Anonymous wrote:I'm sure there are many boys at Landon, as at St. Albans and Sidwell, etc., who have symptoms of ADD or perhaps have had a formal diagnosis. The vast majority and perhaps nearly all are on medication. In getting the testing done, make clear to the tester whether you are seeking a formal ADD diagnosis (so you can get special treatment in school, more time for tests, etc. -- mostly for people who aren't on medication or for whom the meds don't work) or whether you want a report that indicates whether some ADD symptoms exist, so you can get a meds prescription, but not a formal ADD diagnosis. I think the latter symptoms-only report is what most people seek. The meds immensely help the child and improve your day to day life at home as well - seen it happen over and over again with kids and families - home chaos to relative calm; school difficulties and struggles to school success and focus; sports mediocrity to sports focus and success.
This strategy will only work if your DC really is on the borderline. If s/he clearly has or does not have ADHD, a good tester will not write the report to order. And the schools are savvy enough to know that what they need to examine is the actual behavior of the child, not what the diagnosis is.
I would add that even kids on meds need accommodations - medicine helps control symptoms but doesn't eliminate all differences.