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Post by annie on Sept 13, 2009 9:08:50 GMT
Hi giddy
What an uphill battle for you and your wife!!!
Sad as it is I think the fact your eldest daughter is currently being assessed by camhs may actually help your younger daughter. The experience you have of your eldest's struggles in primary school and where she finds herself now, in terms of secondary school, gives you a very powerful argument as to why camhs need to get "their finger out" in terms of your 7 yr old!!!
Honeypot is right you are entitled to see all of your child's school records and this could prove really helpful in clarifying the difficulties she has. When you get them go through them with a fine tooth comb. I bet you find loads of comments which refer to her poor concentration, poor listening skills, marked differences in consistency. All of this will help you give Camhs a much more accurate picture of how she actually is functioning in school as opposed to the schools version of "she doesn't have problems in school"!!!
When you meet with the psychologist on Friday make sure you have a copy of his report before you meet, otherwise you can't participate in a meaningful way. Thomas Brown Psychologist from Yale university is a recognised expert in the assessment of children who have high IQ's but also have Adhd. Ask the Ed Psych what your daughters overall IQ is- she does sound very bright as does your older daughter.
The Ed Psych's assessment breaks down the overall IQ into two areas, that is Verbal Scale and Performance Scale. Each of these scales should give a record of all the sub tests carried out and their scores. In individuals who have an overall high IQ these sub tests and their scores are very important.
Brown's studies have found that people with Adhd have a significantly lower score on the sub tests where Working memory and Processing speed are being measured - ask the psychologist to highlight what sub tests were used to measure these two activities. It's the difficulties in these two area in particular which give rise to significant difficulties for people with Adhd, not only in academic work but day to day tasks.
As honeypot says you could ask Camhs for a copy of their Adhd care pathway but unfortunately they may well not have one - I know my area doesn't nor do surrounding areas.
Good luck with all this - I know it's a struggle but I can tell you and your wife are very determined!!
Forgot to say - I think you should also speak to the Head about your 7 yr olds current teacher's management of her difficulties. I know you said your oldest daughter had the same teacher and you "fell out with the school" over her attitude and teaching methods. perhaps you need to let the Head know about your oldest's on going difficulties and how important it is for the school to learn from this, in light of the developing understanding of Adhd. Put it to the Head " I know you will be as keen as we are to help our 7 yr old benefit from the fast developing understanding about Adhd"
annie
ps Just to say I haven't gone away and very regularly read the forum and benefit greatly from all the inputs from everyone and the informative links - roland and all the rest of you, you're doing a brilliant job!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2009 16:16:05 GMT
Thanks as always Annie and everyone. Your help, understanding and advice is very much appreciated. It is very reassuring to be around people that understand our problems. She proves to us every day that we are not wrong about this. We will try our best and hopefully make some progress. Thanks again
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2009 18:24:45 GMT
Oh honeypot! I'm soooo sorry. I'm a proper numpty! I had only really scan read your post and hadn't really registered any of it. I was just flitting back through the posts trying to get some sort of a plan and I realised my doozer! Sorry for my ignorance When it comes to school we have kinda gone with the flow because they always had us believe that there wasn't a problem. Unfortunately, even we had put her poor grades down to her being a bit daft. She has always been more immature than the other children too. We only started to challenge school when she was regularly coming home very upset because she was constantly being told off. Then we learned about ADHD. We are 95% (wife is 110%) sure I have ADHD and it would go a long way to explaining my daughters problems. School still insist there isn't a problem (even though we know better) and we are relying on CAMHS to provide the dx so she can get the help and understanding she needs. We expected that her diagnosis would be trouble free. Even CAMHS say she shows all the signs outside school. I'm going on a bit over old ground aren't I............sorry. Anyway, we are well out of our depth with this and we are only just beginning to learn how the system works, hence why I asked the forum for help. I feel ashamed to admit that we didn't even know about an IEP let alone CAF (I hope there are people reading this going 'eh?'). Thanks to everyone on the forum, I think we are finally starting to ask the right questions but are not wise enough to know if we are being given the right answers. I'm still struggling to get my head round all the in's and out's of all this - it really isn't my cup of tea. I'm going to have to make notes and colour 'em in. I write endless drivel and expect people to read it, yet I really struggle to read and take in other peoples posts. If anyone has posted something and is/was expecting an answer from me, apologies. I am a numpty. You could try colouring in the question
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Post by boo on Sept 14, 2009 19:41:21 GMT
giddy
i hope its ok to jump in here ........
