Starting to think my son has ADD

My son has been in a co-teaching class since kindergarten. He had EI when he was a baby till 3 then went to the public preschool for his IEP.

He is 13 now and testing out of his IEP. Already in regular math classes.
He gets A's, honors kid, likes sports, but there's always something off.
He's not hyperavtive, but distracted easily. Can't focus when there's a lot of conversation around him, zones out easily, etc.

I don't know where to go from here to even get him tested or even try something natural to help him focus.
He has lots of friends, but as he's getting older it's harder for him to get in these conversations when the boys are all going on and on about something. He uses his phone as his crutch or zones out too much.

Any help is appreciated. He has a great relationship with his guidance counselor at school who helped him last couple of years when he gets upset or puts too much pressure on himself. Especially with grades.
Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

Starting to think my son has ADD

Your son sounds amazing! Trust you mom intuition, but some kids are more quiet and having a little social quietness is not abnormal in itself. I'm like that, too and if it too chaotic around me, lots of different conversations, people jumping in and out of conversation, I become an observer and get distracted, more than a being a participant. How is he with one one one friendships. If fine, I'd say it's just his personality and nothing to worry about.

Starting to think my son has ADD

What as his diagnosis that afforded him an IEP? The fact that he's doing well, usually means the IEP is working-- odd that they'd remove it. My daughter has an IEP for Dyslexia/dysgraphia and has a 96 average- I attribute that to the facts that she's smart, hardworking and her IEP. What are the services he gets with an IEP? What are the goals listed? Annualy, my daughter is re-evaluated and makes improvement, but we never say she's met all goals, or that would mean the IEP would be removed. Does the school evaluate him?

I have found that many kids with IEPs (in my experience) have some social issues/attention issues/motor skills issues-- its usually part of the underlying diagnosis. My daughter doesn't just have issues reading, her brain works differently, so other things are affected by that. Have you spoken to the SPED provider about your concerns? Can they downgrade the IEP to a 504- which just provided accomodations, not services?

Re: Starting to think my son has ADD

Starting to think my son has ADD

Personally, I don't see this as much of a concern in terms of an IEP. As a special ed teacher (i teach algebra), if his grades are good and he's able to put enough focus into sitting for exams, studying, and maintaining a high GPA, then he really doesn't need the IEP. I agree with an above poster about losing the IEP but requesting a 504. This is strictly just a document that allows your son to receive testing accommodations on assessments. This could be extra time, questions read/reread, breaks during testing, focusing prompts, etc. It may be nice to have for Regents exams and SATs/ACTs

I have learned that many kids focus in weird ways. He may "check out" because his brain is tired, and his phone may be a way to cope with that. I just don't know if I would assume it's due to ADD, though. While I don't know your son, I know through many of my students that if they have ADD in any form, it's pretty consistently there. Meaning certain parts of a daily lesson, and certain aspects of testing, are typically a struggle for students. If he's able to maintain high grades and can focus within the classroom setting, that's huge.

also just a side note: I cannot stand when there's stuff going on around me when I'm trying to focus, and I get really frustrated in those moments. I lose my train of thought and find it hard to carry on a conversation when there's a lot going on around me. Some people are just highly sensitive to that sort of thing.

Message edited 12/22/2022 10:00:15 PM.

Re: Starting to think my son has ADD

Message edited 12/23/2022 7:19:44 AM.

Re: Starting to think my son has ADD

Get him evaluated now. He sounds very similar to my son and now my son is in HS taking ridiculously advanced classes and he's struggling because he can no longer just rely on his intelligence to get by. I am trying to put him on meds because he desperately needs them. I had him seen by a neuro psychologist and he has an appt with a pediatric neurologist. Hoping that I can speed up the process before his grades start to really suffer.

Re: Starting to think my son has ADD

Thank you for the responses. I spoke with his guidance counselor and she doesn't feel it's ADD. She will observe him in class more and speak with the teachers as well.
The one to one he's really good with. It's just a lot of conversation going on.
It's a tough age 13. He's still a bit immature and a bunch of his friends he sees kinda moving up and acting more mature. I know he'll get there and very happy for the most part. Just gets frustrated, which I'm sure all teens do. THanks

Although I picked up a bunch of his friends from the mall the other day and the ones he's closest with now seem just as goofy so maybe better to be with these boys. LOL

Starting to think my son has ADD

You can reach out to the Krasner group at Stony Brook.
Not all ADD is hyperactive. Distractibility is huge.
Our son was recently diagnosed and the difference is huge. To the point that he is so much more confident in himself.

Re: Starting to think my son has ADD

Re: Starting to think my son has ADD

Does he still have the IEP? If yes, call the guidance counselor and ask for the Woodcock-Johnson IV test to be administered. In NJ they are on a three year rotation for testing. So he should be eligible this year.Test info this is a link that explains the test. Morristown hospital goreyeb children has offices that do add testing. If he does not have an IEP you need to send the director of social services a written letter, not an email to ask for him to be evaluated. In morristown there is lindamood bell. They can teach for ADD. There are some private schools that offer ADD instruction. I am going to say if he has had an IEP and they never brought this cancern up to you, you need an educational advocate and an attorney to handle your district.

Re: Starting to think my son has ADD