Journalist looking for parents to interview

Hi, My name is Teresa Sewell, I am from Talladega, Ala. I have a son who was diagnosed with ADD in kindergarten he is currently in the 4th grade in kindergarten the teacher tried to retain him saying he was immature, but we sent him to Sylvan Learning Center and he learned more in that summer than he did the entire year at school, the principal decided that since the school was overcrowded to let Hunter go ahead and go in the 1st grade and see how he did he did really good even though he stayed off task quite a bit he had a really good teacher, My son has been on Adderall, Adderall XR, Paxil, Concerta he is currently on 30mg of Adderall XR once daily and 20mg of Paxil once daily.
He was not receiving special education services in the 1st or 2nd grades but in the 3rd grade I realized something was not quite right so I had to insist that the school test him, the teacher didn’t think Hunter qualified for special services but I insisted that he be tested anyway, after he was tested he was found to have a visual perception problem and fine motor skill problems. My husband and I had Hunter privately tested for visual problems that his how we come to realize that he had difficulties. He has a major difference in his PID and VID (perception performance) and (Visual performance) Hunter has difficulty getting his thoughts into writing, his handwriting is terrible, we have had several IEP meetings, we had him retested last May and the psychometrist thought he might have been having absence seizures during the testing because he would stare into space for a few seconds until she bought him back to task we have noticed this at home also. After the testing the psychometrist came to the next IEP meeting and told us her results, she suggested we take Hunter to a neurologist to have him tested for absence seizures, the neurologist that the school system recommended just happened to be my neurologist, we took Hunter to see him in June I was thoroughly disappointed in the exam. he received I had taken my records with me to the neurologist office he glanced over the previous findings of the other doctors and all he did during his exam was to tap Hunter on the knees testing his reflexes and he looked in his ears with the light and that was all. I ask for a sleep study to be done on Hunter because he is waking up in the middle of the night and he doesn’t go back to sleep until it is almost time to get ready for school. All this neurologist did was to look over the other doctors findings and to tell my husband and I how foolish it would be to fight the school system to get Hunter the services he needs because it could be costly for my husband and me. He did recommend OT for sensory integration dysfunction problems for Hunter, Hunter receives OT once a week for maybe 30 minutes but not for sensory integration dysfunctions issues. I think more needs to be written about children with ADD/ADHD so the teachers and other school officials will be informed. If you need my help you can e mail me or call me at the following telephone # after 6PM Central Standard Time. (256-362-1542) Thanks Teresa Sewell

I realized there was something just not right with my son when he was in Kindergarten. I went to pick him up everyday and stayed in contact with the teacher, I kept telling her he didn’t seem to be learning nearly as well as his sister and she told me he was fine, not to compare children. Then 9 weeks before school is to get out, the teacher tells me she doesn’t think he is ready to go on to first grade and suggested I hold him back. I refused because he was a summer baby and I had already held him back and started him when he was 6 instead of 5. So that summer I hired a tutor, he still couldn’t recongnize the letters of the alphabet.
The tutor was a special education teacher and told me she had never seen a child quite like him, he just couldn’t seem to learn the letters. In first grade I insisted that he be tested, although the teachers told me he was to young. But after they tested him they found out yes he did have a problem.
From the very early months of his life, I knew he wasn’t doing things as fast as his sister, he didn’t roll over as soon, he didn’t crawl or walk until late and talking took forever. He had a terrible temper and wouldn’t sit still to do anything.
Anytime I mentioned any of this to the doctors and teachers, they said I shouldn’t compare children. But, I was right, I knew something wasn’t right.
He’s now 14 and to look at him you would never know he has a problem, he is very athletic and is above kids his age in sports, but he is also dyslexic. I now know all those things I was worried about are all signs of the dyslexia. He was 7 before he could tie his shoes, even back then they told me he was just lazy. So, I’m not a professional, but I knew my kid and something wasn’t right.

After trying different medications for the ADD I think we have finally found something that is helping with his concentration, Concerta. We tried Riatlin, Dexedrin and Cyclert when he was younger with horrible side effects. I could see no benefit what so ever, except it made him very withdrawn. Of course the teachers thought it was wonderful. I took him off the medication and didn’t tell the teachers, I would ask them often how he was doing and the answer was always fine, until they found out he was now unmedicated, the next day I received a note saying he was having problems again. So I told them I was putting him back on it(but i didn’t) I never heard another complaint. We just started the Concerta this school year, and I told no one, but the teachers have all commented on how well he is paying attention this year.

So I know the old saying is Father knows best, but actually I think it should be Mother knows best.

My problem with the school system not the doctor. The doctor confirmed what I had been telling teachers for 2 years. I have 3 sons all three dsylexia my youngest now 14 has older brothers 12 & 16 years older who I was not as aware of the LD when they were in school. Any question please feel free to contact me by e-mail.

Jan Edge
Austin, Texas

As you can already tell, the biggest problem is not the MD’s it is the school districts that consistantly deny that childern have learning issues. My friend has a child who is entering 6th grade and can’t read but the teachers say there is nothing wrong with him. My friend believes them even tho I have been trying to gently prod her into seeking second opinions.

yes I would !!!!!!!!! my story is of 6 long years asking for help and knowing something was wrong. Finally Ive found a great OT. Email me if you are still looking, I live in Scotland by the way, in case you are only looking for USA based stories.