i just wanted to say your not a numpty
the system is full of red tape and bureaucracy and is not made easy for any of us trying to paddle upstream in a treacle river.
i havent been able to give much practical advice and wish i could be more help but did want to say please dont be so hard on yourself. you are doing wonders for your children and hopefully soon, you will get the help for them that they deserve.
take care xx
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 0:00:35 GMT
Hi Giddy Firstly, there is no need to apologise hun. Second, you are not a NUMPTY! Thirdly, you are the voice of your child, if you do not fight her corner then no one else will! I have been there as I have a 26yr old with dual dx of ADHD/ASD and it took from the age of 2/6 until he was 12 for a dx of ADHD then a further 10yrs for the ASD and had to fight tooth n nail for his education, even taking the LA to Local Government Ombudsman and being successful in his being awarded over 26 grand in legal aid to take legal action against LEA and NHS---so think I wear the T-shirt as well. I have heard the crys of many parents through frustration of fighting the system, you are one of the fortunate ones to have access to forums like this to provide you guidance and support, many in the past did not have this. From what you have said re the school, this is why I think it is important that you request copies of your child's education as well as academic records from the school, this may provide you with the ammunition that you need to push matters. A child does not require a dx of ADHD or any other type of dx in order to receive additional support within the school setting. Perhaps knowing if she was on school action or school action plus would be of assistance. There is a super website: www.educationbulletin.co.uk that I think you would benefit from visiting. The solicitor involved in setting this up is one of the leading experts in special educational needs and if contacted can arrange seminars in your area--free of charge. If you contact him, Mike Charles just say Dorset ADHD suggested him. I sincerely hope all goes well for your daughter and you all as a family. Remember---you are the main toolkit in your child's toolkit in which to get the wheels in motion for her. Good luck but any questions just ask. Honey x
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Post by roland on Sept 15, 2009 7:42:11 GMT
Hi giddy I just want to echo everybody else and say you are not a numpty!! I regularly find myself bemused and puzzled and lost within the labyrinth of bureaucratic intricacies
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 17:01:27 GMT
Thanks for the kind words everyone. Boo, you should have left your post as it was, it was brilliant!
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Post by boo on Sept 15, 2009 18:02:03 GMT
haha giddy, cheers guess i am living up to my avatar sig. ;D im a numpty hahaha
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Post by annie on Sept 18, 2009 21:25:45 GMT
Hi giddy
How did your appointment go today with the Ed Psych?
annie
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2009 0:22:48 GMT
Hi Annie, Not really sure to be honest. He immediately made it clear that he wanted to brush over our youngest daughters results as he didn't really find anything worth discussing. Apparently he was unable to speak to the teacher when he did our youngest daughters assessment and it was the teaching assistant that said she could concentrate for 1 1/2 hours (which we know is nonsense). He didn't acknowledge any of her problems earlier in the year and prior, and seemed surprised about her low-ish end of year grades despite all the hard work by school and ourselves to bring her up to the required level. Her memory problems were swept to the side blaming it on her being distracted as playtime was approaching. We have had to send her back into school at home time nearly every night the last 2 1/2 weeks because she keeps forgetting her jumper, lunchbox or coat, but he says this is normal for a 7 year old (is it? every other kid seems to remember their stuff). He was completely oblivious to any of the social difficulties she has outside the classroom. He wouldn't comment on her fidgetting or behaviour whilst he was doing the tests, just said she was a lively and very friendly girl. As expected, he wants to see how she goes. If we still have concerns in the future then he may do the assessment again. Basically all he did was to try and justify his results. He did offer to talk to the teachers about being a little more leanient on her fidgetting and chatting so she doesn't come home as upset. Can't see that working.
He was far more interested in our eldest daughter. Even though her assessment results seemed to reflect those of our youngest, he sees only the eldest as having a 'real' problem. He believes that her poor memory and slow comprehension is causing all of her problems at school. He did acknowleged that she fidgets alot and also her problems socialising. He doesn't know why such an outgoing kid (sports, drama etc) has become so withdrawn at school. Probably worth mentioning that she was supposed to be going to drama after school today but didn't feel like it after being kept behind for chatting in science (her best class but new teacher). I must admit I got a bit annoyed after he said 'lets wait a few months and see how she goes'. A whole years worth of evidence is there for him now and some of her teachers have been kept the same! He did say that he wanted to speak to her teachers at school and explain that she is a bit slow on the uptake but how is that going to change anything?
