Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd test for inattentive ADHD with what you've described.

This^. I would sh someone had me diagnosed. I memorized to collect degrees but missed out on understanding the material part unless it was really interesting.

OP here: she definitely memorizes (or at least tries to and then forgets what she memorized) but is really behind in some subjects like math and science because she doesn't understand. I just don't know if it’s her being too lazy to put the effort in to study and actually try. Maybe shes just bored in class so instead of trying to learn she just doodles or daydreams.

Classic, classic ADHD inattentive. Depending on your financial resources, you have 3 options for diagnosing ADHD:

1) pediatrician -- some pediatricians will diagnose ADHD on the basis of questionnaires given to parent, student and teacher -- usually the Vanderbilt or Connors forms. This is normed and standardized and an accepted way to diagnose. Lower cost because your pediatric visit is covered by insurance and usually has only a low copay.

2) psychiatrist -- a psychiatrist will diagnose ADHD based on discussion held during the intake visit and Connors or Vanderbilt. TBH, a psychiatrist who is skilled in ADHD can tell a lot about diagnosis just from the discussion with the student - not just the history that is relayed but the degree of mental organization of speech and tasks. The good thing about going to a psychiatrist is that they are better than the pediatrician at differentiating other things like depression or anxiety that are sometimes co-morbid with ADHD. The other good thing about using a psychiatrist is that they are much more experienced with the wide variety of stimulant and non-stimulant medications for ADHD. If the first med your pediatrician prescribes works, that's great, but often kids need to try a few different types and experiment with extended release v immediate release and how/when to take so as not to negatively impact sleep and nutrition. Psychiatric visits are generally harder to find, and, if you have to go out of network, much more expensive. (OON=$250+/hr)

3) psychoeducational or neuropsychological exam -- these evaluations usually take place over 2 days. The psychologist meets with parents, student and asks for a lot more intake forms to be completed. Then there are many tests over the 2 day period: IQ testing, achievement testing in all areas, attention testing, executive function testing, and other tests in problem areas. The psychoeducational assessment will produce a diagnosis (or diagnoses) with extensive assessment of strengths and weaknesses that may indicate how the diagnosis (if it is ADHD) impacts other areas (reading, writing, math, social relationships, mood, etc.) But, a psychologist cannot prescribe medication, so if ADHD is the diagnosis, you will have to share report with a pediatrician or psychiatrist who can prescribe medication. The advantage of this kind of assessment is that you have a complete report you can take to the school to ask for an IEP or 504 plan, and the report should recommend which to ask for (IEP if the student needs special instruction and 504 if the student needs accommodation only) and suggest specific accommodations. This type of exam is the most expensive - usually around 3500-5000 dollars. TBH, if you can afford it, I would recommend doing this at least once, so you have a very clear idea about diagnosis and impact.

If you cannot afford a psychoed assessment, you can ask the school to do one, but I regularly see pretty crappy ones - not enough testing, and testing is interpreted in misleading ways so as to minimize the legal obligations of the school.

OP, I am a tutor and a parent of kids with ADHD. As a tutor, I regularly see ADHD kids have trouble in math because they aren't getting the right instruction in the classroom and/or they don't have the right accommodations - it's not a lack of capacity to understand but rather ill-fitting instruction and lack of accommodation. Bright ADHD kids seem fine in math in early ES, but by MS and HS, they must have math fact fluency. Many ADHD kids who are very bright still can't reliably and quickly recite math facts and without a calculator accommodation, they fall behind in math and do poorly on tests. In addition, counterintuitively, they need more time to recheck work to avoid impulsive mistakes. Plus, they need explicit instruction in the physical, written organization of math on paper, and the translation of words to symbols. This kind of instruction is rarely given at school (public or private), so a tutor is, IME, the best support for these kids, usually starting in pre-algebra or algebra if you want them to have a good foundation. I regularly see bright ADHD kids who take the hardest math and science classes (Calc and AP Physics C typically) and do well if they have calculator accommodation, extra time, copy of class notes and extended/rescheduled deadlines.

OP, please stop doing the bolded -- misperceiving the bolded (lazy, not interested) as a motivational or lack of will problem instead of a function of the biological brain difference that is ADHD. That is classic ADHD stigma and discrimination -- ADHD kids are not lazy, unmotivated, etc. They have a brain chemistry and networking that is atypical and so are not able to direct their attention like neurotypical kids. There are downsides to ADHD, but there are also superpowers, like the ADHD hyper focus.

Please help her by getting her assessed for ADHD and treated. Medication is extremely helpful for many ADHD kids. Tutoring and executive function support can also be helpful, but for many ADHDers that is no substitute for medication.

If you don't address this in a positive, helpful way, she will become more and more disconnected from school, falling further behind, affecting both her self-esteem and her future opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd test for inattentive ADHD with what you've described.

This^. I would sh someone had me diagnosed. I memorized to collect degrees but missed out on understanding the material part unless it was really interesting.

OP here: she definitely memorizes (or at least tries to and then forgets what she memorized) but is really behind in some subjects like math and science because she doesn't understand. I just don't know if it’s her being too lazy to put the effort in to study and actually try. Maybe shes just bored in class so instead of trying to learn she just doodles or daydreams.

Anonymous wrote:How would the diagnoses work? Will she have to take some kind of test? Someone mentioned a teacher needs to be involved too, is that true? We would just go to the pediatrician right?