My son’s school asks me to give my son ADHD medication. What should I do?

Children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often require behavior modification strategies and sometimes ADHD medication. A common problem when a child transitions from summer back to school is that the teacher or school counselor sends home a letter to the parents suggesting that the child be seen for an ADHD evaluation. Many times teachers are under the impression that if the child only gets ADHD medication in their system, their academic difficulties will be resolved. Sometimes the child may simply need help adjusting to the classroom structure after spending more carefree months in the summer.

The most complicated issue surrounding the diagnosis of ADHD is that ADHD can be misdiagnosed for other conditions. If a child demonstrates the typical symptoms of ADD or the symptoms of ADD, teachers naturally suspect an unconfirmed diagnosis of ADHD. Children who are easily distracted find it difficult to stay focused on homework instructions, and those who appear to be staring into space are often suspected of having ADHD. So what do parents do when the school sends home a letter demanding that the child seek ADHD treatment and the teacher suggests medication? Most parents are naturally upset and unsure of their options when they receive a notification about their child and the suggestion of medication.

The first recommendation is to contact the school and request a conference with the elementary teacher or groups of teachers who are involved with your child. Ask these teachers to explain what they are seeing, what strategies they have used to try to solve the problem, and don’t be afraid to involve the school counselor and principal during this process. If there are domestic problems at home, this can significantly affect your child’s academic performance and act as a great distraction from concentration. If there has been a recent death in the family or a divorce, these are all very likely reasons why your child is having trouble in school.

Explain to the teachers, counselor, and principal the exact nature of your situation if it fits their scenario. If nothing out of the ordinary is happening at home, ask the school to do a formal observation before seeing your doctor for an evaluation. A formal observation and evaluation for special needs is not only critical information to help your doctor make a proper diagnosis, it may also uncover a learning disability or that your child is not adequately academically challenged.

If your child has a learning disability, the school must address it with additional support. If your child does not have academic problems, the school will modify the curriculum. Being challenged above or below can lead to behaviors similar to ADD or ADHD.

The school cannot force you to give your child ADHD medication. Even if your doctor indicates that your child has some of the most common symptoms of ADD or ADHD, this does not automatically mean that you should give your child ADHD medication as a solution. Consider after school tutoring for that one-on-one attention to cover academic areas that have become problematic. Simply engage the child in a conference with the teacher and ask the child for honest reasons why she is not paying attention in class. Most likely, the topic is not interesting, and the child has become bored with the topic. If the teacher presents information in a way that does not capture the student’s interest, it is not uncommon for children’s attention span to decrease. Ask if other children in the class have similar problems or is it just your child.

Another situation that comes up is how some kids with a confirmed diagnosis of ADD or ADHD stop taking their ADHD medication over the summer. The problem with taking a break from ADHD medication is that the medication can take several weeks to build up in your system before it becomes effective. Starting the medication the day school resumes is not going to work as planned. The teacher may begin to complain that he spends a high percentage of his time working with a child. This becomes problematic because the teacher begins to feel that the other children’s needs are not being met because of one child. Parents with children who have a confirmed diagnosis of ADD or ADHD should keep their children on ADHD medications according to their doctor’s specific instructions. The school cannot force parents to give their child ADHD medication or ask them to increase the dosage through the doctor.

If your child really does require a lot of one-on-one attention, most schools have Title I and tutoring services available to provide that individual attention. Many parents have reportedly refused to place their children on ADHD medication for various reasons. Side effects of the medications can include loss of appetite, difficulty falling asleep, delayed growth, and inhibition of zombie-like behavior.

Some parents have strong personal beliefs about medicating the child for the convenience of the teacher. The child is the person who needs to benefit from the medication, not necessarily the teacher. If there is a significant discrepancy between your belief system, the school’s request, and the doctor’s recommendations, involve more people to help the situation. Consider additional outpatient consultation with perhaps an ADHD psychologist or neurofeedback specialist to assess for additional conditions that may be interfering with your child’s ability to pay attention in class. Some learning disabilities and hearing problems can mimic the symptoms of ADHD. Make sure your child is evaluated for all of these potential problems, and don’t be afraid to get a second or third professional opinion.

Many parents have sought drug-free solutions that include counseling, behavior modification, and neurofeedback training. Many times these approaches, along with academic modifications, a willing teacher, and strong parent involvement, will lead to success.

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