ADHD Blog

Reading skills are central to every academic subject, and kids who struggle to read are at risk for difficulty in math, science, history, and writing. Research shows that kids with ADHD are more likely to have reading challenges than kids without ADHD, possibly because of working memory and processing speed weaknesses. Reading problems may be subtle at first and involve difficulty identifying letters or sounds. Over time, problems can include slower reading speed, difficulty with decoding, poor sight word identification, and poor reading comprehension. Once a child has fallen well behind his or her peers in reading he or she is unlikely to catch up without extra support. Research shows that kids with reading difficulties do best when they receive interventions as early as possible. So, if you suspect that your child’s reading skills aren’t developing as well as they should be, talk to your child’s teacher now.

When hackers sought to discredit US Olympians by releasing their medical records, it was revealed that Simone Biles had sought and obtained an exemption for the use of a therapeutic medication. The medication, as it turns out, was prescribed to treat her ADHD. While some athletes have yet to comment on their released information, Simone was quick to address the topic. Rather than retreating, she responded proudly and in a way that not only acknowledged her diagnosis but also showed the world that she owns her ADHD. The public’s response to her statement has been overwhelmingly positive.

For the past five years a Colorado elementary school teacher has asked each of her students to write down one thing that they would like her to know about them. Last year she started sharing her students’ responses online and the Twitter hashtag #iwishmyteacherknew went viral. This week the story was picked up by The New York Times and the teacher, Kyle Schwartz, recently published a book on the topic.

For high school students the school year may just be starting, but it’s never too soon to start planning for college admissions tests like the SAT and ACT. Standardized tests are challenging for most students, and even more so for teens with ADHD. With ADHD it can be difficult to complete timed tests, avoid careless mistakes, and keep calm in stressful conditions. So, it’s especially important to support your teen by putting a standardized test plan into place as soon as possible.

In my last post I discussed talking to your child about ADHD in a way that is supportive and helpful. But what happens when your child needs an assessment for academic challenges or ADHD symptoms? Many parents worry that their child will find the evaluation process intimidating, or wonder if their child will think they are being tested because there is something “wrong” with them. Other parents have concerns about how their overly active, distractible, or anxious child will tolerate the testing – especially if their child struggles to stay on task under normal circumstances. The good news is that the psychologists and educators who conduct these assessments have a great deal of experience working with kids who have academic and attention problems. They typically love working with kids like yours!

When you learn that your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, it’s not easy to know whether you should share the diagnosis with your child. Some parents worry that their child will feel different, or there is something wrong with them if they have ADHD. Others wonder if their child will use ADHD as an excuse for bad behavior or getting out of homework.