ADD for a straight A 10th grader?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Hello All, I've been a visitor here for a while. This is a wonderful site. I've got many ideas from my readings here.
This is my first post. I need some help and opinion on my daughter's case. </p>

<p>She is a smart, sweet person, a straight A student all along. She is a young sophomore in high school. (will be 14 at the end of the year.) Her good academic performance is partly caused by family expectations – since she was little, she knew we expected her to do well in school. Now it has become her own expectations. She would feel bad if she gets a grade lower than an A, even when her parents told her it’s okay. When she was 11, she did talent search and qualified for CTY summer program. Since then she’s been doing CTY online and summer camps and greatly enjoyed them. In school, she is now taking a couple AP classes and doing reasonably well. she is also an excellent musician, plays three instruments, two out of which at All State band level. She is overall a happy person, has good friends in school and enjoys school very much. </p>

<p>But we know there is a problem. Finally D. brought it up to us herself and asked for help. </p>

<p>The problem actually started when she was in elementary school – we as parents feel she has been having attention problem. She is extremely easy to get distracted. for example, when she takes piano lessons, she constantly talks to her teacher about the teacher's pets and birds that fly by, to the point that often the teacher gets frustrated. D. is talented, I guess, so the teacher doesn't want to give up on her. She has trouble focusing on things. </p>

<p>A few days ago, she brought it up to us in tears. She says she agrees with us, while in the past, she had always been in denial when we suggested that she should talk to a doctor. She now tells us that she denied she had problem because she did not want to take any medication. She heard the meds will change a person and she was scared about the possible change. She says she has serious attention problem. She can’t concentrate on school work, and SHE CAN’T EVEN CONCENTRATE ON THE FUN THINGS SHE IS DOING, LIKE COSPLAY. She can’t focus on her task, etc. she asked me to connect her to a doctor so she can be evaluated. </p>

<p>I called the doctor’s office. They told me to get a packet. The parents need to fill out things, and all of her teachers need to fill out evaluation forms. </p>

<p>My question is - Will we even have a case? So far in 10th grade, only one teacher once told us D. liked to play with her hair and doodle. All the other teachers say she is very mature and smart and all that. The comments from the teachers during parent/teacher conference have been overwhelmingly good. </p>

<p>Husband and I thought and also suggested to her that it might be a syndrome of perfectionist, or maybe she was doing too much. But D. says “no, if the doctor sees how I work, she’ll say boy this girl has ADD.” </p>

<p>So what do you think of her situation? Should we take her to see a doctor? If any of you had similar situation, do you think if the teachers say she is so good, will the doctor even evaluate her? Also, what is the impact of being diagnosed as ADD at 10th grade? etc. etc. I would really appreciate some comments.</p>

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<p>Listen to your daughter and your “gut”. Have her evaluated by a qualified neuropsychologist. Have the evaluation done privately–not through the school. It should include a couple of days of testing which would also tease out if she has a learning disorder. If you find that she has inattentive-type ADHD, let her try medication. I have two daughters similar to yours and medication did not change their personalities. It just brought everything into focus for them.</p>

<p>The impact of being diagnosed in 10th grade will likely improve her schoolwork and SAT scores and most importantly, will greatly improve her chances of success in college. It will also decrease the stress she experiences as work becomes more difficult and she tries to keep it all together. Good luck!! No down side to a private eval, but you may have to pay out of pocket.</p>

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<p>In addition to the evaluation forms, I believe there is an actual test that is done to try to determine ADD. My daughter (age 17) has had it a couple of times over the years. The results have actually been inconclusive… she seems to be right on the line between having it/not having it.</p>

<p>To be honest, I don’t think your daughter sounds any more distractable than any other 14 year old. A lot of them doodle, play with their hair, and would rather talk about something like a bird or a pet than play their instrument. Given your daughter’s perfectionist tendancies, she may think she should be focused EVERY SINGLE MINUTE. Pretty much no one is, including most adults.</p>

<p>But there is no harm in the evaluation and testing. And you do not have to do anything with the information if she is diagnosed unless you want to. If she has a diagnosis and you think it is necessary, there steps that can be taken without medication. Sitting in front of the classroom, taking tests in a separate quiet area, etc. You do not have to reveal the information to colleges unless you want to. </p>

<p>I would also add that a child can be very bright and also have some kind of disability like ADD. My daughter has something called a non-verbal learning disability, but also has CTY-worthy scores, etc. The term used in that case is “2E” (twice exceptional – once as gifted, and once with some kind of learning disability).</p>

<p>There are definitely parents out here who know more about ADD (some have kids with it, and I also believe there might be a few parents who are professionals in the field and sometimes offer advice). So they may have more to add or a different perspective.</p>

