ADD/LD re-testing for college application

My daughter presently has a 504 plan due to ADD and dyslexia at her public HS. UC Irvine is requesting a whole new battery of testing by a psychologist or neurologist. Has anyone used private insurance for testing? I'm hoping if I find a neurologist my insurance will cover most of it. Right now the well known psychologists are going for $4200 to $6000 for the testing battery. Anyone been there done that? Advice? I'm thinking of going with Dr.Grandison if I choose a psychologist. Thanks! anon

My daughter was tested at the Ann Martin Center and I know someone who used the UC Berkeley Clinic. Both are in high demand and may not be able to accommodate you right away but are very competent and well worth the savings. Been There

I had been told that assessments are valid for three years. Therefore if your child is a sophomore, you would need to have a fresh assessment to see you through the rest of high school and to be eligible for accommodations on the standardized tests. What I don't know is what happens once the child starts college. Do you need to get yet another assessment to have on file with the college? If so, who do you meet with and get help from? Anyone with experience on this care to weigh in?

I have heard college admissions folks from Stanford, UC Davis, and St. Mary's all say that they really want to know when students who are applying have learning issues, but then they also all went on to say that admission to their respective institutions was based on high test scores, high gpa, etc. The impression they left with me was that, yes, they want to know, but no, such students don't receive any special consideration. If anything, such students are expected to do just as well as their peers despite having additional challenges to overcome. I'd love for parents of college-aged students who have learning issues to share with us what their experiences with these issues have been. What advice can you share with the rest of us? anonymous

My son had a double diagnosis of a learning disability and ADHD. As it turned out, accommodations based on the ADHD required only documentation from the psychiatrist. Accommodations based on the learning disability would have required re-testing. (There is an explanation for the difference -- I wish I could remember it...)

All my son needs is extra time on tests, so the simple way worked out perfectly for us. If he had needed more complex accomodations, there would have been no way out of the re-testing. (For example: a person to take notes for him, or recorded textbooks, or other things I'm not really familiar with.)

One last thing -- especially if re-testing turns out to be necessary. Reading the other posts, and the amounts that people have paid for testing leaves me a bit breathless. We went to the UC Berkeley Psychology Clinic and, for almost nothing, received the most careful, caring, and comprehensive testing imaginable. It is definitely an option to explore. anonymous

Who to diagnose and prescribe for ADD in teen?

My son is suddenly undone by lack of ability to manage his attention as the work load has increased in HIgh School. Who do you recommend to diagnose and help decide whether medication is the answer? Who can oversee managing this with alternatives to medication? Thanks anonymous, anxious

We saw Dr. Alan Siegel on Alcatraz in Oakland, phone 510- 527-7929. He was wonderful with my son and utterly professional. The full battery of tests were completed and he gave a very detailed report on specific issues and recommendations for treatment. It was well worth the time (several sessions of testing) and expense to have a full report with recommendations on how to address the issues.

Through trial and error we tried several medicines and enrolled him in organizational and time management programs. It took us years to realize that my son was integral to becoming successful. With all we could offer, he still had to stop denying the situation and take charge to find the work-arounds that fit for him and could make his life easier. (Really, we all do this whether we have ADD or not.)

As parents we tried our darndest to hand him the help. I think one of our mistakes was to try too hard to do for him and not share the issues in the report. Once he saw the report (at age 20 when new testing was needed to keep him covered by the Disabled Students Services at college), so many things fell into place for him.

I hope your son's road is easier and with fewer bumps for all of you. My son is now 24 and is truly enjoying his life -- without meds. Good luck! Anonymous Mom

Diagnosis for 6th grade daughter who may have ADD

We're looking for a local child psychologist/psychiatrist with experience in diagnosing ADD. Our 6th grade daughter has seen 4 therapists in other cities for a variety of ''symptoms'' but no one has suggested ADD. After doing my own research I think it highly likely she has ADD. Now in 6th grade her self esteem is suffering from her forgetfulness, distractedness, day-dreaming and mental confusion. It's been so many years of watching her symptoms with no relief from talk therapy- one therapist said ''oh no it could not be ADD and anyway that's too hard to accurately diagnose with most kids unless the teacher makes enough negative comments. But your daughter behaves well in class so it could not be ADD.'' Help! We just want to discuss her symptoms with someone who really knows ADD in girls. thanks, concerned mom

How can I get my teen son tested for ADHD?

