I'm afraid the performance section that the teachers complete will show no impact. The end game is a diagnosis I'm now 100% certain so that we can learn how to move forward with strategies. I think it would also bring my daughter some piece of mind to know that she has this thing which explains a lot, but that can be dealt with. It teacher scales no ADHD it would be shocking and maybe even...disappointing...in a way b/c things FINALLY make sense right now.

[katcald]

I have heard that ADHD presents differently in girls, and is not as recognizable so the teachers evaluation may not match, especially since she is doing well in school.

Also, they don't know your daughter as well as you do so that may be a factor as well.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just wait and see what the doctor says when the scores are evaluated.

[Pennywink]

I would wait &!see what happens before worrying. My son was recently diagnosed Inattentive type, and his teacher was one of the people who flagged that something was wrong. He does great academically & socially, and his behavior doesn't disrupt the class. It she could still tell he was spacing out / having a hard time with transitions / getting oddly distracted. It was our second year doing an evaluation, but he got his diagnosis.

[wendyks in reply to Pennywink]

perceptive teacher!

[wendyks]

Yes, I think that both the fact that she's a girl, not disruptive (maybe a little bit 7th grader-annoying...) and that it's inattention I think, will make it harder. However, after I sent an email regarding the papers, one teacher did say - yes, I've notices she struggles a bit with organization and work completion, and her work is doesn't seem to reflect what she's capable of. Interesting. Yes, thank you both - I'll just be try to be patient!