We know we can't expect our youngest to be like everyone else because clearly she is not. And we can hardly tell her off for moving up the traffic light when she is already so upset with herself that we have to console her. What do we say to her - 'never mind', 'don't worry about it', 'I'm sorry but you are going to have to get used to being told off', which I'm sure will eventually lead to 'don't take any notice of the teacher, you are a good girl and she doesn't care', 'toughen up and lump it'. On a positive note, today she was given a gold certificate in assembly for 'an excellent start in year 3'. The teacher said how grown up she was when they had given it to her - apparently she would normally do a dance on the stage and jump up and down - not heard that before either.
Its only worth fighting if there is a chance of winning. I don't think there is much point in me attending the next meeting with CAMHS. It obvious what is coming. Things are going to have to get really bad before anything is done. I just hope she is strong enough to get through it. My wife will handle the bad news better than me.
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Post by boo on Sept 19, 2009 9:13:24 GMT
He did offer to talk to the teachers about being a little more leanient on her fidgetting and chatting so she doesn't come home as upset. giddy this annoyed me immensly on your behalf, if he feels its necessary to speak to the teachers on this point, its quite obviously an issue there was lots in your post that i really felt for you on, but this just seemed like a total ridiculous thing to say, no problem would not need action to be taken would it grrrrrr [glow=red,2,300]now HES what you call a numpty[/glow] hang in their giddy, just draw breath ready for the next round, i know you and your wife will get the help for you DD, even if its not an easy road to get there. and y'know just having you on her side will makes heaps of difference in itself, believe me, it will. take care xx
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Post by boo on Sept 19, 2009 9:52:41 GMT
he didn't really find anything worth discussing. and seemed surprised about her low-ish end of year grades despite all the hard work by school and ourselves to bring her up to the required level. He believes that her poor memory and slow comprehension is causing all of her problems at school. He doesn't know why such an outgoing kid (sports, drama etc) has become so withdrawn at school. He did say that he wanted to speak to her teachers at school and explain that she is a bit slow on the uptake gosh is this man an idiot in the first degree?
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Post by .... on Sept 19, 2009 16:40:22 GMT
Grr Much numptys for you to deal with by the sound of it Giddy. I second everything Boo said above.
I know that my DD's school aren't allowed to organise much extra help unless the child is at least three years behind? Rubbish way to carry on if you ask me! Up until that point its upto the teachers to provide extra attention within the remit of normal teaching.
Realistically, any adjustment or point that he thinks should be noted by the teachers ought be put by himself in writing, preferably in his report. If the points he has raised are in the report then CAMHS will then be able to pick up on them. Will cross fingers the CAHMS meeting goes better for you.
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Post by annie on Sept 19, 2009 20:53:58 GMT
Hi giddy
I'm really sorry your appointment with the Ed Psych was such a non event!! I can understand why you feel this is all not worth the effort but I just know you are not going to accept this lying down!!
Now's the time to get your gloves on - did the Ed Psych give you a copy of his report? Did this report show her scores in relation to Verbal and Performance - if so what did that show? I may be wrong but I bet you either didn't get a copy of his report and/or it didn't show scores on the sub tests of Verbal/Performance.
If You didn't get a copy ring the Principal Ed Psych in the Local Authority and tell them you want a full report of what tests were carried out on your child and what the conclusions were. Don't allow them to put you off - they have carried out an assessment on your child and as her parent you are entitled to have a copy. When agencies i.e Health and the Local Authority don't work together parents, as you well know, have to act as an advocate for their child.
As for Camhs ask them what diagnostic tool they are using to assess her for Adhd. ICD-10 is a quite restrictive diagnostic tool and tends to only dx the most severe forms of Adhd. DSM-IV is a more inclusive tool and is better able to pick up the sub types of Adhd- inattention only. I know this may sound very technical but which diagnostic tool they are using is important.
At the end of the day you want to know why all these professionals are standing by waiting for your 7 yr old to have similar problems to your 12 yr old daughter, whose problems do not appear to have warranted attention from Education until the point when she becomes completely put off education = what a failed system!!
Giddy I do realise this is such a hard slog but you're not going to give up yet.
