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I struggled with this question for years before I finally came to a realization. I got diagnosed as an adolescent. I remember clearly wondering what was wrong with me as a young child. I would watch the other children understand and remember the directions the teacher had given and get right to work. I sat and couldn’t for the life of me remember what I was supposed to be doing. I would see other kids fly through a test and neatly place their pencil down while I read and reread questions trying to make sense of them and then finally answer them. I got called to the teacher’s desk WAY more than other kids. I got called out for talking too much, or laughing too much, or just being out of my seat too much. Trying to stay in the classroom for hours on end was downright painful. I wrote a whole post about how I wasn’t going to let my children feel the same way and why we homeschool.
I tell you all of this to emphasize this point. When I got my ADHD diagnosis I was RELIEVED! I always knew something was different about me and I was finally able to put a name to it and get the help and accommodations I needed.
So, should you get your child tested? Here are some things to ask yourself:
Will getting a diagnosis help my child get the help they need?
Will having a diagnosis change who my child is?
Will getting tested open doors for therapy options that could change my child’s life for the better?
Will having a diagnosis close doors for them or open doors to an encouraging friends that understand their struggles.
Will testing change how I look at my child for the better or worse? Will I be able to learn more about their diagnosis and learn more about setting realistic expectations for my child?
Will a label DEFINE my child???
A lot of people are against labeling their children. Some of my kids have ADHD, but that “label” doesn’t define them. They know that they are loved unconditionally, first by God who knit them together, and of course, by their parents. They know that they are athletic, strong, creative and caring. They know they are SMART, in fact, very smart. They also know that they need to work a little harder than most to achieve the same result. They know that the therapies we go to are to educate them and to help them build strength where they need it. They know they are not broken. We know as a family that life is just a little more challenging at times because ADHD can be hard for adults and children. My kids know they have ADHD, and they know it is not an excuse for bad behavior or laziness. It is a cue to them that they have to work hard and implement the strategies they are learning to be able to let their talents shine through. God will use them in mighty ways. I pray they will always point to Him in their success and to rely on him in their failures. We all have a bit of both as we go through this life.
I hope this post was helpful to you. What do you think about testing and therapy? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
After years of frustration (and many tears), we had our son tested. Despite our fear of “labeling”, my son was actually relieved to have a name for his struggle! It empowered him to understand that his brain was wired differently, and we taught him to view his ADD as his superpower. While we worked on ways to help him focus at home (allowing him to move and listen to music during school helped a lot), we also brainstormed ways that his ADD could be an advantage.