Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this. ADHD is only supposed to be diagnosed if attention issues are causing significant impact at school. If the child simply scores below the norm, that is not ADHD. I would get a 2nd opinion.

You are incredibly incorrect. ADHD is diagnosed when symptoms are present across multiple environments, not just school and not just significantly. There are also multiple assessments used to diagnose ADHD, some are norm-referenced, some are not.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The issue is that DD’s attention issues are “mild” and she didn’t meet all the requirements for a strong ADHD diagnosis, including questionnaires from teachers. If anything it was ONE parents answers that might take her into ADHD diagnosis category. Otherwise not quite there.

I am not trying to hide anything. I don’t know how I feel about formally perhaps overstating the ADHD when we know she is dyslexic and want to get services for that! It seems as though we can more easily get services for her in public school if we go through both channels. But I am not convinced that DD is ADHD.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP from 11:40 here ... not using the quote button to avoid an extensively long post, but I'll try to address all questions about it.

1st, how would they know? Today, it'll mainly through self-disclosure on applications. Take the FAA example. There's an FAA medical certificate that requires an application / medical history form and an exam by an FAA-certified doctor. One of the questions on that exam is "have you ever been diagnosed with..." a long list of conditions, including ADD/ADHD. Heavy emphasis on the "ever" - they truly are asking if you've ever had this in your lifetime.

Some items on that list simply require an explanation or supporting documentation, and then they can issue the medical certificate. For example, I have to check "yes" to diabetes because I had gestational diabetes 10 years ago - but I just show records from my doctor that it resolved after childbirth, and now it's a non-issue (but I still have to report it on every recurring application). Some of the items, including ADD/ADHD, are considered disqualifying. The FAA doesn't consider ADD/ADHD to be a condition that you can "grow out of" or "manage"; if you had it once, you have it forever. So, generally speaking, the FAA finds out because people go to fill out the required application and check "yes" in that box (often not understanding the implications until after they've done it), and the application is denied.

If you do have a childhood diagnosis like this and check "no" on your application, that's in violation of a couple of federal laws, which could have penalties ranging from fines to loss of certificates if they find out. They might not ever find out ... but as records become more electronic and centralized, I think our kids are going to have smaller chances of slipping under the radar on stuff like this. Regardless, I wouldn't advocate lying on a federal form.

To the other PP who sought services in 2nd grade - if your child was physically aggressive, then you did the right thing! This is all about weighing near term benefit with potential long-term effects. If treatment is needed, it's needed, and you shouldn't be deterred by worrying about what she "may" want to do in 20 years. The FAA exam affects a very small percentage of the population! In the long run, she's better off by having the condition treated. I hope your child got the help she deserves and is managing well. I'm only offering these issues up as a consideration for those borderline cases where a diagnosis may not have as much benefit and people are looking for all pros and cons.

You do realize your are posting on a special needs forum? Why do you think it is appropriate to come on here and tell parents that the diagnoses they are getting can hold their children back from work one day, are you really that insensitive or do you just feel like being in a superior mood today?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP from 11:40 here ... not using the quote button to avoid an extensively long post, but I'll try to address all questions about it.

1st, how would they know? Today, it'll mainly through self-disclosure on applications. Take the FAA example. There's an FAA medical certificate that requires an application / medical history form and an exam by an FAA-certified doctor. One of the questions on that exam is "have you ever been diagnosed with..." a long list of conditions, including ADD/ADHD. Heavy emphasis on the "ever" - they truly are asking if you've ever had this in your lifetime.

Some items on that list simply require an explanation or supporting documentation, and then they can issue the medical certificate. For example, I have to check "yes" to diabetes because I had gestational diabetes 10 years ago - but I just show records from my doctor that it resolved after childbirth, and now it's a non-issue (but I still have to report it on every recurring application). Some of the items, including ADD/ADHD, are considered disqualifying. The FAA doesn't consider ADD/ADHD to be a condition that you can "grow out of" or "manage"; if you had it once, you have it forever. So, generally speaking, the FAA finds out because people go to fill out the required application and check "yes" in that box (often not understanding the implications until after they've done it), and the application is denied.

If you do have a childhood diagnosis like this and check "no" on your application, that's in violation of a couple of federal laws, which could have penalties ranging from fines to loss of certificates if they find out. They might not ever find out ... but as records become more electronic and centralized, I think our kids are going to have smaller chances of slipping under the radar on stuff like this. Regardless, I wouldn't advocate lying on a federal form.

To the other PP who sought services in 2nd grade - if your child was physically aggressive, then you did the right thing! This is all about weighing near term benefit with potential long-term effects. If treatment is needed, it's needed, and you shouldn't be deterred by worrying about what she "may" want to do in 20 years. The FAA exam affects a very small percentage of the population! In the long run, she's better off by having the condition treated. I hope your child got the help she deserves and is managing well. I'm only offering these issues up as a consideration for those borderline cases where a diagnosis may not have as much benefit and people are looking for all pros and cons.

