I don't think testing through the school will reveal much if his issues are not academic, and you are unlikely to get the services he needs from an IEP. If he wants to change, maybe look into arfid treatment/feeding therapy, occupational therapy for sensory issues, and ways to make eating a hygiene easier (perhaps there's a kind of soap, washcloth, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc that is more tolerable?). Cognitive behavioral therapy might be worth a try too. If he wants to go the testing and medication route that's an option if insurance will cover or you can pay out of pocket. At his age, he really needs to buy in to anything. If he wants to stay at TJ, great. If going to his home school will reduce his stress or give him more time to work on his sensory/mental health issues and he wants that, I would encourage him.

Anonymous wrote:FFS. this is your kid reacting to the stress of TJ. If he is able enough to get into TJ then there is no “hidden disability” that is the source of the issue. That said I’m positive you can get your kid an ADHD dx and put them on amphetamines to get through TJ.

There are lots of kids at TJ with disabilities. My kid has a medical disability and has a plan for it unrelated to these other issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone here have experience with suspecting a disability in high school?

Signs:
Food aversions (from a very young age)
Refusal to study
Struggles with social anxiety in certain situations
Avoidance of daily living tasks

The kid is obviously very bright so none of this came out until TJ is now pushing academic limits. Kid masks very very well. Appears very social, no problem making friends.

Where do you start with testing? Do I ask the school?

Perhaps transfer your kid back to their home school. Running people close to the upper bounds of their coping ability is a poor choice.

To succeed long term, people have to enjoy life, school, work enough to find meaning in going forward.

This may not be a question of what diagnosis your child may have. It may be about whether they are in the right environment to foster their growth.

Kid is actually doing fine academically, but the signs I mentioned are not improving despite attempting many at home techniques and hiring an executive coach. Sending back to the home school will allow the behaviors to continue.

Also adding that kid expressed that they would not be opposed to testing and also felt that ADHD might be an issue, but after recognizing kid was the only one in a big group to not eat a very popular food. It sort of dawned on me this behavior is pretty outside the norm.

“doesn’t like tacos” is not a DSM criteria for any disorder. Any DSM diagnosis is supposed to pose a significant clinical challenge in their life. What is the significant issue here?

Tacos is about the only thing the kid eats. There are 3 or so items the kid eats from specific brands and usually it's repeatedly for years on end. As a young child it was one kind of Mac and cheese for about 3 years. These days it's plain burgers. We can't go to random restaurants. Kid will not eat the food.

I have to give kid at least a weeks notice regarding schedule changes. Used to be a few days and expanded to a week after a recent incident that I took kid to a new activity with several days notice. Kid enjoyed activity but that was the new demand.

Kid will not brush teeth or face despite complaining about acne. Usually doesn't shower more than once a week despite being involved in daily athletics. When asked kid will lie or refuse. Prefers lies to refusal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pod are correct though. You might be seeing the behaviors because so much of the energy is going to academics. If the academics were easier, the kid might have more margin to cope with the other stuff.

It could be autism but if it is, the advice above is still good.

My question is, at this age, ADHD seems treatable, but what about Autism? Especially if it's mild? The resistance, the unwillingness to do or eat certain things, the social issues...what helps teenagers make adjustments?

Therapy, reducing demands on the child (moving to a more comfortable school environment maybe) maybe an SSRI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone here have experience with suspecting a disability in high school?

Signs:
Food aversions (from a very young age)
Refusal to study
Struggles with social anxiety in certain situations
Avoidance of daily living tasks

The kid is obviously very bright so none of this came out until TJ is now pushing academic limits. Kid masks very very well. Appears very social, no problem making friends.

Where do you start with testing? Do I ask the school?

Perhaps transfer your kid back to their home school. Running people close to the upper bounds of their coping ability is a poor choice.

To succeed long term, people have to enjoy life, school, work enough to find meaning in going forward.

This may not be a question of what diagnosis your child may have. It may be about whether they are in the right environment to foster their growth.

Kid is actually doing fine academically, but the signs I mentioned are not improving despite attempting many at home techniques and hiring an executive coach. Sending back to the home school will allow the behaviors to continue.

Also adding that kid expressed that they would not be opposed to testing and also felt that ADHD might be an issue, but after recognizing kid was the only one in a big group to not eat a very popular food. It sort of dawned on me this behavior is pretty outside the norm.

“doesn’t like tacos” is not a DSM criteria for any disorder. Any DSM diagnosis is supposed to pose a significant clinical challenge in their life. What is the significant issue here?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone here have experience with suspecting a disability in high school?

Signs:
Food aversions (from a very young age)
Refusal to study
Struggles with social anxiety in certain situations
Avoidance of daily living tasks

The kid is obviously very bright so none of this came out until TJ is now pushing academic limits. Kid masks very very well. Appears very social, no problem making friends.

