What testing do I need for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity documentation?

To document an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a student must submit a current report (no more than three years old) based on the results of a comprehensive evaluation by a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist experienced in the area of ADHD. The report must include the following information:

•A clear statement of a diagnosis of ADHD and the level of severity.
•Identification of procedures and measures used to make the diagnosis.
•Summary of a thorough diagnostic interview with relevant information about the individual’s history, including evidence of early onset, and symptoms across multiple settings.
•Description of current symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria.
•Ruling out of alternative diagnoses or explanations for the symptoms.
•Analysis of evaluation results, including relevant test data, to substantiate the diagnosis.
•Explanation of how current symptoms cause significant functional limitations in a college environment.
•Recommendations for appropriate accommodations to help compensate for the ADHD, with a rationale for each one.

What testing do I need for learning disability documentation?

Documentation must support the need for requested accommodation(s), and must

•state the diagnosed disability.
•be current, within the last 3 years, be a complete IQ test, and utilize the most recently normed testing instrument.
•include complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which accommodations are being requested.
•describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability and list the tests or techniques used to arrive at the diagnosis of the disability (include evaluation date[s] and test results with relevant subtest scores).
•describe the specific accommodations requested.
•state why the disability qualifies the applicant for such accommodation(s) in a college environment.
•be typed or printed on official letterhead and signed by an official evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis (include information about license or certification and area of specialization). (Ahead.org)

What is a learning disability?

The symptoms of learning disabilities are a diverse set of characteristics which affect development and achievement. Some of these symptoms can be found in all children at some time during their development. However, a person with learning disabilities has a cluster of these symptoms which do not disappear as she/he grows older. (LDA.org.)

What is a processing problem?

The types of LD are identified by the specific processing problem they address. They might relate to input or getting information into the brain, organization or making sense of this information, memory or storing and later retrieving this information, or output or getting this information back out for utilization. The specific types of processing problems that result in an LD diagnosis might be in one or more of these four areas. (LDA.org)

What does it mean when someone tells me my child learns better through auditory or visual channels?

Auditory Perceptional Difficulties
An individual might have difficulty distinguishing subtle differences in sound (called phonemes) or might have difficulty distinguishing individual phonemes as rapidly as the normal population. Either problem can result in difficulty processing and understanding what is said. The person may have difficulty identifying what sound(s) to listen to when there is more than one sound present.

Visual Perceptional Difficulties
An individual might have difficulty distinguishing subtle differences in shapes (called graphemes). They might rotate or reverse letters or numbers (d, b, p, q, 6, 9); thus misreading the symbol. Some might have a figure-ground problem, confusing what figure(s) to focus on from the page covered with many words and lines. They might skip words, skip lines, or read the same line twice. Others might have difficulty blending information from both eyes to have depth perception. They might misjudge depth or distance, bumping into things or having difficulty with tasks where this information is needed to tell the hands or body what to do. Students with visual perception problems often are poor readers. (LDA.org)

Does my child need to be a strong reader to attend college?

Colleges have many types of accommodations to help students more easily obtain information presented in the written word. Students can use various forms of adaptive technology such the Kurzweil Educational System (you scan in the material and the computer reads it to the student) to help them more easily obtain the information they need to participate in their classes. Many students who do not read well are obtaining four year and professional degrees.

How does Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder impact my student’s ability to be successful in college?

Many students in high school with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder have developed systems that have helped them stay organized. Because their support systems will be changing, college will put new pressures on these skills and present new challenges. We have found the most efficient way for students to adapt and develop the systems they need for successful college learning is to meet with a disability specialist until they have their adapted systems firmly in place. It often takes a very short time before the students to adapt, but they can utilize these services, if offered, for all four years.