Good luck
annie
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2009 21:09:33 GMT
Thanks for the support guys. And nicely done with the lettering Boo I still don't want to go to the meeting with CAMHS. My eldest daughter can speak to them about her problems for herself and there is nothing left to discuss about our youngest. They want to see her problems causing the teachers problems. Looks like she is in for a few difficult, character forming years ahead. I won't nearly be as supportive toward school and certainly not as understanding as I was when they were disciplining my eldest daughter. If everyone did their jobs properly and spared some thought & consideration for the more unusual individuals we wouldn't need to justify and fight for the help and understanding they need. Ahhh don't listen to me, I'm just angry Hi Annie, your post slipped in as I was writing this one. You are right, we didn't get a copy of either report. My eldest wrote a long letter to him detailing her strengths and weaknesses (which he says he didn't ask for) but I never thought to get a copy of that either! Thanks for the info, we will get right on it.
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Post by annie on Oct 1, 2009 18:37:22 GMT
Hi giddy
Just wanted to wish you luck for tomorrow's meeting - I'll be sitting on your shoulder!!
Believe me I know how hard it is to convince the "professionals" your child does have a problem and it is nothing to do with Parenting.
I think I read in another thread about your youngest daughter's latest escapades - you need to let Camhs know about this and the difficulties the teacher's are having in trying to safeguard her foot!
I know it's easy to say but you and your wife are the people who are going to have say "I know my child best" so my information is important , please take heed!!
Go prepared to pin them down - if they don't think your youngest, or oldest has Adhd get them to say where their difficulties lie and ask for it in writing.
I can sense you're feeling really down about all the hoops you're having to jump through but you know enough about Adhd to question their assessment, so far.
I'll keep everything crossed for you tomorrow and when you're feeling in a bit more "fighting mode" do go back and ask the Ed Psych to put his assessment and his test scores in writing
Good luck
annie
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Post by .... on Oct 1, 2009 18:54:24 GMT
Hi Giddy. Am also wishing you luck for your CAHMS meeting.
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Post by boo on Oct 1, 2009 19:49:05 GMT
hi giddy, i just want to say good luck too xx
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Post by laura on Oct 1, 2009 20:44:59 GMT
Hi giddy good luck for tomoro, i hope it goes better than you expect
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2009 21:45:46 GMT
Hey thanks everyone. I re-read my last post when I got back from work and thought I sounded like a right Moaning Mertle so I deleted it. My wife went to a new ADHD parenting course today held by ADHD Northwest. The more experts and parents of ADHD kids she meets, the more we are re-assured that we are right to push for a diagnosis (part of me was expecting the reverse).
I'll be keeping everything crossed too!
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Post by boo on Oct 2, 2009 8:32:05 GMT
hey giddy, you didnt sound like that at all, but i know how we read things back to ourselves sometimes and understand that you preferred to delete it. (been there myself a couple of times as you know ) but i just wanted to let you know thats not how you came across at all, you are dealing with alot of frustration and needed to offload, as we all do at times and i totally understood your post and where you were coming from. good luck again for today, let us know how you get on, i am crossing all my fingers and toes for you today hugs, boo x
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2009 15:59:22 GMT
Hi all. Haven't got anywhere with CAMHS, what a surprise. I can't tell you how peeved we are. Child psych said that neither of our kids has what in Europe is called 'hyperkinetic disorder' to level DSM-IV. He wasn't open to discussion. Both of the kids behaviour during the appointment was up to their usual standard. Youngest was knocking things over and climbing on and crawling under the chairs, opening cupboards etc. She never stopped and was constantly jumping from one thing to another. Eldest was singing to herself and messing & drawing. Both were interrupting and talking over us. At times we had to raise our voices to be heard. I asked him how do you explain their behaviour now but he refused to be drawn into a debate. Everything we said was meaningless, even schools comments on our youngests report carried no weight. The only thing they were interested in was schools opinion that there is no problem and the ed. psychs conclusion that her development is right for her age (poor working memory, being distracted means nothing). We really don't get it. As for our eldest, CAMHS are happy to sit back whilst the edu. psych tells school of her slow processing and poor working memory problems. And thats it. No further tests and no conclusions other than tough, some kids have good memory others don't. He avoided commenting whether she may have ADD. Apparently, compared to some kids they see, ours have minor problems. Just that our youngest appears more ADHD than our eldest. Yet still they recommend that we get help from ADHD Northwest etc. Why? when they say their problems are not bad enough to warrant a diagnosis? It has left both me and my wife bewildered and we are at a complete loss. ADHD NW told my wife that we'd have to fight for a