Ask the Experts

My Daughter Thinks She’s Dumb

“I’ve explained attention deficit to her, but my child still thinks she’s stupid.” Our ADHD expert suggests ruling out a learning disability and seeking school accommodations.

Try to find out why she is feeling this way. Is she getting that message from her teacher? Are her grades poor? Does she struggle with schoolwork, making her feel that she is incompetent?

Fifty percent of students with ADHD also have learning disabilities. Might this be the case with your daughter? If so, have they been identified, and is she receiving help for the disability? Be sure you know what problems your daughter is struggling with. Set up a meeting with the principal to talk about school accommodations, and discuss your concerns with your daughter’s doctor.

“I Can’t Do This, Dad!”