You do realize your are posting on a special needs forum? Why do you think it is appropriate to come on here and tell parents that the diagnoses they are getting can hold their children back from work one day, are you really that insensitive or do you just feel like being in a superior mood today?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP from 11:40 here ... not using the quote button to avoid an extensively long post, but I'll try to address all questions about it.

1st, how would they know? Today, it'll mainly through self-disclosure on applications. Take the FAA example. There's an FAA medical certificate that requires an application / medical history form and an exam by an FAA-certified doctor. One of the questions on that exam is "have you ever been diagnosed with..." a long list of conditions, including ADD/ADHD. Heavy emphasis on the "ever" - they truly are asking if you've ever had this in your lifetime.

Some items on that list simply require an explanation or supporting documentation, and then they can issue the medical certificate. For example, I have to check "yes" to diabetes because I had gestational diabetes 10 years ago - but I just show records from my doctor that it resolved after childbirth, and now it's a non-issue (but I still have to report it on every recurring application). Some of the items, including ADD/ADHD, are considered disqualifying. The FAA doesn't consider ADD/ADHD to be a condition that you can "grow out of" or "manage"; if you had it once, you have it forever. So, generally speaking, the FAA finds out because people go to fill out the required application and check "yes" in that box (often not understanding the implications until after they've done it), and the application is denied.

If you do have a childhood diagnosis like this and check "no" on your application, that's in violation of a couple of federal laws, which could have penalties ranging from fines to loss of certificates if they find out. They might not ever find out ... but as records become more electronic and centralized, I think our kids are going to have smaller chances of slipping under the radar on stuff like this. Regardless, I wouldn't advocate lying on a federal form.

To the other PP who sought services in 2nd grade - if your child was physically aggressive, then you did the right thing! This is all about weighing near term benefit with potential long-term effects. If treatment is needed, it's needed, and you shouldn't be deterred by worrying about what she "may" want to do in 20 years. The FAA exam affects a very small percentage of the population! In the long run, she's better off by having the condition treated. I hope your child got the help she deserves and is managing well. I'm only offering these issues up as a consideration for those borderline cases where a diagnosis may not have as much benefit and people are looking for all pros and cons.

You do realize your are posting on a special needs forum? Why do you think it is appropriate to come on here and tell parents that the diagnoses they are getting can hold their children back from work one day, are you really that insensitive or do you just feel like being in a superior mood today?

Anonymous wrote:Better for the schools to know during the application process if your DD has an ADHD diagnosis, then to have it come up later and the school asks your child to leave the school because they can't handle the behaviors.

Anonymous wrote:PP from 11:40 here ... not using the quote button to avoid an extensively long post, but I'll try to address all questions about it.

1st, how would they know? Today, it'll mainly through self-disclosure on applications. Take the FAA example. There's an FAA medical certificate that requires an application / medical history form and an exam by an FAA-certified doctor. One of the questions on that exam is "have you ever been diagnosed with..." a long list of conditions, including ADD/ADHD. Heavy emphasis on the "ever" - they truly are asking if you've ever had this in your lifetime.

Some items on that list simply require an explanation or supporting documentation, and then they can issue the medical certificate. For example, I have to check "yes" to diabetes because I had gestational diabetes 10 years ago - but I just show records from my doctor that it resolved after childbirth, and now it's a non-issue (but I still have to report it on every recurring application). Some of the items, including ADD/ADHD, are considered disqualifying. The FAA doesn't consider ADD/ADHD to be a condition that you can "grow out of" or "manage"; if you had it once, you have it forever. So, generally speaking, the FAA finds out because people go to fill out the required application and check "yes" in that box (often not understanding the implications until after they've done it), and the application is denied.

If you do have a childhood diagnosis like this and check "no" on your application, that's in violation of a couple of federal laws, which could have penalties ranging from fines to loss of certificates if they find out. They might not ever find out ... but as records become more electronic and centralized, I think our kids are going to have smaller chances of slipping under the radar on stuff like this. Regardless, I wouldn't advocate lying on a federal form.

To the other PP who sought services in 2nd grade - if your child was physically aggressive, then you did the right thing! This is all about weighing near term benefit with potential long-term effects. If treatment is needed, it's needed, and you shouldn't be deterred by worrying about what she "may" want to do in 20 years. The FAA exam affects a very small percentage of the population! In the long run, she's better off by having the condition treated. I hope your child got the help she deserves and is managing well. I'm only offering these issues up as a consideration for those borderline cases where a diagnosis may not have as much benefit and people are looking for all pros and cons.