diagnosis but why the hell do we have to prove something they can easily find out for themselves. The one thing he did promise is to give us a paragraph detailing their findings and conclusions, which, he will also send to the child psychologist. So are we boned then? How can we fight something when our evidence means nothing? Also, CAMHS sent me 2 questionnaires, one for me to fill in and amother for an observer. I took a chance and gave the observer one to my friend at work. We are hardly best buddies but he has sat opposite me long enough to see my strengths and weaknesses (but he doesn't know what goes on inside my head). The Child psych scored them and said I (as in me) have a very high opinion that I have ADHD whereas the observer says I have a 75% chance of having ADHD. He said it in such a way to suggest that we are both wrong. He's sending me to Maudsley 'cos its the only option that the NHS will fund. He did originally want to send me to an Autism specialist too. I'm mentioning this because I'm wondering if he wants the result of my diagnosis before committing himself to the girls. I'm looking for a really strong word for MIFFED
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Post by boo on Oct 3, 2009 9:53:58 GMT
Apparently, compared to some kids they see, ours have minor problems. Just that our youngest appears more ADHD than our eldest. Yet still they recommend that we get help from ADHD Northwest etc. Why? when they say their problems are not bad enough to warrant a diagnosis? giddy i am just replying quickly as i am supposed to be getting ready for a wedding i just wanted to say i am really sorry that you are still going through all this, i quoted the above cos it made me really cross, do they only think its necessary to offer help when things have reached crisis or breaking point then, if there are problems then there are problems, its wrong for them to compare to others and say they dont think its as bad as some they see, actually, i am finding it hard to find the right words to express what i mean, so i hope you do know where i am coming from, i will probably come back at some point and try to explain myself a little better. better go for now though and get ready for this wedding
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2009 11:15:44 GMT
Hi Boo, enjoy the wedding Just printed DSM IV off the net. We reckon she ticked every box during yesterdays appointment for the hyperactivity & impulsivity. And we could take the list to anyone that deals or knows her outside school and they would tick them too. Most of the inattention section is relevant to school (we see it at home but that doesn't matter) so we can see where his difficulties lie. I guess we will never believe she is different at school unless we see it for ourselves but our daughters own accounts tell a similar story to what we would expect to see. And we know from gymnastics that it is not just us that has problems keeping her on task. There are a lot of things that the psych said yesterday that don't add up. He didn't answer any of our questions or offer any form of explanation because it contradicted his conclusions. He could not deny both of my daughters behaviour yesterday but refused to be drawn into a debate. Its simple - they need to fail dramatically at school and cause problems for other people before thay will take notice. Shouldn't be a long wait. He wouldn't comment on our eldest having ADD or give us any explanation for her difficulties (but he can't deny they are there). Infact, he got annoyed with us for calling it ADHD because that is an American term, apparently we in Europe call it 'hyperkinetic disorder'. He would not acknowledge the existence of ADD. He seems to have some sort of ADD or ASD himself so you'd expect he would have been more understanding and helpful but I wonder if it has the opposite effect. House is chaos this morning as usual. Everyone is highly strung and stressed (especially the wife). Eldest is stressing and arguing and youngest has turned the house upside down. Not sure what to do next but we are not giving up grrrrr
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Post by haydreamer on Oct 3, 2009 12:37:41 GMT
Hi Giddy, hope all went well with the meeting, sorry your going through hell at the moment, I do emphasise Don't give up, we adders are fab at perserverance, we allhave more determination then the British army Boo, hope u had a great wedding ;D weddings always make me cry in a happy way!! ;D xx
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2009 18:02:52 GMT
Hi Giddy
Sorry to hear of all the frustration your going through with your daughters and health.
Can I ask who referred your wife to the NW ADHD Parenting Programme? What has the NW ADHD Support Group have to say on the difficulties you are experiencing? We know that we would have intervened and attended the CAMHS meeting with parents (if the wished) in order to support them---not leave them in limbo!
With regards to the consultants and his version of ADHD V Hyperkenetic, just send him a polite note suggesting he read the NICE ADHD Guidelines------Referred to as ADHD!!!!!!!
Just that here, only those parents of children diagnosed or ? ADHD are referred to Parenting Programmes. Does your children's school have PSA's (Parent Support Asiistants) as they are usually a good tool to help with the difficulties you are experiencing.
The only other thing I can suggest is that you write a strong letter of complaint to the CAMHS Manager also requesting a second opinion, you have every right to request this if you are not happy with the outcome, and it is clear you are not-----I don't blame you.
I wish you every bit of luck and hope you push this matter further, for your girls sake.
