how do I explain an evaluation?

amother

Amber

Wed, Jun 21 2017, 6:19 am

amother wrote:

6 yrs old. she is a bright kid. school claims she is showing signs of ADD

I think you're over thinking this for a 6 year old. A simple "we are going to find out what you're really good at, and what you need a little more help with" is fine.

amother

White

Wed, Jun 21 2017, 10:27 am

What about a teen who may need to be evaluated and my main hesitation is that my DD will freak out. the lines above are great for a 6 yr old, but she won't accept them. she has to know EVERYTHING!

Suggestions??? Sorry to hijack.

imasinger

Wed, Jun 21 2017, 10:44 am

For a teen, she probably has some self awareness.

Something like, "I'm arranging some tests to help us learn more about you, and give us ideas about some of the things that you have found frustrating or difficult in school."

Maybe invite her to share her feelings and concerns.

Validate that it is sometimes upsetting to find out if you are different, but actually, no two people are alike.

I tell my kids that it's a big bracha to get a diagnosis earlier in life. It gives you much more strength and ability to know your own challenges and find effective means to deal with them when that process happens in childhood.

And there is a relief in knowing what's going on.

I've never been formally evaluated for ADHD, but am pretty sure I have it, since I had many of the kid symptoms, and 3 of my 4 kids have a diagnosis of ADHD.

But it wasn't known when I was young. So I went through child, teen, and young adult years convinced that I was a weirdo and a misfit. And that it was an unchangeable fact of life.

Eventually, I learned to cope, and eventually, through therapy, learned how to accept and like myself.

But I think the world my kids inhabit is a better one, where they know why they are the way they are, and that there are proven ways to make life more productive.

And because I believe this, and talk about it, so do my kids.

teachkids

Mon, Mar 05 2018, 6:14 pm

When I had a student being pulled for an eval and she was very overwhelmed I explained it as "You know how you sometimes get very confused (or insert whatever behavior)? Today someone's going to work with you for a bit to help us figure out why you're getting stuck so that you can be more comfortable in the classroom"