ADHD: What Schools Might Ask

As your child with ADHD enters elementary school, you may feel anxious about what his/her experience may be. If you grew up with ADHD, you know how frustrating school can be and how this can translate to issues with self-confidence, social skills, and scholastic achievement.

You may wonder what you can do to help. Regular communication with your child's teacher and with the school administration can make a difference in your child's school experience. But what should you say?

Here's what the school should know about your child with ADHD:

1. Is your child on medication? Does this medication have side effects? Do you need teachers to tell you if the medication seems to be helping or not? Does your child need to take another pill during the school day? Would you like medication to be administered as discreetly as possible?

2. What are your major concerns? Are you worried about your child's ability to sit still or focus? Are there strategies you use at home that you would like them to try at school? Would you like recommendations for licensed mental health practitioners in your area? Would you like your child to visit with the school psychologist?

3. What are your child's main symptoms? How can the school help to manage these symptoms? Do you have a diagnosis already or would you like the school to perform a behavioral assessment?

4. Are there accommodations your child might need during the school day like noise-canceling headphones during tests or permission to sit in the hall if he/she is feeling overwhelmed?

At first, I wondered if it would be better to not mention my child's struggles until the teacher mentioned it because I did not want to give the teacher any preconceived notions about my child, but I have found this approach to be counter-productive. By informing the teacher and principal about your child's symptoms from the beginning, the school can hopefully separate the child from manifestations of the disorder and experiment with different tools to help meet the child's specific learning needs.

Many schools, however, can be difficult to work with. ADHD is a disorder that is still widely misunderstood by the general public, so you will have to advocate for your child. Children with inattentive ADHD often fall through the cracks of diagnosis and accommodations because they are usually not disruptive to the classroom environment. On the other hand, children with hyperactive ADHD often get labeled as troublemakers and find themselves constantly corrected or in trouble, which can be difficult to deal with.

In working with schools, you should know that, unfortunately, administrators can be notoriously unwilling to help until you force their hand. This is because of money. The cost of implementing accommodations, IEPs (Individualized Education Plans), and hiring additional paraprofessionals is something most administrators try to get around. You should also know, though, that you have legal rights that include appropriate accommodations for your child. You can have a doctor write a request for accommodations for your child and the school legally must work with you to appropriately fulfill that request.

It can get exhausting trying to explain your child's symptoms to new teachers year after year, but it will do a lot to help your child have a positive experience. To personalize a pre-written letter to your child's teacher, click here.