Where do you start with testing? Do I ask the school?

Perhaps transfer your kid back to their home school. Running people close to the upper bounds of their coping ability is a poor choice.

To succeed long term, people have to enjoy life, school, work enough to find meaning in going forward.

This may not be a question of what diagnosis your child may have. It may be about whether they are in the right environment to foster their growth.

Kid is actually doing fine academically, but the signs I mentioned are not improving despite attempting many at home techniques and hiring an executive coach. Sending back to the home school will allow the behaviors to continue.

Ma’am this is the SN board. You say that the kid refuses to study yet was admitted to the top academic program in the region and is “doing fine academically.” You say they have social anxiety yet “mask well” and “no problem making friends.” You are describing a highly functioning kid. Not sure what the issue is - they don’t do enough chores or wash their hair well enough?

FFS. this is your kid reacting to the stress of TJ. If he is able enough to get into TJ then there is no “hidden disability” that is the source of the issue. That said I’m positive you can get your kid an ADHD dx and put them on amphetamines to get through TJ.

Anonymous wrote:The pod are correct though. You might be seeing the behaviors because so much of the energy is going to academics. If the academics were easier, the kid might have more margin to cope with the other stuff.

It could be autism but if it is, the advice above is still good.

My question is, at this age, ADHD seems treatable, but what about Autism? Especially if it's mild? The resistance, the unwillingness to do or eat certain things, the social issues...what helps teenagers make adjustments?

The pod are correct though. You might be seeing the behaviors because so much of the energy is going to academics. If the academics were easier, the kid might have more margin to cope with the other stuff.

It could be autism but if it is, the advice above is still good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone here have experience with suspecting a disability in high school?

Signs:
Food aversions (from a very young age)
Refusal to study
Struggles with social anxiety in certain situations
Avoidance of daily living tasks

The kid is obviously very bright so none of this came out until TJ is now pushing academic limits. Kid masks very very well. Appears very social, no problem making friends.

Where do you start with testing? Do I ask the school?

Perhaps transfer your kid back to their home school. Running people close to the upper bounds of their coping ability is a poor choice.

To succeed long term, people have to enjoy life, school, work enough to find meaning in going forward.

This may not be a question of what diagnosis your child may have. It may be about whether they are in the right environment to foster their growth.

Kid is actually doing fine academically, but the signs I mentioned are not improving despite attempting many at home techniques and hiring an executive coach. Sending back to the home school will allow the behaviors to continue.

Also adding that kid expressed that they would not be opposed to testing and also felt that ADHD might be an issue, but after recognizing kid was the only one in a big group to not eat a very popular food. It sort of dawned on me this behavior is pretty outside the norm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone here have experience with suspecting a disability in high school?

Signs:
Food aversions (from a very young age)
Refusal to study
Struggles with social anxiety in certain situations
Avoidance of daily living tasks

The kid is obviously very bright so none of this came out until TJ is now pushing academic limits. Kid masks very very well. Appears very social, no problem making friends.

Where do you start with testing? Do I ask the school?

Perhaps transfer your kid back to their home school. Running people close to the upper bounds of their coping ability is a poor choice.

To succeed long term, people have to enjoy life, school, work enough to find meaning in going forward.

This may not be a question of what diagnosis your child may have. It may be about whether they are in the right environment to foster their growth.

Kid is actually doing fine academically, but the signs I mentioned are not improving despite attempting many at home techniques and hiring an executive coach. Sending back to the home school will allow the behaviors to continue.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it’s just the pressure of TJ? Lots of very bright kids do not do well in that environment.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone here have experience with suspecting a disability in high school?

Signs:
Food aversions (from a very young age)
Refusal to study
Struggles with social anxiety in certain situations
Avoidance of daily living tasks

The kid is obviously very bright so none of this came out until TJ is now pushing academic limits. Kid masks very very well. Appears very social, no problem making friends.

Where do you start with testing? Do I ask the school?

Perhaps transfer your kid back to their home school. Running people close to the upper bounds of their coping ability is a poor choice.

To succeed long term, people have to enjoy life, school, work enough to find meaning in going forward.

This may not be a question of what diagnosis your child may have. It may be about whether they are in the right environment to foster their growth.

Maybe it’s just the pressure of TJ? Lots of very bright kids do not do well in that environment.

Does anyone here have experience with suspecting a disability in high school?

Signs:
Food aversions (from a very young age)
Refusal to study
Struggles with social anxiety in certain situations
Avoidance of daily living tasks

The kid is obviously very bright so none of this came out until TJ is now pushing academic limits. Kid masks very very well. Appears very social, no problem making friends.

Where do you start with testing? Do I ask the school?