ADD - ADHD - hyperactive - have you encountered this with your children

[trailmix 77]

So based on the comments in reply to Sprailenes experiences with her Son and his school and the pattern I see developing in replies, it just made me wonder how common it is for a teacher to state that a child has ADD/ADHD etc and needs treatment of some kind.

[Sprailenes 47]

Teachers are soo careful in NJ. They won't say it, and they can't say it but they'll beat around the bush with terms and symptoms. In my last parent teacher interview I finally said it for her: "Oh like ADD?" and she look relieved and said: "Well... have you ever... you know... thought of it??"

They won't tell you to drug your child, but they'll mildly suggest getting him to see a doctor and perhaps a psychiatrist.. who we all know prescribes meds.

[Krikit 1,163]

Could you maybe add another choice for whether your child was educated in the American vs the Canadian school system?

[trailmix 77]

Could you maybe add another choice for whether your child was educated in the American vs the Canadian school system?

Krikey! can't add additional questions after the poll is created.

[Krikit 1,163]

Could you maybe add another choice for whether your child was educated in the American vs the Canadian school system?

Krikey! can't add additional questions after the poll is created.

What kind of free society is this?!!!

[MsZ 6]

Teachers have no right to label a child that way and I would strongly resist any teacher who did. Children act up for a variety of reasons including but not limited to school being too easy for them and the teacher failing to provide an education appropriate to that child.

[Gemmie 142]

When I was in school, NO ONE had ADD or ADHD.

And I'm only 21. Just sayin'.

[Reeena 0]

I said yes to both. My son is 7 in grade 2, an American in Canadian schooling. The teacher didn't "recommend" drugs, but said that she has seen kids either react really good or not at all.

When I took my son to our family physican he didn't feel my son has ADD/ADHD, that he was just bored in class, and I am trying to just ride my time out until we move in April. The doctor didn't even want to get him evaluated and we have just kind of left it at that.

This is the first teacher that has brought this up, and it was after school had been in session after summer vacation for just a month and we were out of town for 1 week of that time... I know he can be difficult at times, when he is lazy and just decides he doesnt want to do his work/homework.

The doctor said also that unless one of the biological parents has a history that it is highly unlikely for a child to have it.

We have also gotten notes asking if my son is on cold medicine because he seems in a daze and not paying attention and she can't get him to focus.

This has been very frustrating esp when he got his report card and had nothing but C's and D's from his reg teacher and A's and B's from his other teacher outside the "home-room" class.

Also this past Monday we got a call from his teacher and now she wants him tested for a sleeping disorder because he fell asleep according to her at his desk, he said never went to sleep. Once again I think he was bored, and probably a little tired after being off for 2 weeks on holidays and then having to get up early that morning...

[trailmix 77]

Could you maybe add another choice for whether your child was educated in the American vs the Canadian school system?

Krikey! can't add additional questions after the poll is created.

What kind of free society is this?!!!

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

not voted yet, would rather post the answers:

yes, daughter, yes. years after my divorce, i found out one doctor had prescribed lithium for my daughter - and she was 12 years old at the time.

the pda i had did not carry lithium as a prescription for children under 13 at the time.

my belief - this is a catch all/blame all conspiracy with many players so that:

- drug companies make money.

- doctors get more business and are probably in cahoots with the drug companies.

- schools get more funding for special needs children.

[aravis227 1]

In Utah teachers are not allowed to suggest any diagnoses or treatments...it's against the law because they are in a position of authority, but don't have the training to make those suggestions. They DO it of course...but they aren't supposed to and can get in BIG trouble for it. My mom adopted two children with disabilities from foster care and one of their teachers made the mistake of trying to bully my mom into getting the older one medicated for ADHD (when really...he's autistic and has absolutely no signs of ADHD). My mom made the teacher squirm by subtly insinuating that she did actually KNOW what teachers were and were NOT allowed to say...the teacher backed completely off.

In my experience (I used to work at a children's therapeutic center)...ADHD is a disorder just like every other psychological disorder...some children honestly have it and require medication, but it's much more rare than teachers would like you to believe. Of course...when I was a kid (I'm 27 now) if you failed a test it was YOUR fault, not the teacher's. But don't get me started on that.

[Krikit 1,163]

Could you maybe add another choice for whether your child was educated in the American vs the Canadian school system?

Krikey! can't add additional questions after the poll is created.

What kind of free society is this?!!!

[ronjie 0]

the more letters they can put next to your childs name, the more money they will get from grants. most schools have child study teams now. and they like to take parents (especially single parents) into a small room with a big table. around that table sits about 6 or 8 people, (principle, nurse, school psycologist, special needs teacher, teachers aid, and other members from the child study team) that try to tell you whats best for your child. keep in mind if they do not fill the requirements for the amount of children they will not get the federal and state grants. and some will lose their rather well paying jobs. the truth is most kids will grow out of their social and attention problems (look at Michael Phelps). but the letters in front of their name may hurt them from getting into certain colleges. we as parents know are children best. and do whats best for them !!!

[Ontarkie 13,915]

I have a few friends back in Canada that are teachers, and from the teachers that my kids have had I think the some of the problem is that some parents let their kids go wild some not all but you do get a few. Then you get the older teachers who have been teaching the same style of teaching they always used and then are told they cannot disapline in the class. Now this is what I noticed in Canada the schools my kids went too, not the ones here. So you get the wild child and the older teacher (some not all) don't know how to deal with the child so they start the labeling cause that is the only thing they know. Then you get the younger teacher (again not all) who is not set in their ways still loves the job and is able to figure out the child and all is good.

I also think its a problem to try and teach all kids the same and they do that unless you get the lucky teacher who switches things up a bit. Labeling kids makes the teachers job easier then they have a bunch of zombies to teach or all the excuses they need to explain how bad her class is failing.

BTW these are what my thoughts and experiences are.

the more letters they can put next to your childs name, the more money they will get from grants. most schools have child study teams now. and they like to take parents (especially single parents) into a small room with a big table. around that table sits about 6 or 8 people, (principle, nurse, school psycologist, special needs teacher, teachers aid, and other members from the child study team) that try to tell you whats best for your child. keep in mind if they do not fill the requirements for the amount of children they will not get the federal and state grants. and some will lose their rather well paying jobs. the truth is most kids will grow out of their social and attention problems (look at Michael Phelps). but the letters in front of their name may hurt them from getting into certain colleges. we as parents know are children best. and do whats best for them !!!

Well said

[thetreble 19]

Then you get the younger teacher (again not all) who is not set in their ways still loves the job and is able to figure out the child and all is good.

My brother had 38 kids in his first class ever taught, back in 2005. 8 of those children had disabilities, including down syndrome. He wrote 8 different lesson plans a day for months, to try and teach different learning groups, until he physically and emotionally couldn't do it any more. It isn't as easy as "if teachers just taught children different methods, it would solve so many problems..." Imagine how incredibly difficult it must be to cater to an individual child's needs when you have almost 40 kids in a class.