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<p>There is no absolutely certain way to diagnose ADD. And, gifted with ADD can be hard to diagnose because quite a few of the behaviors are the same. Gifted and perfectionist can go together too. Based on the kids I’ve known (including all the variants of gifted/ADD/perfectionist), I would guess that she is not ADD - ADD/gifted kids rarely get to 10th grade without having had some serious misfires. But I could surely be wrong. Get some testing/evaluation and talk to a pro. Let your daughter know that IF she is ADD, there are many things to do - and the medication is not a required choice. THere are a lot of different meds too, and dose levels can often be small. No school needs to know the diagnosis if you don’t want to give it out. It can help too.</p>

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<p>Hormones, anxiety and stress can all be factors as well. My D sounds similar to yours and we had her evaluated in sophomore year as well. Results were inconclusive. The psychologist also had us keep track of her “freak outs” and when she felt like she couldn’t concentrate. Turned out the problems seem to have a cyclical nature. Birth control pills have helped enormously. She can still be distracted easily but overall so much better. Just our experience.</p>

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<p>She may get the diagnosis, but don’t count on any accommodations from the school. Knowing there it is there and if medication is appropriate can help. I would first look at things at home like is she getting enough sleep. A LOT of kids that don’t get enough sleep exhibit ADD tendencies…heck if I don’t get enough sleep my concentration is nill.</p>

<p>Have her tested if you think she needs it but also make sure she isn’t just being a teenager too.</p>

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<p>I did some math here, because my daughter is young for grade, and yours seemed more than just “young.” If she’s 13 for the vast majority of 10th grade (how I read “will be 14 at the end of the year,” I get a double grade skip on top of having a late birthday. Even if “the end of the year” is December, that’s a single grade skip on top of barely making the birthdate cut in a state that has the latest dates.</p>

<p>So she’s in class with kids who are 2 and a half years older than she is?</p>

<p>It’s possible that there’s some real issue there, and she’s masterfully compensating. (The masterful compensation would not surprise me in the least.) It’s possible that the real issue is inattentive ADD (although “can’t concentrate on things I like” IMHO speaks against ADD), or that it’s boredom / anxiety / stress / perfectionism / depression / unidentified learning disability. It’s possible that she thinks there’s some edge she’d get from ADD meds, and thinks she’s identified a plan to get them.</p>

<p>I fourth the suggestion for a professional evaluation, ideally with someone who “gets” way-out-there-gifted kids. And don’t assume that the first answer will turn out to be the right one, even then.</p>

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<p>It is more typical of someone with ADD to be distractible when doing a tedious task, but hyperfocused when doing something fun and absorbing. A girl with ADD would typically be distracted by a squirrel when doing her math homework, but undisturbed by a grenade going off three feet from her when reading her favorite novel.</p>

<p>But I am not a psychologist, and I do not diagnose over the internet. If you can afford it, and if you are concerned, get testing.</p>

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<p>Our daughter was diagnosed in elementary school. We have always been up front with her about it, but refrained from making it a defining characteristic. She has learned very effectively to find ways of working with it over the years, never taking accommodations or medicine. It was very helpful for her to know and understand that about herself, though. She has realized, in particular, that the more active she is the easier it is for her to concentrate. So, she is active in sports and gets up to run around or do jumping jacks in the middle of studying!</p>

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<p>Does your daughter have a friend with add? Is she researching this herself on the Internet? She is self diagnosing and seeing the “worst” case scenario for herself.</p>

<p>My daughter thought she had a serious knee issue, turns out her car seat was adjusted incorrectly. Other daughter was freaked out over her itchy palms, thought she had some sort of weird rash. Turns out it was her face cream. Long story.</p>

<p>Anyway, at this age, being overly sensitive, overly Booker, overwhelmed, whether they admit it or not, kids often grab onto something.</p>

<p>My fear would be that she has convinced herself she has add and that may skew the results of any tests and diagnosis.</p>

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<p>I am not trying to downplay add. Just suggesting that sometimes this age range can work themselves in a froth when it’s just normal teenage stuff.</p>

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<p>“I believe there is an actual test that is done to try to determine ADD.”</p>

<p>You might be thinking of the TOVA, or some other kind of continuous performance test, and they are not diagnostic.</p>

<p>“Utility of a CPT in diagnosing ADHD among a representative sample of high-risk children: a cautionary study.”</p>

<p><a href=“Utility of a CPT in diagnosing ADHD among a representative sample of high-risk children: a cautionary study - PubMed”>Utility of a CPT in diagnosing ADHD among a representative sample of high-risk children: a cautionary study - PubMed;

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<p>Just 13 and a sophomore taking two AP classes and partaking in summer programs for advanced students? And apparently no really troubling behavior of any kind (you certainly didn’t mention any)? She sounds like a terrific student and a healthy kid. Why would you meddle with that? </p>

<p>There’s an old saying that I think applies here: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”</p>