Regarding Honors student can't stay focused on homework, Woud you please help with these questions:
- How can I get son tested for ADHD? He also has difficulty retaining the information that he learned/studied for, especially in Math and Science.
- We live in Cupertino, CA, is there a similiar organization as http://www.sos4students.com/ in our area?
Thank you for your help in advance
Anon

Will HMO pediatrican accept private MD's diagnosis?

I have read most of the posts and recommendations for pediatric psychiatrists and evaluators for ADD. It looks like most of the psychiatrists and evaluators for ADD are private - out of pocket pay (not under HMO's or insurance) AND they are expensive and they have long waiting lists. The HMO's and MD's covered by insurances tend to have to whip through diagnosing and testing and may miss a lot of significant information.

My question is this: Once you have seen a private physician and if his diagnosis seems correct and his recommended treatment - whether it is medication or not, is indeed helping the child - do you have any problems taking this diagnosis from the private physician to you child's primary care physician or a doctor within your HMO or insurance and saying - look here's what this MD did and this is what he prescribed and it works, we want to continue it. Or do they now send you again through their merry-go-round of lightning speed testing and make you live with their diagnosis or continue to pay high out of pocket fees to the private physician? cindy

Bothered by ADD evaluation at Kaiser

My eight-year-old son is a very enthusiastic student and tries hard in school but has been struggling with reading since 1st grade (he is in 2nd grade) so it was suggested that he be assessed by the district and evaluated for ADHD.

For the ADD evaluation, we went to Richmond Kaiser and during the 3-hour process, we filled out reams of paperwork, then sat in a room full of parents and heard a lecture from the head of behavioral psychiatry while our son was observed in a room with 12 kids of different ages (all of whom were being evaluated for behavioral problems). The psychiatrist told all the parents that the only treatment option for ADD is drugs and Ritalin has no side effects which I found hard to believe.

Directly after, we reconvened in a psychologist’s office with my son. It was awkward to discuss why we were doing the evaluation while he was in the room but we did our best. At one point, my spouse mentioned that our son’s gymnastics teacher said he doesn’t always follow instructions in his class and he had to give him a few ''time outs''. It was the only example we could think of behavior that might be different from his peers. Otherwise, he is an active little boy who is happy and mostly well-behaved. From preschool through second grade, teachers have said good things about his behavior.

My son told me later that during the group session one little girl got up and was turning the lights off and on, then a few kids started yelling: “we’re prisoners, we’re trapped here, let us out”. He admitted that he did some yelling too. He wouldn't say much about it beyond that.

After the appointment, we and his teachers completed evaluation forms about his behavior. A few weeks later, the psychologist left a phone message that he was negative for ADD/ADHD. However, she had observed some defiant/oppositional behavior. She offered us space in an Oppositional Defiant Disorder Workshop. At that point I was feeling so demoralized, I didn't bother calling back. I have since had a subsequent conversation with her and clarified that there will be a note in his medical record that she observed ''oppositional'' behavior in groups. It's not a diagnosis, just an observation and was supported by what my spouse had said about the gymnastics class. I thought about defending my son, explaining that it had been a bad day and his rowdy behavior was out of character but it seemed pointless.

