Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

[zaksmummy]

Does anyone have a child with this condition?

I think that my 6 year old son has it - Ive done some research on the net, Ive also asked his school nurse to refer him for assessment, just waiting to hear from her about it.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

zaksmummy,

I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 12. CHADD is a national advocacy group for those with ADD. Here is the ADD subforum, you will probably get more responses there.

Good luck, you have a tough road ahead of you

 

[FaithPrevails]

I have a child with ADHD and highly recommend that you get formalized screening with a licensed child psychologist, rather than just a school nurse or even pediatrician.

Also, I recommend seeing a pediatric neurologist for prescribing meds if you end up going that route.

JMHO from personal experiences.

 

[zaksmummy]

Thanks both.

He has a few other issues as well. The school doctor is in contact with the childrens mental health team, and they are deciding who is the best to see him.

We wait and see.

 

[FaithPrevails]

Thanks both.

He has a few other issues as well. The school doctor is in contact with the childrens mental health team, and they are deciding who is the best to see him.

We wait and see.

Regarding the bolded - please just remember that you are your child's number one advocate. So, if you don't agree with/understand a recommendation that the team makes - speak up. Don't be afraid to challenge something they tell you.

Have they given any indication how long it will take for them to make a decision?

 

[zaksmummy]

In Britain, unless you want to pay privately for a therapist everyone is seen by the NHS. They have different teams of professionals set up who work with different groups, linked into the schools and hospital staff.

We've had a letter from the peadiatrician to say that Zak will be seen by the CAMHS team (child and adolescent mental health service), because he has a couple of issues besides the potential ADHD.

My husband and I are both psychiatric nurses, my husband trained with some of the staff that work in this team when he was a student, and so we are very happy for Zak to be seen by them. Just waiting for them and the GP to sort out the referral, which in the NHS could take a couple of months!

 

[blessedmomof5]

I pray that this gets through quickly for you. My dd also has add..and is learning disabled.
I cannot imagine having to wait that long for an appt..... here in the USA, we have private ins, or if you work for the goverment then you have goverment ins....but you still do not ever wait that long ever...

Keep us posted on how everything goes and when you finally get an appt!!!

In Britain, unless you want to pay privately for a therapist everyone is seen by the NHS. They have different teams of professionals set up who work with different groups, linked into the schools and hospital staff.

We've had a letter from the peadiatrician to say that Zak will be seen by the CAMHS team (child and adolescent mental health service), because he has a couple of issues besides the potential ADHD.

My husband and I are both psychiatric nurses, my husband trained with some of the staff that work in this team when he was a student, and so we are very happy for Zak to be seen by them. Just waiting for them and the GP to sort out the referral, which in the NHS could take a couple of months!

 

[zaksmummy]

Its just that our GP is supposed to be at retiring age, and was supposed to be retiring in June, but hasnt gone yet - it takes him ages to get anything done!

Im not complaining really, it is a good system when it works!

I spoke to Zaks teacher about him last week, he isnt sure that he has ADHD, just that hes hyperactive, so we'll see what they say when we go.

 

[FaithPrevails]

In Britain, unless you want to pay privately for a therapist everyone is seen by the NHS. They have different teams of professionals set up who work with different groups, linked into the schools and hospital staff.

We've had a letter from the peadiatrician to say that Zak will be seen by the CAMHS team (child and adolescent mental health service), because he has a couple of issues besides the potential ADHD.

My husband and I are both psychiatric nurses, my husband trained with some of the staff that work in this team when he was a student, and so we are very happy for Zak to be seen by them. Just waiting for them and the GP to sort out the referral, which in the NHS could take a couple of months!

Good to know - except the couple of months part. I just know how relieved I was to finally have answers to my questions and concerns - as I'm sure you and your husband will be, too.

 

[blessedmomof5]

Just checking in zaksmummy,

how is everything going? hear anything yet? Praying for you all

Its just that our GP is supposed to be at retiring age, and was supposed to be retiring in June, but hasnt gone yet - it takes him ages to get anything done!