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<p>It is the student who is asking for help, not the poster. OP, I might suggest you think of this as your child asking for help, rather than asking for a specific diagnosis. Agree to “an evaluation” for “school problems” if she wants, but with the understanding that the goal is not to end up with a specific diagnosis.</p>

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<p>^ I know that it is the student who asked for help, but it is the OP, the parent, who is asking here whether she should comply with the D’s wishes and pursue medical options.</p>

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<p>I see. And I can also see that there is some history as to why she (the student) is asking. </p>

<p>Still, I wonder if Seahorserock’s kid asked to have her knee checked, and Seahroserock said “no, don’t be silly. It ain’t broke”, would that be okay too.</p>

<p>I saw a girl recently, discharged after an OD, who had been diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, then had meds increased because she still felt she was struggling. Objectively, she is doing great. But she still feels she is struggling. Now she is on stimulants AND antidepressants.</p>

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<p>It could be she’s working on overload for her maturity level and she’s afraid of not living up to the family’s high expectations. Back off a bit and let her be a kid. She does sound like a normal 14 year old—playing with her hair, doodling, talking about random things. Give her the freedom the be a child (including setting age appropriate expectations). Soon enough, she’ll be distracted by the latest hair style trends, new clothes, and boys–:).</p>

<p>She sounds like a wonderful girl. IMO–She sounds stressed—doing too much and trying to live up to expectations beyond her maturity level.</p>

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<p>If I may offer a few observations from the perspective of a pediatrician and father, I would agree that you should have your daughter evaluated by a psychologist but not specifically for ADD. There is no single diagnostic test for ADD, and the condition is both over-diagnosed and under-diagnosed. ADD/ADHD is more common in boys than in girls; with girls ADD without hyperactivity is more common but still not as prevalent as it is with boys. Many adolescents these days are ‘self-diagnosing’ or faking symptoms in order to get prescriptions for stimulant medicines to improve performance in school and on standardized tests (I should stress that I do not at all think your daughter is doing the latter). ADD is a syndrome, not a specific condition with specific causes. To make the diagnosis a physician or psychologist must determine that the patient meets the criteria AND that there is no other diagnosis that would explain the symptoms. The process of reaching diagnosis varies with the individual professional and can range from a simple interview to a battery of tests and evaluations.</p>

<p>From what you have written it is clear that your daughter is under a great deal of stress. You have very high expectations for her academic performance, and she has internalized those expectations. She is a year younger than her classmates at an age when a large amount of physical and emotional change is occurring. I might add that I am familiar with this situation from personal experience dating to when I was her age 50 years ago. She is in all likelihood trying to do too much.</p>

<p>I am more concerned with the stress and the possibility of depression than with ADD. Either of these could easily account for the symptoms she is experiencing. Both you and she should be aware that the medications most commonly used for treating ADD are very strong and potentially dangerous. It would be far better to avoid them if possible.</p>

<p>Your daughter is reaching out to you for help at a critical time in her life, and you are responding with appropriate love, support, and concern. Please proceed carefully and do not fall victim to what in medicine is termed ‘premature closure’: reaching a diagnosis before a full evaluation is completed. Also, however, it would be wrong to ignore the symptoms and hope they will go away. </p>

<p>Look for an empathetic psychologist, preferably one who has a special interest in adolescents and not one who specializes in making ADD diagnoses. </p>

<p>I hope everything goes well.</p>

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<p>It seems like your D is distressed/frustrated/upset/perplexed - something, and is asking for help. An assessment, I think, is a proper response.</p>

<p>I agree, keep it separate from the school and private, and remain open to different ways of addressing whatever it is that’s bothering her. If she’s upset, it’s worth looking into. Could just be hormones kicking up a mild attention span issue - it could sort of “pass”. </p>

<p>You’re a good parent for listening and being concerned.</p>

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<p>My daughter is ADD (or inattentive ADHD) as well as gifted. This is something she has had from the day she was born, not something she developed later. The only accomodations she gets at school are to sit in front of the class and extra time on tests if she needs it. She usually only needs it for math. She also takes medication that allow her to operate up to her own potential. Although my daughter has now developed systems to help her study and get her work done, there are still signs of her ADD. She can’t keep her room clean or organized at all, she forgets things constantly, she takes much longer to complete assignments because of focus issues, and she is “quirky”. She is also a beautiful soul and a wonderful girl. What you describe does not sound like ADD, although I suggest you get her evaluated by a professional. Not a pediatrician, but a chlid neurologist or a child psychiatrist. </p>

<p>Sometimes we all hit a wall, where we just can’t keep up with the additional responsiblities that come with the next step of high school, college, job, whatever. Your DD sounds young, and just may not be developmentally ready for the workload that is required of a high achieveing sophmore. I’d get her evaluated, but be open a diagnosis that is not ADD. Good luck!</p>