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