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Frequently Asked Questions

The school says my child has AD/HD; now what do I do?

AD/HD is a medical condition and the educational staff of a school are not qualified to diagnose AD/HD.  If you or other adults in your child's life (e.g. teachers, grandparents, other caregivers) believe your child may have symptoms of AD/HD, then you should consult with your family doctor, your child's pediatrician, or other licensed medical/mental health professional who is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD (for more detailed information on how a diagnosis is made, see the section on Diagnosis & Treatment).

Teachers and other school personnel can play an important role by evaluating your child's learning ability and determine educational deficits.  This information should be part of the comprehensive evaluation done by the medical/mental health professional. 

Although the medical condition of AD/HD can only be diagnosed by a qualified professional, the school is most likely telling you this because they are seeing the impact of AD/HD symptoms on your child's education or behaviors at school. See the secion on Educational Issues for more information.

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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple test to diagnose AD/HD?
Can you help me find a doctor or mental health professional?
The school says my child needs Ritalin; where do I get it?
If my child has an IEP or gets special education, does she have to be in a different classroom?
What is Section 504?
My child has been diagnosed with AD/HD; isn't he automatically qualified for Section 504 services?
I'm an adult; doesn't AD/HD only affect children?
What is FAPE under IDEA?
My child has ADD, not AD/HD! Do you have any information on ADD?
My child gets all As and Bs, can she still get accommodations?
What is the difference between Section 504 and IDEA?
If I request an evaluation, doesn't the school have to do it?
What is LRE?
My child started taking medication and has developed tics. What do I do?
Can someone with AD/HD join the military?
My child has AD/HD but doesn't qualify for an IEP; can he still qualify under Section 504?
I've heard of auditory processing disorder (APD.) Could my child have that instead of AD/HD?
Can you help me find a summer camp for my child?
My child is very bright. He can't have AD/HD, too, can he?
Do children in private schools have the same rights as those in public schools?
Can a woman with AD/HD take non-stimulant medications while pregnant?
What is FAPE under 504?
Can a woman with AD/HD take stimulant medication while pregnant?
My daughter wants to play college basketball. Will NCAA rules force her to stop taking her AD/HD medication?
Does my child need to be physically disabled to get services?
I get really stressed over the holidays. Do you have any suggestions to help me cope?
Now that the holidays are over, how do I get things back to normal?
Are Charter Schools required to follow IDEA?
What is Executive Function?
Are children who take stimulant medications more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol later in life?
View all Frequently Asked Questions

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