Dr. Sylvia Rimm is a child psychologist, clinical professor at Case University School of Medicine, author, newspaper and magazine columnist, and radio/TV personality. Her advice column appears  regularly in 2e Newsletter. You can visit her website at  www.sylviarimm.com.

For a free newsletter on underachievement syndrome or AD/HD, send a large self‑addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 32, Watertown, WI, 53094, or read Solving The Mysterious Underachievement Problem at  www.sylviarimm.com.

If you have a question for Dr. Rimm, please send it to: DrSylvia@2eNewsletter.com.    

My stepdaughter is in the third grade. She is very bright, but is in the “slower” classes because of poor grades and below-average math and reading skills. She has scored high on her standardized achievement tests, so she is capable of doing above-average work. She meets most of the criteria for an underachiever. We have to meet with the school counselor, psychologist, and her teacher. She has not been diagnosed with AD/HD but may exhibit some signs of it. How can I have her tested to see if she does have AD/HD or if it’s just an underachievement problem? Your response is appreciated.

A

Underachievement and AD/HD often overlap. That is, children with attention deficit disorders typically underachieve, but underachievers may not necessarily have attention deficit disorders. There is no absolute test for attention deficit disorder, but psychologists usually provide a descriptive form that parents and teachers can complete that quantifies the characteristics of their children or students. The school psychologist can provide such a form and it is appropriate for diagnosis.

Many of the techniques to help underachievers also help children with AD/HD. For example, providing positive structure, consistency between parents, and support and communication between home and school will help most children with school-related problems. I would suggest you refer to my book Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades and What You Can Do About It for many other techniques that work with AD/HD or underachieving children.

Depending on the results of a total evaluation of your child, a doctor may suggest medication. For some children, medication can make a dramatic difference. Other children do not require medication and can succeed with other home and school approaches.

For children who have been placed in slower classes because of their underachievement, helping them set goals so they can move to higher reading or math groups is often very effective and helps them to build self-confidence.