ADHD - The Initial Diagnosis

Life With ADHD Inattentive Kids

Who Put the Ketchup in the Medicine Cabinet?
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After The Initial Diagnosis of ADHD Inattentive

An Ounce of Ketchup

This month I've received several inquiries about some of the basics involved when a child is initially diagnosed with ADHD. This newsletter will address some of those questions. First of all, according to the DSM-IV*, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder has three subtypes: Combined Type (Hyperactivity and Inattentiveness), Predominantly Inattentive Type, and Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type. Children like ours were previously labeled ADD; the label has changed, even if the children haven't!

ADHD is not a learning disability, although many kids with Attention Deficit also have learning disabilities. Because of this, in the United States, our children do not automatically qualify for an IEP, but they probably qualify for a 504 plan. If your eyes are glazing over, you're in great company! Professionals toss the numbers and letters around so fast that I can't always keep up.

To simplify, an IEP is an Individualized Education Plan. Children with certain disabilities and impairments are eligible for the special education an IEP offers. ADHD is not on the list of qualifiers, although a learning disability is. An IEP lists the educational goals and objectives for a child, and defines the plan made to meet those goals.

There is, however, another plan - a 504 - that offers accommodations to a child with a "physical or mental impairment which substantially limits a major life activity." Children with ADHD/Inattentive often will be eligible for a 504 plan, because inattentiveness often impairs their ability to be successful in school. A child with a 504 has modifications made within the regular classroom.

For a great overview of ADHD, grab a copy of Coping With ADHD. It's a terrific resource that will help educate and empower you for the challenges - and joys - ahead. For more detailed information about IEP's and 504's, visit the Directory of Links page on the "Who Put the Ketchup in the Medicine Cabinet?" website.

I've yet to find a book dedicated to ADHD/Inattentive, but there are several books I highly recommend which provide insight and strategies to maximize an ADHD child's potential. My all time favorite book is A Mind at a Time, by Dr. Mel Levine. I also like Driven to Distraction, written by two doctors with ADHD. How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children provides a wealth of intervention strategies. Of course I'm pretty partial to "An Ounce of Ketchup"; my weekly newsletter gives practical ways to keep those wonderful children in your life focused, organized, encouraged, and successful! It's a free resource.

Learn more about Attention Deficit Disorder in Coping with ADHD, a comprehensive guide that explores ADHD, and gives strategies for living with the disorder, as well as information on the many forms of its treatment. Coping with ADHD is a must read for parents of kids with ADHD!