What is the best way to get an answer from an adhd child?

My son is difficult to say the least. He does not respond to any questions when asked. School staff are at wits end with their "coaching" methods. If they ask him, "Why did you not try to work on your math practice?", he stares blankly, and will continue this until the end of the school day. He may do 20% of school/homework at most. This is with guidance pointing at every single problem on the pages. I don't understand this completely yet because his i.q. tested at 103. Not Einstein but simple math seems within reason. He's a sweet guy (of course I think so). I just need any advice from MOMs not medical mumbo jumbo on what has worked for them.

This gets better with age. I have an ADHD son who is almost 12. He is on medication to help him focus. But sometimes the social aspect of things is hard for him. You are right, these kids are highly intelligent and have the capability to blow you away academically. My son used to do what you describe in probably 1-2nd grades. Third got a lot better and by 4th it was non existent. The first step was the medication because he really needed to be able to focus to do the work in the first place. Secondly, you do have to allow him to reap what he sows. Because when these lil guys get out in the real world, no one is going to excuse them because they have ADHD. I know it is difficult for some people to do, but if you can make it work I highly advise private schooling. That made a huge difference for my son. He went from having 33 kids in the class to having 13. Big difference! Check around in your area, they may not be as expensive as you think. Where I live (Nevada) the public school system is so horrid that there are a lot of charter and private schools here, enough that they have to compete tuition wise so that brings the costs down a lot. We had given up our car payment and bought something that didn't require a payment and used that money to put them in private school. Anyway... just an idea... if there are too many kids, the stimulation may be too much for him to bare. Let him know that you see him as a very intelligent kid and that if he applies himself now it will open a world of opportunities in the future. I always told my kids, would you rather be a gas attendant at the gas station and drive a car that never works and live in a tiny house that is in a bad neighborhood, or would you rather be a boss of a huge company or a doctor, or a lawyer and drive a nice car and live in a big house and be able to go see movies when you want and by the toys you want... (I know it is a vain approach, but it worked for my kids)... of coarse they want the latter. So, you let them know that if they put in the hard work now, then it will make their lives easier in the end. Every person will work hard at least half their lives, they can work hard the first 18-25 yrs and not so much the last 60-80 or the reverse. They can goof off the first 18-25 and work like a slave the rest of it. When focused these kids can understand long term outlooks like this. And any promise of relaxation or relief is welcomed because they are so run down from trying to stay focused all day. Explain to him that he will have to repeat that grade if he doesn't apply himself.
You may also want to sit down and discuss on his level how he functions. My son at that age described to me that 'his mind went fast, too fast to keep an idea"... at that time we had taken him off meds for the summer. We promptly put him back on and now that he is older he will skip a day but the next day he admits that he probably should have taken it the day before. He doesn't like not being able to sort his thoughts.
Hang in there, Mamma. It gets better and these lil guys are amazing to watch grow up. Be patient. My son used to shut down all the time too. Just don't give up.
Good luck to you! :)

It may be too hard for him to do his work at school, it doesn't mean he's not getting it or can't get it, just that it's too hard at the time. He may need more quiet or less noise or a chance to run around. But, just becuase he has ADHD doesn't mean he's not responsible for getting his work done - he needs to face the consequences whatever you think is appropriate such as missing out on programs he wants to watch, a trip, a chance to do something...

How do I know? I have ADHD, got all my freaking work done because I was responsible for it.

I was in the same boat with my five-year-old son, but these simple techniques really turned him around. I was amazed!
http://www.squidoo.com/attention-deficit

there are a few options...

-tutor who specializes with children like him
-School with children like him
-Rewards
-Bribe
-Consequences

My sister has 3 kids with the same issue ....she went to school and set in the classroom and eventually did wrk out....sometimes children need to know.....who is in control, even with adhd cases:)

No distractions!! Me and my son both have it. For him I can't have any tv, or back ground noise for him to be able to focas, he isn't n meds by the way because I want to use that as last resort. Me on the other hand when I'm at my desk at work I have to keep head phones on and listen to talk radio to be able to focas on my work. Hearing all the other 20 women in my office gossip is too distracting and I didn't get any work done before I decided to put on head phones. Try silence and looking him in the eye at his level when talking, and maybe an i pod and new headphones for when he does his homework.