Inattentive ADD in a Girl

Updated on August 23, 2013
E.T. asks from Albuquerque, NM
5 answers

My six year old daughter has problems paying attention. She's spacey at school and is usually the last to finish any assignment. She gets very easily distracted by what other people are doing. In preschool the teachers said she'd rather watch others and wander about the classroom than sit down and do anything herself (it was a Montessori school, so lots of free choice). And she has practically no desire to prove herself. In Kindergarten the teacher assumed she didn't know her alphabet because when the teacher was "testing" the kids, my daughter figured out that if she didn't know them, she'd get to go play sooner. So she pretended not to know anything past D in order to play sooner. Even after we had a parent/teacher conference where we promised she has known her letters since two, and where my daughter read a Level 1 book to the teacher, the teacher still thought she wasn't particularly smart because she was usually the last to complete a project. She had to be reminded to do everything two or three times.

The art teachers loved her, though, because she is super creative. I think she's probably ten times smarter than any of us realize (and I've always thought she was above average smart) because she learns just as quickly as anyone else in the class even when she doesn't pay attention. Now that she's in first grade, her inattentiveness is becoming more obvious. She's not getting in trouble... just generally spacing out and taking tons of time to do her math problems or write the story components, or whatever. She's the last kid in line for everything, and it takes her the entire lunch period to eat her lunch because she's watching other kids (according to the lunch monitor). She plays well with other kids and interacts socially, but only when she's in the mood. Her twin sister will always play with other kids, but she will wander off and do her own thing half the time.

ADD runs in my family - my 30 year old brother is still on medicine for his ADHD, and my mom was diagnosed with ADD as an adult. I'm wondering if any of you have girls with ADD? How were they diagnosed? Have you chosen to medicate your daughter? Or are there ways to teach coping skills?

I feel like if my child was hyper and causing problems at school it would be easier to see and realize that she needed help. As it is, though, she just appears to be a flake and not much is expected of her by her teachers. She'll get by, but it worries me that she could be more and do more.

I'd appreciate any advice. I will certainly talk to her pediatrician about getting her diagnosed, but at this point I'm not sure if I'm overreacting. Am I making excuses for a flaky kid who just doesn't want to pay attention? Or does she sound like your girls with ADD? If she does have ADD, are there accomodations a school would make? Do ADD medicines work on flaky kids (versus hyper kids)? What else would be done?

Thanks!

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Thank you to those who answered. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences and thoughts. To the one mom who worried that nothing is expected of her... nothing could be further from the truth. She's held to the same standard as her twin sister, and she lives up to the expectations. She's a great kid - I just want to help her be even greater.

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K.D.

answers from Jacksonville on

My daughter has ADHD-I. She was diagnosed at 6 yrs old and your daughter sounds so much like my daughter! She was never disruptive, but would sit in class and do nothing because she couldn't focus on her work. ADHD-I tends to go undiagnosed ALOT. Its really sad because these kids are written off as lazy or stupid and they totally aren't- they just can't pay attention. Just because her ADHD isn't causing problems for others doesn't mean it shouldn't be treated! Its causing problems for HER! We chose to medicate our daughter and it was the best decision we ever made. The first day she was on it, she completed all of her classwork in school. Before that she had been unable to complete even ONE worksheet in class. Her confidence came back (she had been depressed and wanted to be a first grade dropout). Within a month she went from failing to being on level in all her courses. The school will certainly accommodate her. We have a 504 plan. Its very basic-she doesn't need much, but gets more time for tests and organizational help, stuff like that. She's on a low dose of Adderall (stimulants tend to work best with ADHD-I) and only takes it on school days, never weekends or school breaks. In addition to meds, we make a lot of lists and give lots of reminders for tasks. I urge you to talk to your daughter's pediatrician. Yes, she's "getting by", but she deserves to SHINE!!

