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Give medication a good try: Because ADHD is a medical condition, medication is one of the primary therapies, but trial and error may be necessary.

"Over 80 percent of ADHD individuals will respond favorably to the stimulant medications, methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta) and amphetamines (Adderall)," says Dr. Ted Mandelkorn, a pediatrician who practices in Mercer Island and has developed expertise in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in people of all ages.

Not everyone with ADHD responds to the standard ADHD medications, but those who do — along with their families — agree it works wonders. And the impact on school performance can be dramatic.

"When we found the right medication, Chris noticed right away," Pardee says. "He said, 'Mom, I can think!' "

Make yourself known at the school: Parents (and students) will benefit by getting involved at school early on and knowing who's who. Pardee is on a first-name basis with her district's superintendent. When a problem arises, she goes straight to the top. She lives in a small district, which can be an advantage, but she says it's possible to navigate the red tape in a larger district, too. Get involved, she says. "Go to school-board meetings; get to know administrators; get involved in the classroom." The more players you know, the better position you'll be in to promptly address problems.

Educate the child: Students with ADHD need to be able to advocate for themselves. In order to do this, they must understand ADHD and its impact on learning. There's nothing Pardee hides from her son regarding his special needs. In fact, Chris joined our interview, and offered his own views on medication and events at school:

"I did fine in school until I hit middle school," Chris says, "and then I got harassed, bullied and got my head banged against poles."

Create a home routine: Pardee and Chris have established routines for everything from teeth-brushing to math homework. Since starting and finishing tasks is so difficult for people with ADHD, routines are a good way to teach the critical cognitive skills needed for school success: organizing, starting and finishing work, and planning.

Chris wants to be a motorcycle mechanic. His post-high school goals keep him on target and keep him working hard at science, math and the rest.

Educate teachers about ADHD: Proactive measures such as introducing the child to teachers can be an efficient way to help both teacher and child. By the time the child reaches high school, many parents of ADHD kids can be burned out on meetings with teachers, but it's important to keep renewing the commitment to the child's success.

At the start of each semester, Pardee prepares a "success pack" for each of Chris' teachers, an idea she adopted from an ADHD workshop. Included is a letter signed by her and her husband introducing Chris — his hobbies, goals, medical condition. She explains that his ADHD is not an excuse and that he's capable of behaving and performing as expected. She then provides all her contact details and asks to be notified immediately of any problems at school.

Still, Pardee can't relax; she's come to learn that advocating for Chris is a "full-time job." Chris' latest report card had this comment: "initiative needs to improve."

"Yes, this is from a veteran teacher who is very well aware of Chris' ADHD and has been present at his 504 meetings [meetings about making accommodations for Chris' needs]!" exclaims Pardee.

With limited resources, schools can be slow to respond when a child has special needs. Pardee says: "Once I took the time to research and learn exactly what Chris' rights are, and was able to sound somewhat confident in what I was saying, I was finally taken seriously."

One step at a time

While many families start planning for college or post-high school early in high school, a high-school diploma itself is often the grand prize for the ADHD student. Not that planning for the future isn't important — it is more than ever — but families with ADHD simply learn to take one step at a time.

While expectations may follow a different timetable or need to be revised, identifying interests (and goals) is critical, since people with ADHD are easily bored.

Today, Tom Dendy's son Steven is married with two children and the general manager of a manufacturing plant. Tom Dendy presented a brief survey of his academic career: graduation from high school, a year of college earning straight D's, working as an apprentice in the printing industry, getting an ADHD diagnosis and returning to college.

"Steven went back to college with two things going for him: Ritalin and a major in printing management — he wanted to major in something he had an interest in."

Tom continued: "In his major, he made all A's and B's. In fact, Steven is proud of the fact that he graduated from college with a higher GPA than his sister. Now she graduated in four years, where it took him six, but ... "

But the most surprising thing for Tom is the immaculate condition of Steven's yard and garage. "There is hope," Tom emphasizes. "Steven came a long way, didn't he?"

The world is full of successful people with ADHD, including David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways, who has become something of an ADHD "poster child" in his role as honorary chairman of the nonprofit organization Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, Inc. Neeleman believes ADHD can even be an advantage in that it gives individuals "fearless innovation."

There is a future beyond missing assignments, failing tests and detention.

Last updated: 05/06

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