I am still frustrated by the whole experience and feel like he got a raw deal. Have other parents who have been through an evaluation at Kaiser experienced something similar? frustrated mom

I strongly suggest that you tackle the reading problem soon. My son had reading problems since 2nd grade. I have tried everything know possible to get help for him. We have not had him tested for ADD. I have had private tutors, been to Sylvan Learning Center, been to Lindamood Bell program. I have spent so much money, with no significant improvement. He is in 7th grade now and his poor reading skills is effecting him. Just last week, I found about a place called Interactive Metronome. You can check them out on the net (they promise great reuslts like everyone else) We are going to see if that would help my son. Wish you the best. mother

Finding a specialist to evaluate a child

I'd like advice from parents who have had their child worked up for ADD by a practitioner who specializes in ADD diagnosis and treatment. Has anyone had a good experience? Also does anyone have any recommendations regarding Children's Hospital ADD clinic, The Amen clinic or Dr.Josephine Lindt? I've checked the archives and need more specific information. Also,ADD runs in our family and I think I may be affected. Any experience with specialists for adults? I checked with CHADD and they weren't very helpful. Thanks! ADD mom and child

My son's teacher recommended testing for ADD

I just had a conversation with my son's teacher which has led me to seek testing for ADD for him. My insurance (Health Net with Insight as their mental health providers) has given me four names of Drs. he can go to and have told me there are additional names and I should start with those. I've looked on the parent's site and one of the Dr.s that comes highly recommended, Dr. Brad Berman, is not one of their providers. Can anyone give me an opinion on any of the following doctors - past experiences, hearsay, whatever and/or recommend other Drs that are providers for Health Net and Inshight? Specifically my son presents symptoms more often associated with girls - such as distractability and innatentiveness among other things. He does not present hyperactivity in it's more traditional forms. Also, can anyone recommend what questions I should ask and what tests should be done? Thanks. Dr. Nemirow Dr. Feingold Dr. Fallenbum Dr. Siegel

Want to have 5-year-old evaluated for ADD

We are looking into having our son evaluated---for possible ADHD, and any other learning disabilities or whatever. Is there anyone out there who has traveled this path and can help me find the right resources? Our son will be 5 next week, and will start Kindergarten in Berkeley in the fall.

We saw Dr. Brad Berman (a developmental/behavioral pediatrician) last year, and we are scheduled to see him again in February. But I am interested in learning more about what's out there, and what sorts of testing we ought to be doing. We will probably need a psychologist, too. Can anyone help?

Barbara, School of Optometry

My son, Matt, was diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Ritalin in the 3rd grade. His behavior had become so impulsive and dangerous that my husband and I were scared of what he might do next. I was advised to have him tested for learning disabilities because of his reluctance to read and do homework even with our help. So the first thing I did was request testing from the School District Psychologist. Matt was put on a waiting list and tested four months later. The psychologist defined the problem as a short-term auditory memory disability combined with an anxious personality. Matt qualified for the Resource Specialist Program and Title I funding which requires the district to provide him with an individualized educ program geared toward his needs. Since January of 1996 he has been going to a special "quiet" classroom every afternoon with a group of five other children to practice reading, spelling and writing.

I am so happy and proud to say that he has improved incredibly this year. Not only academically but emotionally and socially as well. He is on the honor roll. He can read and chooses to do it. He does his homework. He cries less than he used to. He is managing his insomnia. He stopped fighting. He has made friends and has a stronger sense of self than ever before.

I think the key is finding what is at the root of the individual's problem. If you find the cause it may be possible to change the behavior that is a result of the problem. Resources I used in my quest for answers were: the web ADD site, the library (books on ADHD, learning disabilities, personality traits, child development, stress, discipline, etc.), other people who have experienced similar problems with their children or themselves, tutoring, family counseling, support groups, the UCB vision clinic, you name it. It took time, energy and patience to figure it out but it was worth it.

Please note however that there was a huge 20/20 type TV show that addressed the fact that CHAD is primarily funded by the pharmaceutical company that makes Ritalin. Ouch !! Many local chapters including ours pulled out from National Headquarters because of it.

I tend think that any "active" kid has a good chance of being labeled ADD/ADHD, even with the consensus of both a pediatrician and psychologist, as was the case with our son. (Of course we all know of "extreme situations, that are truly valid and must be horrible). We were warned that when the harmones start to kick in, esp. with boys and a bit of maturity develops, the activitity level lessens considerably; as is the case with our son.

Good luck to the Digest Member