Leroy and Susan decide to set up a doctor's appointment with Kendall's pediatrician to learn more about ADHD medication and how it can help Kendall. At the appointment, the doctor explains that medication can be extremely helpful to Kendall. Putting her on ADHD medicine will help her focus more during her lessons and take less time with her work. The medicine should also help Kendall sit quietly during reading times and pay attention during appropriate quiet times. This should make it much easier for Kendall to participate in a general education classroom. The doctor does recommend that Leroy and Susan instill very strong eating habits and sleep schedule before she is prescribed ADHD medicine. ADHD medicine can cause decreased appetite and insomnia in some individuals so it is very important that Kendall continues eating a recommended healthy diet and has a very routine sleep schedule. If Leroy and Susan do notice any change in her diet or sleep schedule, they must tell the doctor immediately to ensure that Kendall is receiving all the nutrition she needs to keep growing strong. Another side effect that Kendall's parents must be aware of is the "rebound" effect. The "rebound" effect occurs sometimes when young individuals take ADHD medicine and it begins to wear off. This usually happens around dinnertime and children might become extremely irritable and aggressive. The doctor recommends that if Kendall shows any signs of this, they should remove her off the medication.
At the end of second grade, Kendall has reached grade level for her reading and writing levels! To reward Kendall for all her hard work, Leroy and Susan throw her a pizza party with all her classmates. Kendall really enjoys herself at the pizza party because she has become very good friends with her classmates and feels socially accepted. She also really enjoys all the attention she receives at the party. Kendall's second grade teacher believes that Kendall really shines in a social setting and has been rewarded multiple times over the school year for her tendency to share and include everyone when playing at recess. She even receives an award in front of the entire school for her outstanding friendship behaviors. Leroy and Susan are so proud of her!
After taking 20 mg of Concerta for six months (January to July), Kendall has made significant strides cognitively. Kendall can read at a second grade level and enjoys reading books about animals. Kendall's IEP team believe that she is ready to tackle third grade and focus more on "reading to learn" instead of "learning to read." Kendall will still be put with an aid to help her focus, but the aid will be less present during the school days. Kendall will only work with an aid twice a week during the school week while in third grade. Another IEP team meeting will occur after her first semester in third grade. After second grade, Kendall is cognitively up to speed with her peers and is ready for third grade.
Physically, Kendall is a healthy eight-year-old girl. She can run and play just like every other girl her age and she has even set a school record for the fastest mile time for second grade girls. Kendall has also shown a great interest in joining her neighborhood soccer team. Leroy and Susan believe that playing soccer will be a great outlet for Kendall to get all of her built up energy out. They are worried though, that Kendall might not be able to keep up with her academics if soccer takes up too much of her time.
Decision Point: Do Leroy and Susan sign Kendall up for fall soccer or do they keep their focus on her academic progress?
Questions:
1. What are other ways for Kendall to use up her built up energy due to her ADHD diagnosis?
2. How might Kendall's social life be different than typical third graders due to her ADHD diagnosis?
3. What is the average cost for neighborhood sports teams for children in elementary school? Would Kendall's experience with soccer be any different because she has ADHD?
4. Does insurance usually cover medication for children with ADHD?
Other possible ways for Kendall to use her built up energy could include playing with friends after school. Doing this can really help Kendall release energy she has built up from a long day at school. This could include going to the playground, kicking the soccer ball around, going to swim, sled ride, jumping on the trampoline, playing hop scotch, jump rope, etc. In addition, going to long walks could use up some energy as well. This will also help keep Kendall in shape and help reduce energy. If Kendall does not have an outlet for her energy then it can cause more behavioral issues during the day. Most likely, Kendall would throw a tantrum and become very irritable and frustration. This could lead to problems with relationships with friends, school difficulties, and behavioral issues.
ReplyDeleteKendall’s social life can be affected in many different areas. Having ADHD can affect Kendall’s ability to concentrate, regulate her behaviors, pick up on subtle and not so subtle social cues, focus on work in a timely manner, organize and complete tasks (or games). If Kendall has challenges with these executive functions, relationships and other areas of her like will suffer. The impact she could have with friends, siblings, and other loves ones can be a frustrating one. Kids her age and family members may feel that they are not being listened to or that you cannot complete a thought before they are being interrupted causing difficulty for Kendall to form lasting friendships. The behavioral issues and disruption in classroom can cause difficulty in friendships and future relationships. In addition, not knowing proper social cues causes children to not want to spend time with Kendall because they may feel that she doesn’t listen to them or that she does not care about what they have to say. In addition, the inability to focus on a task makes it difficult when trying to play games with the others kids her age.
ReplyDeleteThe average cost for a neighborhood sports team for children in elementary school varies depending on neighborhood, sport, and organization. However, if Kendall was to play in an AYSO team in Southern California the cost would be anywhere from $70-80 dollars depending on early or regular registration. Kendall’s experience with soccer might be difficult because she may have a difficult time focusing because of all of the stimuli (ball, people, teammates, goal, switching positions, etc.).
ReplyDeleteTypically it depends on your insurance company. Usually if you provide evidence that you have officially diagnosed with ADHD and that the medication helps with everyday functioning, then the insurance company will cover it. However, there are cases where the insurance company does not cover the disorder, will partially cover it, will only cover specific medications, or will cover it for a specific time period. Kendall’s parents should contact their insurance company to find out if they are eligible to have her medication covered. If not, they should talk to their medical providers about their potential options.
ReplyDeleteDecision Point: Do Leroy and Susan sign Kendall up for fall soccer or do they keep their focus on her academic progress?
ReplyDeleteLeroy and Susan sign Kendall up for fall soccer. This is a great way to release some energy Kendall may have. This will also help Kendall be an overall well-rounded individual. In addition, playing a sport can offer a great deal of social and behavioral benefits. For example, some of the benefits include a decrease in risky behaviors and an increased integration into social settings. This can help increase peer relations which usually a negative aspect. Playing sports can also help with self-confidence. However, it may be more successful for Kendall if she participates in an individual sport (cross country, track, tennis, etc.). Playing team-based sports requires a lot of focus which is something individuals with ADHD often struggle with.
Bibliography
Allied Gardens Southern California AYSO. (2013). Registration Information. Retrieved from http://alliedgardensayso.org/registration-dates-and-times/
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2013). Understanding ADHD’s Impact on Relationships. Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=ADHD&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=106044
The Huffington Post (2011). ADHD Treatment through Sports. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-p-granat-phd/adhd-treatment-how-sports_b_809076.html