About 50 percent of children with ADHD also have Learning Disabilities. Your son sounds like this might be true for him.

You describe auditory distractibility that has been noted since he started school (first grade). I suspect that you see the same behaviors at home and in activities.

Speech and language therapists evaluate for a possible auditory processing difficulty. Most health insurance companies will pay for this assessment.

Submit a letter to the principal requesting a meeting to discuss your child’s difficulties. The principal must schedule this meeting within 30 days.

Wow!! Talk about passing the buck. Your descriptions suggest that she might have a learning disability and/or ADHD. One does not have to guess which.

Howard,

Under the American’s with Disabilities Act, if someone has a documented disability, any testing program must provide the appropriate accommodations.

You are wise to ask for help.

The key question is your observation, “He can do it when he chooses to do it.” Think about what you do with him.

I would trust your observations and judgment. It is possible that her inattention is the result of her learning, motor, (and probably language) disabilities.