Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that can cause difficulty with focus, impulse control, and hyperactivity. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Symptoms of ADHD can include difficulty paying attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, restlessness, or a combination of these traits. While there is no single cause for ADHD, it is believed to be related to genetic factors as well as environmental influences such as nutrition and stress. Treatment for ADHD can involve medication and behavioral therapy to help manage symptoms and improve functioning in everyday life.
My second child, Logan, is 8 years old and going into 3rd grade. In first grade, at the age of 6 he was officially diagnosed with ADHD.
Kindergarten was a challenging and overwhelming experience for him. The combination of having to adjust to a new environment, and having to learn how to focus and manage his behavior while living in a world over run by a pandemic was beyond frustrating for him. He absolutely hated school. That year was difficult for every child but one with ADHD, although undiagnosed at the time, the struggle was immense. Every day was a challenge with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and difficulty paying attention. As his mom, my first thought wasn't "he must have ADHD", and even with the teacher reminding me daily of his struggles, I still wanted to wait and see if he would mature over the course of kindergarten. What actually happened? He fell behind, at least on all official documents. Let's face it, with school it doesn't matter what you can do at home, if you can't display the same skills at school then they don't count. This was particularly frustrating for me because Logan could read all of our sight word books at home but at school he couldn't even read one. What I came to realize was that many people do not know how to help a child with ADHD unlock their potential.
By the time he got to 1st grade he was receiving response to intervention (RTI) and seriously struggling to keep up. On top of that, he had started getting in trouble. Although his teacher was great with him, everytime there was a substitute he would wind up in the principles office. His impulsivity was getting out of hand and anyone who didn't know him well, couldn't handle him for long. I was really considering keeping him home when ever his teacher was going to be out. At this point I knew it was time to get help.
After realizing that he wasn't going to "grow out of it", I called his doctor's office and spoke with a nurse. She sent me the Vanderbilt assessment which was developed by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the assessment tool is used to identify the presence of ADHD symptoms and determine the severity of those symptoms. The assessment consists of parent- and teacher-reported questionnaires, as well as an interview with the child or adolescent. The evaluation process also includes a review of medical records, school records, and other relevant information. At the appointment after submitting the forms, he was diagnosed with ADHD and we began the process of figuring out the best way to help him.
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