ADHD/Emotionally Disturbed

Roxie, I can’t answer all of your questions and I am certainly not an expert but I can tell you that in the great majority of cases most ED students (now called BD in our district) are not mainstreamed but are in self contained classrooms. Definitely not the least restrictive environment. Unless that is an accurate diagnoses I would urge your friend to keep looking for answers. Many of the students in our district who are labeled BD and in the self contained classes are there because they can be a threat to others and really need very special teaching techniques and attention. Your friend’s district may be different but in mine I would fine the ED label a scary thing! Best of luck to your friend.

The extreme split between Verbal and Performance IQ scores bears looking at. My first thought was nonverbal learning disability. If not handled correctly, kids with NVLD can end up with emotional issues. ADHD is also a frequent first diagnosis.

Beth

— he has real problems with social skills and doesn’t seem to be able to read social cues at all from others,
— he has academic challenges, although responds fairly well to one on one instruction and guidance,
— his verbal vs non-verbal scores were 127 and 76.

This sure sounds like Non-verbal LD (NLD). I am not an expert - but a mom of a 7.8 yr. old girl with NLD - so I do know a bit about it. If I were you (i.e. your friend) - I would look into NLD, before accepting the dx of ED.
Good luck!

The school was probably just trying to get him labeled anything in order to give him services. They could have done OHI with the ADHD dx. My school tried to give my son the ED label. The speech therapist called me in with her “great” news. The school psych had been in my son’s Kindergarten classroom observing another child and she saw mine sucking his thumb. “We can label him ED to get him services!!” She was so excited. I walked out disgusted and called the state education agency to complain.

The next year he got a private ADHD dx and with that we went OHI to get him Resource Room help. Then a few months later we had him tested privately for LDs and he came up with 4. I took those results to the school to add to the IEP, to get additional services, and they said no. They had nothing else to offer him so they wouldn’t add LD.

Once they get him labeled I don’t think they want to know anything else.

He doesn’t attend public school anymore.

This boy might have sensory processing issues and he should be evaluated further by a neuropsychologist, OT, or a child development center. I think it’s important to find the cause of his behaviors and treat them properly so he can overcome his difficulties.

Thanks for the further replies. The mom did bring her son to a school psychologist in private practice (whatever that means). He is simply sticking with the ADHD dx. Further eval at the school with the OT has suggested a sensory integration disorder possibility. The more the mom has read on NLD, the more she is leaning towards that as how she sees her son functioning. The psychiatrist simply upped the Concerta and Lexapro when the mom reported no benefits from the medications. He has some OCD behaviors- the reason for the Lexapro- but no OCD dx. I have shared all your responses with my friend and she is very appreciative of your thoughtful, supportive responses. Thanks again.