The rise of ADHD on elite campuses

[Anonymous]

Some hypotheses from a biased person who has ADHD herself

1) ADHD is associated with increased intelligence in some cases and creativity (putting random things together).
2) ADHD is associated with trauma and traumatized people can be extreme in trying to prove themselves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

Some of my favorite alternate version of this include:
Your child had cancer but hadn’t died before the cancer was diagnosed, why treat it now?

Or

Your kid failed the driving vision test? They’ve never needed glasses before, why get them now? They could just ride the bus everywhere instead.

That is a really dumb analogy. ADHD is not like cancer or low vision. If it exists, you cannot get through a demanding high school with all As, top scores, and admission to an elite university.

This is not true. Plenty of now adults, including my husband (TJ and HYP grad) did this without realizing they had ADHD because it was not well understood when they were kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got hives before HS graduation because I had to memorize my speech.
I was anxious before every test and exam K-12 and college.
I have a tested IQ at the 99+ percentile.
I do not have ADHD.
Trying to get a diagnosis to get speed or time won't be a good thing come graduation.

What are you trying to say?

I was anxious before every test and exam K-12 and college.
I was a terrible student in HS and college but I never needed extra time.
I have tested IQ at the 99.99+ percentile. Solidly above 150
I do have ADHD. I always knew that I was different and it wasn't diagnosed until my 40's because it wasn't a thing when I was growing up.

Are you saying suffer because you think that it will hurt things come graduation?.....Get real.

[Anonymous]

It’s not just elite universities and private high schools. My children’s title 1 school is filled with kids that have IEPs for ADHD, autism spectrum, and anxiety. I feel like half their class has ADHD. Maybe it looks different because these aren’t super high achieving kids- just poorly behaved. Basically and kid with bad behavior and/or isn’t in >90th percentile academically with straight As can get a diagnosis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By definition, ADHD must be present by age 12. Parents and doctors get around this by claiming it was always there, but undiagnosed. However, go back to OP’s original comment. The trends, demographics, and clustering in private schools is statistically significant, which suggests a pattern of manipulation, not late diagnosis. Let’s be honest: this is a scam.

Let's be honest, you have no idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

Some of my favorite alternate version of this include:
Your child had cancer but hadn’t died before the cancer was diagnosed, why treat it now?

Or

Your kid failed the driving vision test? They’ve never needed glasses before, why get them now? They could just ride the bus everywhere instead.

These are flawed analogies. True ADHD is always there; it doesn’t suddenly pop up at 18. Yes, ADHD can go undiagnosed, but real, untreated ADHD leaves a trail of sorrow in its wake.

The idea that a kid comes from an ADHD family, yet their ADHD went unnoticed is highly improbable because both parents and doctors would be alert to it.

Let's just say maybe.

My kid comes from and ADHD family and has ADHD. My kid also cruised through grade school and HS because her parent has a 150+ IQ which she inherited and frankly none of this school stuff is very challenging for us.

This allowed us to ignore the obvious because, the kid was doing fine in school even if there were occasional issues that they needed to be coached through. Ignoring it also made home life easier because on parent comes from a culture where these things are challenging.

Thankfully at college when the kid finally struggled a bit they were smart enough to spend some time talking to the parent with ADHD and then.....counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist later, it was confirmed what the parent always knew which is that the child has ADHD. Kid is in a great spot, tippy top school doing well and loves it but looking back we realize that ignoring the obvious because they were still successful had a negative impact and made some things harder than they needed to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and . . .

Stop the testing accommodations for kids newly diagnosed with ADHD in high school (if they really have ADHD, how did they previously qualify for those advanced classes and get top grades?) and encourage kids to acknowledge anxiety in novel situations and help them learn appropriate life skills to meet those new challenges.

I’m sure there are families who abuse the system, but here’s a different perspective. DS was diagnosed early in high school. In retrospect, I should have realized it much, much sooner. But I thought his experience was normal because it was the same as my experience. I honestly thought ADHD behaviors were how everyone lives. Turns out, his behaviors weren’t normal and neither were mine but as a GenX kid with no mental health supports, it took until my 50s (and him being diagnosed) for me to understand that. There are going to be some bad apples in any system, but I’d rather some bad apples squeeze through than kids who actually need support not be able to get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and . . .

Stop the testing accommodations for kids newly diagnosed with ADHD in high school (if they really have ADHD, how did they previously qualify for those advanced classes and get top grades?) and encourage kids to acknowledge anxiety in novel situations and help them learn appropriate life skills to meet those new challenges.

I’m sure there are families who abuse the system, but here’s a different perspective. DS was diagnosed early in high school. In retrospect, I should have realized it much, much sooner. But I thought his experience was normal because it was the same as my experience. I honestly thought ADHD behaviors were how everyone lives. Turns out, his behaviors weren’t normal and neither were mine but as a GenX kid with no mental health supports, it took until my 50s (and him being diagnosed) for me to understand that. There are going to be some bad apples in any system, but I’d rather some bad apples squeeze through than kids who actually need support not be able to get it.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

Some of my favorite alternate version of this include:
Your child had cancer but hadn’t died before the cancer was diagnosed, why treat it now?

