ADD or just a teenager?

[Jopeg]

My daughter is about to take her GCSEs and I am having a nightmare getting her to do her coursework. She is a bright girl, did well in her SATs and got all As in her mock GCSEs without much apparent effort.

She has got it into her head that she has ADD or ADHD (not sure of difference) and she does show some of the symptoms (sorry if that is the wrong word) however I also feel they could apply to many people myself included!

She sat another mock exam recently and said she couldn't get started and sat clicking her pen for ages, she got a B in the end.

I am worried she has got it in her head that she has ADD and is now giving herself symptoms she didn't previously have!

Should I have her tested to prove her wrong?

If she did turn out to be right, would it be of any help anyway?

She is forever losing things and is terribly disorganised, often late etc. In trouble at school for being disruptive, talking too much etc.

She was fine at primary school, it is since secondary that all the trouble has started.

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

[GypsyMoth]

exams have pretty much started now havent they? have one myself doing hers!

i dont think the distraction of these tests would be useful right now.

[Jopeg]

No, if I did have her tested it would have to be in preparation for start of 6th form.

[GypsyMoth]

have teachers never mentioned this before? i'd think that they would pick up on it first really.

[mummytime]

I would try her on fish oils, as it helps some ADD kids. Also try lots of relaxation stuff, including lavender oil on the pillow, and a good going to bed routine.
Make sure she isn't over working, get her to try different strategies in her revision. Make sure she takes breaks, and also does some exercise.
Also see if she is better revising with someone else around.
I used to have panic attacks during revision / exams when at Uni, and ended up doing most of my revision in my boyfriends room. He was fortunately hard working, and it did stop the panic attacks. But she might find it easier if she goes to the library if she doesn't have a reliable friend to work with.

We all have symptoms of all kinds of things (if you looked through an autism checklist you would have at least one or two symptoms to some degree). If you are worried she might be right, ask her teachers.

Good luck.

[pagwatch]

she is talking about add - I would quietly explain to her that she may simply be experiencing stress and anxiety.

Try to find ways to help her calm down and relax at night. Get her to avoid stimulants like coffee and alcohol and try her with fish oils. Maybe see if you can treat her to a massage or something so that she can experience how differently she feels when calmer.

My Ds1 has no ADD or ADHD but his stress at exam time made him forgetful and made it harder for him to concentrate.

I suspect this is what may be going on but I agree with Jopeg that pre 6th form would be a better time to try for an assessment if she remains convinced.

[Jopeg]

Thanks for your suggestions. The school have given her a mentor (although they haven't told us) and I see she has sheets about avoiding procrastination etc.

I will try the fish oils. She is terrible about going to bed, but more sleep would probably help her.