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Post by Sh on Jul 19, 2017 17:44:05 GMT
Hi Can you be diagnosed with ADHD if you are well behaved in the classroom? My son is impulse, competative, lacks empathy and is defiant on the playground and at home. His head teacher thinks he has ADHD but others I have asked (including a paediatrician friend) said he won't be diagnosed with ADHD if he behaves in class.
I just want to help him with his issues (willing to pay for therapy and have tried play therapy) but I don't know what kind of help he needs and I seem to get mixed messages from everyone.
He's only 7. Its so hard seeing him struggle and being accused of being a bad parent (I don't think I am) by other mums when I can't seem to get him any help.
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Post by easilydistracted on Jul 19, 2017 21:06:43 GMT
Hi @sh Just because your little one responds in one environment (the classroom) does not mean that his problems in the playground and at home do not count! Life may be one big learning experience but unfortunately we can't spend our whole life in the classroom! As you've got the Head-teacher (a professional who has experience of lots of kids) on your side you may be best simply going to the doctors and ask for your lad to be refered. School reports and a letter from the Head won't hurt either - The GP does not have the qualifications to say your son does not have it so it's about getting the GP on your side to make the process as quick and easy as possible. It may be that the initial meet will be with the Mental Health Team who will then from there refer onwards for diagnosis to specialists who are more familiar with ADHD and its friends. Good luck
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Post by vagueandrandom on Jul 19, 2017 21:09:10 GMT
Hi, there's been a recent discussion about this in Introductions under
'Hi, I need help' by natc71
and, yes. .ADHD isn't all about having problems in school. .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2017 1:00:31 GMT
You have to demonstrate impairment in at least two settings, IIRC?
1. The home 2. Friendships 3. Academic
Seems like you have two?
If class provides sufficient novelty, there may not be any obvious impairment. It wasn't noticeable until secondary school for me.
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Post by marionk on Jul 20, 2017 5:36:49 GMT
Sounds more like Oppositional Defiant Disorder to me. Neither is due to bad parenting, and actually to get an ADHD child to stay on track needs clever parenting/schooling, and to get an ODD child to behave tolerably needs a Superparent!
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Post by Sh on Jul 20, 2017 5:48:48 GMT
Thanks for comments.
I will go down the cahms route if the school advises when we meet in September. But there is a 20 month wait time... I was informed about the emotional learning academy that can provide appropriate therapy but the school isn't willing to pay for this without going to cahms first 😩 Does anyone have any recommendations for therapy that can help ADHD/odd symptoms? Re ODD I looked this up and it does describe my son.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2017 10:32:40 GMT
ODD is just another bullshit alias for novelty seeking. Every ADHDer not riddled with anxiety probably has ODD traits. I certainly do
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Post by easilydistracted on Jul 20, 2017 17:00:38 GMT
Sounds more like Oppositional Defiant Disorder to me. Moved into diagnosis now have we? I'm only surprised you didn't also mention your protein cure!
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Post by marionk on Jul 23, 2017 7:58:08 GMT
ODD is just another bullshit alias for novelty seeking. Every ADHDer not riddled with anxiety probably has ODD traits. I certainly do I wondered if I had it too, as I have (had) task/stress avoidance issues, but I would say that trait goes along with anxiety, not the lack of it. And apparently that is the underlying cause of ODD. Personally I suspect it's more to do with personality, but as I have never met anyone officially dx with it, (just a few people who fit the profile) it could well be exactly what it is said to be. Remember, until a few years ago, ADHD was just an excuse for badly behaved kids.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2017 13:40:58 GMT
You may well be right Questions for the audience: 1. What is ODD? 2. What is PDA? 3. How does the layman tell the difference between ODD and PDA? 4. Should we bother to create additional labels for behaviours that can, often, easily be attributed to the base condition? As an aside, I've found myself in the position where I am passing on your protein advice for low mood. Realised the other day when I was a bit flat, I hadn't had any protein for a day or two. You've been a big help
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 13:28:09 GMT
One should always bear in mind that ADHD is a spectrum of symptoms - and remember that it is a neurodevelopmental disorder. For instance, many children with many ADHD traits will also have other neurodevelopmental conditions and these can mask or influence classic ADHD symptoms as well. My son has a touch of autistic spectrum - which meant that his teachers at primary school saw only that and dismissed any suggestion that he had ADHD as well. Luckily, we chose to have him see a C&A psychiatrist and then a specialist psychologist to do some further tests and taking methylphenidate has transformed his scholastic ability.
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elb1987
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Post by elb1987 on Aug 15, 2017 1:34:22 GMT
Hi
As a primary school teacher, I have seen children with and without a diagnosis conform in the classroom. I did myself!
It's great that your Head is on side, if I were you I'd meet with your SENCO and see what help/support they can give. It's important you go through the diagnosis stage now before secondary school. I wouldn't go privately as these diagnoses aren't always recognised.
I know it can be a very long and tiring process, but stick with it!
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eekoh
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Post by eekoh on Sept 12, 2017 18:21:11 GMT
I'm pretty certain I have ADHD (seeing GP for referral next week). At school I was always well behaved in class, never disruptive to other students - which is probably a big part of it not being recognised at the time. But I was definitely a daydreamer and would just quietly gaze out the window. I also tended to be very creative about hiding it when things went wrong because I hated getting told off. If the teacher suspects ADHD then it's definitely worth getting a professional assessment - I did ok all the way to 6th form without anybody (including me) suspecting a problem then spectacularly crashed out in first year of A Levels.
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