Or

Your kid failed the driving vision test? They’ve never needed glasses before, why get them now? They could just ride the bus everywhere instead.

These are flawed analogies. True ADHD is always there; it doesn’t suddenly pop up at 18. Yes, ADHD can go undiagnosed, but real, untreated ADHD leaves a trail of sorrow in its wake.

The idea that a kid comes from an ADHD family, yet their ADHD went unnoticed is highly improbable because both parents and doctors would be alert to it.

Let's just say maybe.

My kid comes from and ADHD family and has ADHD. My kid also cruised through grade school and HS because her parent has a 150+ IQ which she inherited and frankly none of this school stuff is very challenging for us.

This allowed us to ignore the obvious because, the kid was doing fine in school even if there were occasional issues that they needed to be coached through. Ignoring it also made home life easier because on parent comes from a culture where these things are challenging.

Thankfully at college when the kid finally struggled a bit they were smart enough to spend some time talking to the parent with ADHD and then.....counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist later, it was confirmed what the parent always knew which is that the child has ADHD. Kid is in a great spot, tippy top school doing well and loves it but looking back we realize that ignoring the obvious because they were still successful had a negative impact and made some things harder than they needed to be.

PP. Thank you for your post. This is exactly my DC's experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

Some of my favorite alternate version of this include:
Your child had cancer but hadn’t died before the cancer was diagnosed, why treat it now?

Or

Your kid failed the driving vision test? They’ve never needed glasses before, why get them now? They could just ride the bus everywhere instead.

That is a really dumb analogy. ADHD is not like cancer or low vision. If it exists, you cannot get through a demanding high school with all As, top scores, and admission to an elite university.

This is not true. Plenty of now adults, including my husband (TJ and HYP grad) did this without realizing they had ADHD because it was not well understood when they were kids.

It's a common misconception though. I have the exact same academic background and am considered relatively sucessful in my field, but had a (bad) psychiatrist question the diagnosis because of exactly. (This 20 years ago, so slightly less terrible than it would be now).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sense these name brand educations are fading in value and this is just one more reason why.

If anything the value in increasing. This has nothing to do with it.

[Anonymous]

ADHD diagnosis gives you nice advantages in college admissions. There is no downside to getting diagnosed.

So there is a huge incentive and we are just seeing the results of that.

It is pretty much a safe assumption nowadays that when someone says ADHD, they are cheating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our Culture has become very supportive of rampant drug use. Drugs for depression, drugs for anxiety, drugs for over eating, drugs for “ADD”. Vaping, alcohol, nicotine patches, edibles. I find it very concerning, and it’s probably terrible for our long-term psychological and physical health.

Do you realize you just said treating psychological disorders is the cause of psychological disorders? And why is ADD in quotes?

There, but for the grace of God, go you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was diagnosed with ADHD in college and received accommodation. Not surprising, since it runs in the family. Prior to diagnosis, National Merit Finalist and 1,580 SAT, obviously without accommodation. Full merit tuition ride at a T-20. All A in HS and still all A in college. I understand OP's skepticism, but perhaps should keep an open mind since every kid is different.

DC got that far without it: why is the accommodation necessary now?

Some of my favorite alternate version of this include:
Your child had cancer but hadn’t died before the cancer was diagnosed, why treat it now?

Or

Your kid failed the driving vision test? They’ve never needed glasses before, why get them now? They could just ride the bus everywhere instead.

That is a really dumb analogy. ADHD is not like cancer or low vision. If it exists, you cannot get through a demanding high school with all As, top scores, and admission to an elite university.

This is not true. Plenty of now adults, including my husband (TJ and HYP grad) did this without realizing they had ADHD because it was not well understood when they were kids.

Yes it is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and . . .

Stop the testing accommodations for kids newly diagnosed with ADHD in high school (if they really have ADHD, how did they previously qualify for those advanced classes and get top grades?) and encourage kids to acknowledge anxiety in novel situations and help them learn appropriate life skills to meet those new challenges.

I’m sure there are families who abuse the system, but here’s a different perspective. DS was diagnosed early in high school. In retrospect, I should have realized it much, much sooner. But I thought his experience was normal because it was the same as my experience. I honestly thought ADHD behaviors were how everyone lives. Turns out, his behaviors weren’t normal and neither were mine but as a GenX kid with no mental health supports, it took until my 50s (and him being diagnosed) for me to understand that. There are going to be some bad apples in any system, but I’d rather some bad apples squeeze through than kids who actually need support not be able to get it.

+1 Same experience. I really wish I had been able to see it sooner, but not only did I think it was normal, but because of my personal experience, I was already doing a ton of scaffolding by instinct at home (stuff I thought was normal, but would have been prescribed therapy for kids whose parents didn't have ADHD), but by high school I wasn't enough -- then it all came crashing down. I could have cried when I saw the transformation that the very first dose of medication allowed. It was like unlocking a door in his brain.