Add: Cheryl- you can't punish a child w/ ADHD-I for being physically unable to focus. My daughter could not do her schoolwork in class. She couldn't stay on task and the teacher didn't care to make the effort. My daughter would go to school tor 6 hrs a day and then spend another 5 hrs after school doing her classwork and homework. It was sn AWFUL time for her and simply forcing her to do her work did not teach her to focus in class. ADHD is a part of someone, just as is hair color or skin color.

6 moms found this helpful
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Z.B.

answers from Toledo on

Medication is one way of dealing with ADHD in certain situations. Despite what many of us hear, doctors are very careful about suggesting medication. There are many, many other things that can and should be done either alone or along with prescribing medication.

ADHD is actually very broad with various degrees. You really do want to talk to your pediatrician. My niece was referred (by her pediatrician) to a behavioral psychologist. He watched her play, asked her questions, observed her, interviewed her parents, asked her teacher to fill out a questionnaire. He was very, very thorough. He really wanted to get a picture of who she is and what her struggles are. She has been diagnosed with ADHD, and is not on medication. That doesn't mean she will never be on medication, but right now there are other things they are going to try.

Her mother has ADHD. She is on medication. She was on medication at one time and (long story) went off the meds for several years. It took her awhile to recognize the effect it was having on her, but she is now back on the meds and very happy to be.

One really important thing to keep in mind. ADHD meds are for the patient. They are prescribed for the patient in order to help them. The goal is to help them to focus or to settle down or to do whatever it is that is really not possible for them to do without the meds. The point is not (contrary to popular belief) to make life easier for those around them. The meds are not prescribed so that the teacher has an easier time dealing with the child. Too often, when people think of ADHD meds they picture a zombie child. If the meds turn your daughter into a zombie, call the doctor because this is the wrong med for your child. The are different meds, and if she needs meds, the doctor will work with you to find the one that's right for her.

Call your pediatrician. Right now you need answers. You need a diagnosis. Once you have that, you can begin the conversation of what, if anything, you need to do at this point.

6 moms found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

Brain disorders deserve to be treated just as seriously as any other disorder. Why let your daughter continue to not live up to her potential? Who wants to think that teachers are not expecting much of their kids? Yikes.

Ask the pediatrician for a referral to a specialist like a child psychiatrist or neuropsychologist for a diagnosis. Specialists will be able to do a thorough evaluation and tell you for sure if she has it or not. As the parent of a child with ADHD-combined type, I have to say your daughter fits the very typical description of a child with ADHD-inattentive type.

Why not give her the best possible chance at a super life? The medical specialists can help her. Medication is certainly going to be discussed, because it has the best track record in helping with ADHD of any type. There is nothing EASY about medication. Whoever spread that myth should be shot. It's a very serious decision that's made in conjunction with the expertise of medical specialists. It can make a tremendous, life-changing difference, but you need to be prepared for trial and error to find the right medication. There are side effects to weigh. When you get it right, you may still have to make changes down the road as she grows. It's nothing parents or doctors ever take lightly.

The school legally has to make accommodations for this disability through an IEP or 504 plan. She can get accommodations like being able to take tests in a quiet location.

It's worth going down this path to help your daughter. Get on the phone right now with the pediatrician's office to ask about getting a referral.

Next, go to the websites for CHADD and ADDitude magazine. They are two reliable sources of information about ADHD. Educate yourself as much as you can so you can be an advocate for your daughter.

2 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

My older daughter was always the perfect student. It did not matter if she was on meds or not. Still she is ADHD so we gave her meds because it makes it easier. It also helped her reach her full potential since she didn't have to spend all her energy trying to cope with her ADHD and could focus on learning.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

First, with a child like yours, Montesorri was not a good fit. Like you said, she was offered too many choices and not made to sit down and behave. Part of kindergarten is for children to learn how to be in school. Montesorri does NOT teach that.

Your daughter has not been challenged and nothing is expected of her. She is just going along with the program. If you want that to change, start EXPECTING things from her. If she brings home unfinished school work, make her finish it. She needs to learn that if she's not going to do her work in school when it is the appropriate time, then she will do it at home and miss out on fun time. It's all in her attitude and you need to work on changing that.

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