adhd & odd

when should tell the child about adhd & odd, it been 3 months that child been told have adhd & odd, father wont agree with the dr recommending. want know when should i tell my child have adhd & odd? i know for years that child have it but father never beleive me then he finally admit he have adhd too and that he knew his child would have it before he met me.. what i am suppose to do? as single parent. a should i tell my child have adhd & odd?


This discussion is related to adhd/odd\.

[Sandman2]

       You definitely want to tell the child.  The consequences of a child not knowing while growing up are very bad.  You also want to do all you can to help the child.  The easiest way to do so is to get the book, "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley.   It will tell you how to help your child at school and at home.  Its only about $10 through Amazon.  I post a lot over on the ADHD forum.  If you have any other questions, I always check out that site.  Best wishes!

[specialmom]

This is very interesting Sandman.  I've never sat down and told my son that he has a developmental delay or sensory integration disorder.  I tell him his engine runs too high and he has to do the things necessary to keep it "just right" but that is it.  I chose to do it this way because he has always felt different and I believed that this would just confirm it.  He was diagnosed young though and we've done so much to help him that he now pretty much does blend in with the other kids.  Maybe now but I still think a little older would work best to tell my son.  

So it is really interesting to me to read your reply here.  I'm going to think about that.

BTW, I've overheard my son saying to his buddy's "do you go to therapy?  You should!  It is really fun!"  speaking of his occupational therapy.  But the first time he overheard me saying we were going to his therapy appointment, his head whipped around and he said "Going to Miss C is going to therapy?"  

Anyway, you always give me things to think about Sandman.  

[Sandman2]

  I do hear you.  The one thing that I didn't know was the age of her child.  I was assuming that since she had known it for years that he was closer to 9?  And I think that somewhere around there is an appropriate time to tell.  I think that what you have done is age appropriate, and you have put it into words that he can understand.  The worst thing I feel is for kids to not know why they are feeling the way they are.
  I think my major reaction is that I have seen so many posts from adults who never knew (granted they may have been undiagnosed), and if they had known sooner - it would have made a difference.
   Knowledge is important - when it can be understood.  And BTW - I was really amazed about my last 7-10 years of teaching to hear kids openly talking about having ADHD, etc. like it was no big thing.  But this was in a high wealth district where the parents probably could afford doctors that would take the time to explain it to them.  Its still struck me as funny, that the stigma in the 70's and 80's didn't seem to be there.