ADHD Testing – Get it Early!
Let's be honest: educational testing can carry some baggage. The tests
themselves are time-consuming - several hours, sometimes over several
days. They are expensive and an inconvenience for families with already busy
lives.
There is also the fear of discovering a diagnosis that you may wish did not
exist.
As much as this can challenge you (and your family), if you think your child
may need it, it is important to get a diagnosis early for many reasons. The
simple fact is that the longer you wait in life, the harder it will probably become
to get an accurate diagnosis, the right medication, and the proper
accommodations for your child’s needs. The classic example is the student
who got by in grade school, but then really struggles in college. If it turns out
they need medication or accommodations at this point, the process will
become a lot more arduous starting from scratch. If you have a paper trail of
testing and diagnoses over the prior years, you will more quickly get the
outcomes you are looking for.
Another example is the student that may be fine taking exams with 15 or even
30 people in the classroom; however, when it comes to taking the SAT or ACT
in a cafeteria with 200 students, this change in setting can produce adverse
conditions on the student. A reasonable accommodation for this is to get
testing in a private room. If you wait until 1 month before the SAT to start the
process for accommodations, you will likely not get the accommodations.
They take months. However, if you have the paperwork over the years, you
can receive your accommodations readily.
The longer you wait, the harder it is to get accommodations. College students
may face skepticism about their "sudden" need for accommodations or
medications - especially with the stigma around the abuse and misuse of
some ADHD medications. Again, this can all be avoided with an early
diagnosis and a paper trail.
Learn more about this topic by checking out this Podcast from Attention Talk
Radio! And, for academic support for your child (with or without ADHD), check
out Star Tutoring Centers in North Dallas. Their Star Sessions 2-hour study
program combines academics with organization, planning and study skills.
This helps gets students ready and confident for their week ahead.
www.StarTutoringCenters.com | (214) 444-3431