| Q: I have a young boy, and he is turning 14. This year at school he has been a real problem in the classroom from what this teachers tell me. He had to be evaluated twice so far this school year and I'm afraid he might have ADD or something worse. He has been cutting class, talking back, sleeping in class, and other non attentive matters. Do you think he has ADD or ADHD? And if he does, will I need to take him to a doctor to get medication? I really appreciate the time you took to read this, and I hope you can answer my questions. Signed,
Anonymous A: Thank you for taking the time to e-mail your concerns. It sounds as if the behavior you described is new for your son. This behavior can be caused by many variables, such as change of school, change in family composition, work load too stressful, academics too hard, or other environmental factors. There can also be organic factors, such as ADD, ADHD, depression, and others.
You wrote that he has been evaluated twice this school year. I will assume that one of those evaluations was a psychological evaluation by the school psychologist. Aside from intelligence and achievement testing (which will yield an IQ score and look at possible learning disabilities), the evaluation most likely included a behavior rating scale, to be completed by both the teacher and parent. These scales are beneficial in helping to determine the likely sources of behavior difficulties.
It is important that you meet with the school psychologist to review the results and ask any specific questions you have.
If it is felt that ADD/ADHD or even depression is a likely source, you will be able to discuss treatment options, such as medication (can be prescribed by a pediatrician, psychiatrist, neurologist-by the way there are both stimulants and non-stimulants for ADD/ADHD), or even options such as smaller class size, school counseling, or outside therapy.
To sum up, while I don’t have enough information to give an exact answer to your question, I recommend that you meet with the diagnostic team at your son’s school. Review all evaluation results, ask questions about the treatment options they recommend, and what special services are available at the school to help your son. This way you can make an informed decision regarding educational planning to best meet your son’s needs.
Thank you,
~ Carol Bottstein
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