Monday, August 22, 2016

To Curb the Perils of ADHD, Early Medication Is Key

by Susan Pinker Wall Street Journal August, 20, 2016

Many parents of students with ADHD are choosing not to use medication.  I understand this as their teacher and was somewhat shocked to read this article.  This article is saying that meds taken as a child might offset risks of a teenager. (ie skateboarding into cars, riding bikes into cars, etc)

WOW, I can't believe this.  ADHD is a common childhood disorder qualifying for special education services often.  Nine out of 100 kids between 4 and 18 are being diagnosed with this ailment. "Accidents are the most common cause of death in individuals with ADHD."  According to a Danish study almost half the number of ADHD students who took meds did not need to go to the emergency room.

It is a myth to believe your child will grow out of ADHD which is a "neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic roots".  There is also a study in South Carolina where data was tracked and again students taking meds for ADHD and fewer and less severe injuries and health problems.

Their conclusion, " A child whose disorder is diagnosed and treated early by a trained clinician stands a better chance of growing into a healthy and thoughtful adult".  Now that is something to think about.

Monday, August 8, 2016

Why Testing Gray Matter is Sometimes a Gray Area

This article is from the Wall Street Journal August 6/7, 2016 by Jo Craven McGinty.  I have to administer achievement tests for students on my case load so I was interested.  The article says scores can vary "10 points in either directions."  That is something to think about.

The purpose of the test is to show Special Education classes are needed or that a student is qualified for gate classes.  But the author felts that the tests "only explain 40% to 50% of school achievement.

What I like reading the most was, "It turns out that qualities such as motivation, determination, and a desire to succeed--qualities that IQ tests don't measure-- play a significant role in success."

So don't worry about standardized testing - work hard, ask questions, read, take notes, try harder, get extra help, rewrite notes, go to study sessions, do your homework  and you should be able to do it!!