Im not complaining really, it is a good system when it works!

I spoke to Zaks teacher about him last week, he isnt sure that he has ADHD, just that hes hyperactive, so we'll see what they say when we go.

 

[zaksmummy]

Just checking in zaksmummy,

how is everything going? hear anything yet? Praying for you all

Its getting there - I havent heard anything for about 4 weeks, was getting fed up so rang the GP's, they said they hadnt heard anything so I rang the Consultants secretary - they are always the best people to talk too in my experience.

She was very helpful - the letter to the GP got lost in the post, she has faxed it to them and phoned them to ensure it gets done. She said she'd give it a week and chase it up again if nothing has happened so we should be hearing back from them very soon

 

[blessedmomof5]

Finally they are getting the ball rolling! I know with me here in the usa if you go to the top and tell what u want instead of ask it gets done much quicker!!!! Unfortunately i had to learn th hard way!!!! Good luck snd Praying for you all

 

[FaithPrevails]

Glad to see things are being set into motion for you, zaksmummy!

 

[zaksmummy]

Well finally, last week spoke to the mental health nurse about Zak. She says that his behaviour warrants further attention and so sent us some assessment forms to fill in, which we did and sent back. She has also sent some to Zaks teacher for her to do as well.

She said she will show them to the consultant and see what happens from there.

Finally we will know if hes got ADHD or if hes just hyperactive.

 

[blessedmomof5]

Glad to hear its finally moving along !!! I think 5 mths is just way to long and so not acceptable into age of technology!!!
But praise the Lord it is finally moving along!! Any idea of when ull know the results?

 

[zaksmummy]

Got another letter today. We have a face to face appointment in three weeks, of which Im really glad, after having a really rough day with him today :-(

 

[ex-pat]

Praying for your little guy! (I know you've probably already looked into this, but do you see any correlations between his food and his rough days? I cared for a child who had issues with food colouring in his juice and candy or whatever..it wasn't the sugar, but the dyes.)

 

[MessianicMommy]

I have the same question as ex-pat. Have you guys gone through allergy and food intolerance testing?

A lot of kids I knew that went in for assessment found they had food related issues that went away when their diet changed, while there was still a minority who had true ADHD issues which handled better with diet change, but obviously needed other things in their life (some including medication) to better handle their needs.

 

[zaksmummy]

We had Zaks assessment today. We were there for an hour and a half. Zak played with the toys in the room for the whole time, and coloured a lovely picture!

The consultant initially told us that he wouldnt give us a diagnosis today, which we were expecting - how can you on one meeting? Anyway at the end he obviously has made up his mind that Zak has got ADHD because he gave us some leaflets about behaviour management, has signed us up for a parent support group and teaching, recommended a couple of books and said that we will try some behaviour techniques now, but will look at medication in the future. We have another appointment at the end of January.

It was a very good meeting and he said we'd done very well with the behaviour techniques we had been using because Zak was obviously responding well to them from when we had needed to implement them during the session. He said that is not to decry how difficult his behaviour was or how much we have struggled, but that we had been doing a good job, which made me feel very good

On the food issue, I have read up a bit about it since some one had suggested it to me a few weeks ago, and I have made a few changes to his diet, but as of yet there doesnt seem to be any change in his behaviour.

 

[zaksmummy]

Praying for your little guy! (I know you've probably already looked into this, but do you see any correlations between his food and his rough days? I cared for a child who had issues with food colouring in his juice and candy or whatever..it wasn't the sugar, but the dyes.)

Red food colouring makes him very hyperactive, he doesnt eat alot of sweets or chocolate and we rarely give him coke. That said he has had it a couple of times recently and hasnt been any worse for it.

Zaks school have also introduced a policy recently of only allowing the children water to drink after some research that show that children behaviour becomes erratic following lunchtime drinks etc, and to be honest that hasnt made any difference to his behaviour either, so Im coming round to the opinion that very little of his issues are related to food, but Im going to stick with the dietary changes because he likes them.