ADHD just not understood

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Specializes in school/military/OR/home health.

I was in the middle of an IEP meeting when I realized that not only do the parents not understand their children with ADHD, the TEACHERS do not seem to understand it. Does this seem right? As a nurse, if I run into a patient with a condition, and I am not familiar, or if I have multiple patients with something and I am not familiar, I research.

Does anyone else feel like their teaching staff have very little understanding of what ADHD is and is not? Or am I taking this a little too personal? (one of my sons has ADHD and I have finally realized that I do, too, after a lifetime of thinking I am just crazy, but that's another thread entirely...)

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Specializes in DD, PD/Agency Peds, School Sites.

Former teacher here. One of my required credential classes was "The Exceptional Student," including those with ADD/ADHD.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Since I sit in on many intervention meetings the staff hears my same sermon over and over. I have to retrain new staff but otherwise most of them seem to be on board and understand how it manifests and what the procedure is for diagnosis and treatment.

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Since I sit in on many intervention meetings the staff hears my same sermon over and over. I have to retrain new staff but otherwise most of them seem to be on board and understand how it manifests and what the procedure is for diagnosis and treatment.

What's the sermon?

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What's the sermon?

Ditto, I'd love to know the sermon too.

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Specializes in school/military/OR/home health.

Yes, I must hear the sermon.

Give us the good word of Old Dude.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

This is from the OldDude Institute for ADD/ADHD Studies:

Predominant signs of ADD/ADHD

Having something constantly in hands to manipulate.

Grades are all over the map - 95, 92, 27, 31, 100...in many cases tests are not nearly completed.

Homework or paperwork to go home is often found in a heap in the kid's desk or locker and they have no recollection of how it got there.

Completing homework is an absolute nightmare for the parent.

Replacing the word "Hyperactive" with the word "Impulsivity" will clarify the classroom behavior associated with ADHD.

The child can stay interested and concentrate until the end of time on anything "they" are interested in. Today it usually is video games, TV, or reading about subjects of their interest.

I've yet to run across an ADD/ADHD kid who isn't above average or gifted/talented...some have a genius IQ.

This is the condensed version but it is the skeleton of signs.

Diagnosis is simple and easy by way of teacher and parent questionnaires.

Run from any pediatrician who wants a psychological referral to evaluate for ADD/ADHD.

If a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD is made by the pediatrician the only long term successful treatment is the use of stimulants.

Even though the initial medication dosage is at the lowest dose to start with the teacher will be able to see a positive effect on the 1st day it is taken.

Reminder charts, seating arrangements, counseling, nutritional supplements, essential oils, probiotics, karate, or anything other than a stimulant drug doesn't work for an extended period of time.

You can't reward these guys into compliance.

You can't punish these guys into compliance.

These kids are not intentional in their behavior, it's just how they are wired.

Usually, at least one of the parents parent will relate to the above mentioned behaviors.

I touch briefly on the consequences of untreated ADD/ADHD; risky behavior, drugs, alcohol, incarceration, increase in auto accidents.

I share my observations of how much happier the kids are and how behavior issues disappear when kids are treated with stimulants.

This is my spiel...I get reactions from horizon to horizon but I maintain these are observations I've made during my own transition from entering school nursing thinking ADD/ADHD was just an excuse for bad parenting and observation over the years of ADD/ADHD students and interventions; including my own child.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I know that feeling. I have a student who's like that, and as someone who has ADD, I know how he feels being treated like that with the teacher unable to understand how to work with him. I became his advocate and I love that I am helping someone when no one could help me as a child.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Thank you Ol' Wise One (aka...OD)! This is great information, copied and saved it for later use.

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Yes Thank you!

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Thank you for sharing that with us.

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