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Post by kakema on Aug 16, 2010 21:03:12 GMT
I think I kicked off my first post by talking about my daughter, who has been diagnosed as gifted and dyslexic. I think she also has ADHD - predominantly inattentive, but some hyperactive traits and a shedload of impulsivity that regularly slips into violent outbursts. But no formal diagnosis yet.
Anyway, she goes to an independent school, which has a lot of pluses, in that she's in small classes and has been lucky enough to have had mainly excellent teachers who can keep her attention better than many. The school have recruited a special needs coordinator who has produced an ILP for her, which has some acknowledgement of her ADHD traits (that she should be able to move about regularly, things like that).
She now reads pretty well, above her age but not to her cognitive ability, shocking spelling, tragic handwriting, but overall the dyslexia doesn't seem to be the big hurdle. But as I've talked about my own issues, I've become aware that Katie's ADHD may well take her through the same sort of pain as my own, and I want to know what more I can do for her. How do I go about getting her formally diagnosed? Do I do it through the GP the way I'm doing for myself? Should I ask the school to do it? And what difference will it make? Is the only solution medication? Are there things I should be doing (which panics me a little, as I've come to realise that between us our combined issues seem to have a compounding effect and I'm not sure I have the staying power to stick with 'strategies').
Not sure what my question is here, but I want just to think about what I should be doing for her that I'm not doing at the moment.
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Post by annie on Aug 16, 2010 22:15:42 GMT
Hi kakema
I think you mentioned your daughter's dyslexia was identified by the Ed Psych. who also thought she may have Adhd.
My situation was similar, and this is going back some years now, in as much as we recognised our daughter's reading/spelling problems were likely to be linked to dyslexia, but unlike you we couldn't get the school or anyone else in the Education Dept. to recognise her difficulties.
We went down the route of having her assessed at the Dyslexia Institute ( think it's now called Dyslexia Action), aged 8. The psychologist did a battery of tests and found her to be on the 99.7 centile in terms of ability but a reading age of 6yrs. The conclusion of her assessment was to say it was her "impulsivity" which was causing the problems and that her profile did not suggest dyslexia. We went with the recommendation of 1-1 tuition at the DI and her reading gradually improved.
Eighteen months later she was re assessed by Dr Rack, now head of Dyslexia Action who confirmed she did show the profile of someone with dyslexia!! Unfortunately he didn't identify the underlying condition of Adhd which has caused her far, far more problems than the dyslexia.
You can ask your Gp to make a referral to your local Camh's (Child and Adolescent Mental Health team) and explain you want her assessed by the child psychiatrist with regards to the possibility of her having Adhd - you can also mention the Ed Psych has raised this as a possible issue.
If it is confirmed she does in fact have Adhd and it is causing problems at home as well as school then, it is likely she will be offered medication. If as you think, you may also have untreated Adhd then the combination of you both being untreated is likely to be explosive!
I don't know how old your daughter is but if our daughter's condition had been recognised when she was 8 rather than 17 then I think her life would have been much happier. We also went down the route of private schooling and whilst she did come out with 9 Gcse's, I don't think the school had the faintest idea how to deal with her emotional needs. Independent schools do not have to follow the code of conduct for Special Education Needs and they definately struggle in this area.
Let me know if I can help - your situation sounds so familar.
annie
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2010 23:42:08 GMT
Hiya you have similar situation to me, my daughter is diagnosed but i struggle to cope through having add myself. Its a nightmare, always exhausted these days.
We were referred to a child dev. center but you could ask to be referred to one through your GP i believe?
As you are gaining support through a Ed Psyc i would wait to see what they suggest. Let us know how you get on. Sorry this post is short, im half asleep!! ill pop back in tomorrow X
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Post by annie on Oct 29, 2010 8:17:39 GMT
Hi oooshiny
Just wondered if you had made any progress with a referral to Camhs.
Normally the psychiatrist in Camhs takes a full developmental history and it will be helpful for them to have sight of the Ed. Psych's report as this can often show up weaknessess in processing and short term memory.
You and the school should then be given some form of children's rating scales to fill in and when those are complete the Camhs team often carries out an observational vist to school just to see how she performs in that setting.
All this information will be put together so the psychiatrist can assess whether or not Adhd is present and more importantly her level of impairment both in school and at home. Camhs often also do a Childrens Global Assessment scale (sorry can't give link but it comes up on google) This gives a good picture as to the childs level of impairment. If medication is required the CGAS is often completed after the medication has been successfully titrated to it's maxm. - this gives an indication whether the level of impairment has been reduced.
Hope this is helpful to all parents.
annie
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Post by kakema on Oct 31, 2010 21:37:50 GMT
Hi, Annie - yes, it's all trundling along. Unfortunately, CAMHS has a six month waiting list for the initial appointment - so we'll just have to grit our teeth and wait. They've sent a questionnaire for the school to fill in in the meantime, and I need to send them a copy of my EP's report. Ho hum. I'm dallying with the notion of going to LANC - all quiet on the behaviour front at the moment, so I'm just watching to see where we get to.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2011 22:27:12 GMT
did you go to lanc in the end ?? went with 2 of mine ...,terrific place
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Post by kakema on Mar 11, 2011 6:56:22 GMT
No - I procrastinated spectacularly. But she's got an appt at CAMHS on 28/4.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2011 13:57:04 GMT
all the best for that
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Post by andy12345 on Mar 15, 2011 3:21:25 GMT
If I look at this thread again and for a fourth time and realise that I've looked previously, but forgotten, I am going to be well annoyed and beat myself up
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2011 18:28:44 GMT
Hi, my son goes to camhs (west sussex) remember to stand up for yourself and what your child needs, cos as you know you know your child best! I've had a bit of a messed up backwardy forward time with camhs - but I think thats because of where I live. Good Luck
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