Best wishes
Honey x
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Post by andy12345 on Oct 4, 2009 4:03:49 GMT
Giddy, please tell that dinosaur psych (who is not an adhd specialist, obviously) that he needs to open up the 664 page nice guideline or the 27 page "leaflet" from the nice website (very easy to find online) Anyway, GP's can totally refer without any right to question you, I think they just play dumb. (obviously, it removes their resistance a bit, if you have the checklists completed).
While you are at it, please tell him that the abacus has been replaced by pocket calculators and that women do have the vote these days. Why are these people so godamned confident about their skills?
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Post by annie on Oct 4, 2009 10:12:03 GMT
Hi giddy
So,so frustrating for you and your wife when all you're trying to do is get an explanation for your daughters difficulties - glad you're not in the mood to give up, but it shouldn't be this way!!!!!
It would seem (I think highly likely) this psychiatrist is not an expert on ADHD. He is right to say that in Europe the ICD-!0 classification is used to dx mental health difficulties and that ADHD is called Hyperkinetic disorder. However NICE emphasis this classification only captures those children with the most severe form of ADHD and fails to identify those children who have significant difficulties along with and equally important, significant impairment educationally and socially.
This psychiatrist, as well as many other psychiatrists, have been trained to use ICD-10 and has failed completely to keep abreast of the increased knowledge from research which promotes the use of DSM-IV to more accurately identify those children who don't fit into the Hyperkinetic description.
I'm not surprised you were confused by your consultation with him - he's confused himself!! Why on earth would he want you to use ADHD Northwest if your children don't have ADHD- its like sending you to a support group for diabetes when you have suffered a stroke - beggars belief!!
Adhd Northwest are likely to be your best ally. As far as I understand they are a support group for Parents who have children with ADHD and are involved in running Parent training programmes specifically geared to parenting children with ADHD. Presumably they don't run these training programmes in isolation and I would imagine they involve key individuals from Camhs.
They will have gathered information from other parents about which psychiatrists in your area have a more inclusive view of ADHD symptoms. Find out who they are. You are most certainly entitled to a second opinion and you can ask your Gp to refer you to another child psychiatrist in your area. Get as much information as possible from ADHD Northwest to help you make this decision.
When it comes to yourself that is good news he is going to support your referral to the Maudsley. I sense a certain arrogance in this guy - whatever made him think he had the expertise in the first place to assess, dx and treat Adult ADHD - he seems somewhat deluded about his level of expertise!! Anyway it's good news you're going to get that referral.
It would be all too easy to give up on this giddy. However you and your wife know enough about ADHD and more importantly have extensive knowledge and insight (unlike the professionals) into how your daughters difficulties impact on their self esteem and educational difficulties - no-one else has that knowledge.
Unfortunately you are going to have to battle for them. This "wait and see" option is not viable - they need help now!! Too many children have their condition un recognised and many adults on here will testify as to how this can lead to huge problems in adulthood.
best wishes and good luck!
annie
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2009 10:13:06 GMT
Hi Honeypot, when we first went to CAMHS they told us to go to the ADHD NW parenting program and they told us to keep going even though they haven't given us a diagnosis. We don't get it either! They didn't say our kids weren't ADD/ADHD but I think he was trying to say that he couldn't diagnose them under DSM-IV. He wouldn't discuss it because, as he put it, he didn't want to be baited into giving a label. Also, he said that the fact our youngests grades improved dramatically with extra lessons and a lot of help from us means that she doesn't need help from CAMHS (with medication). He didn't comment on our eldest, instead he very quickly pushed the responsibility onto us and the edu.psych.
My wife is going to talk to ADHD NW about it and see what they think about the situation. We never thought of asking them to come to the appointment with CAMHS - I'm sure that would have helped. But, the problem needs to be acknowledged in school, the problems she/we is having at home and everywhere else is not important to CAMHS. We have thought about changing schools (this one is 4 miles away and there is a couple a lot nearer) but we don't think that would be in our daughters interest (even though she doesn't have a best friend). But I guess that will depend on how her problems develop in this class.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2009 10:44:06 GMT
Thanks Annie, you've done it to me again - slipping a post in whilst I'm trying to conjure up my last masterpiece You really could not have done a better job of clearing the fog and driving us forward (I can't think of better words to put it, might mod it later). We both appreciate yours and everyones valued advice and information. We will fight on, we have to. We do have the backing of ADHD NW so we will use a different route to a diagnosis. Its already been a year-ish since we originally brought this to the attention of our GP. Talk about frustrating!! You do an amazing job Annie. I can't express our gratitude for the help you have given us. Thankyou.
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