Reply to Is it required to disclose medication usage to public school?

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Reply to "Is it required to disclose medication usage to public school?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PP - how does it benefit the child if his teachers know he is taking medication for ADHD?

I am a teacher, and also a mom of a child who may or may not be taking medication for ADHD.   I'd like to know specifically how you think it would enhance my child's education for his classroom teacher to be privy to his medical information in this case.

Will they teach him differently if the answer is yes or no?

Please be specific in your answer.

[/quote]

Well, one advantage would be to get as-needed feedback on how the medication is working, whether the dosage needs to be adjusted at some point, if they teacher sees any new side effects, etc. Many times, these medications can stop working all of a sudden, or not be quite as effective. A parent needs feedback from the school to help decide if an increase in dosage is warranted, or if a new medication should be tried due to negative side effects. [/quote]

A parent can get this feedback without telling the school that the child is taking medication.

In fact, it would be better for the teachers NOT to know that a child's dose has been changed or dropped or added.   Telling a teacher something has been changed may influence his or her perception that behavior has changed!

I am a private tutor and tutor children with ADHD.   I do not ask parents to tell me if their children are medicated for this condition.  However, after every session I let the parents know whether the child was able to focus and to what degree.  I have no idea what may be impacting a child's lack of attention at a certain session -- could be the child was up till 2 am the night before, or the child ate something he is having a reaction to, or got an exceptional amount of sleep and exercise, or had a change in medication dosage.  Whatever the reason - not my concern, but definitely I can provide feedback every day!

If teachers are willing to provide feedback every day on a child's ability to maintain attention and self control (and many do, through the use of a green-yellow-red system or other device) then they should just do so -- they don't need to know whether a child is on medication and actually shouldn't be told as it might influence their opinion of the child's behavior.[/quote]

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