Assessing for ADHD - advice needed.

[Loueytb3]

School have queried whether DS1 (who has ASD) might also have ADHD and have suggested that we get him assessed. He has a lot of the characteristics of ADHD (poor attention, unable to sit still, impulsive) but really needs his sleep so I've always thought (and had been told) that his behaviours were due to ASD. He is hypermobile and has poor muscle tone and his OT told me years ago that he found it much harder to sit than other children because of this.

Apparently we need to go through CAMHS for a diagnosis. We have never dealt with them before and I know that the waiting lists are long in our area.

If it looks as though we are going to have to wait a long time for an assessment, we could try and pay for a private assessment. However, if it is likely that a private diagnosis is less likely to hold weight with the LA, then we would wait for an NHS appointment. He is due to transfer to an EHCP next spring and we are currently investigating secondary schools for him. (He's year 4).

Also, what happens if you have a private diagnosis and medication is suggested? Can it be prescribed on the NHS?

Any advice welcome!

[Loueytb3]

He hasn't got one zzzzzz. He was discharged years ago. I've been told that all over-8s have to go through CAHMS.

[2boysnamedR]

Can you go to the GP and see the pead again? Ds was discharged but if we ask to see her again we are fast tracked ( ie not the six month wait for a new referral).

[Loueytb3]

Yes I think we might try that. His paed did say that we could phone if we had an issue. It's worth a try at least

[Loueytb3]

The intel I've had from people in our area is that current waiting time for a CAMHS appt is 12 months

[2boysnamedR]

I have phoned peads secretary before and pead has called back within the week to discuss issues over the phone. But I think I'm lucky with her, older ds pead would ignore me

[Loueytb3]

Update. Previous paed would (in theory) see him again, but because it's more than 6 months since we've been seen we have to be re-referred by the GP. After querying how long it was going to take once they received the referral, I was told that they have to accept it, send out a consent form to us, we send it back to them and at that point the clock starts and they are supposed to see him within 16 weeks. Realistically, we were looking at a 5 month wait for an appointment once you build in the delays of getting letters to and from the hospital. The earliest GP appointment we could get was in 3 weeks (we're finally going tomorrow). So we've taken the decision to pay for a private ADHD assessment and have one lined up for the middle of July. I have deliberately picked someone who is prominent in the field so that the LA can't dispute his report when we come to EHCP transfer next year.

[reader108]

My ds has a diagnosis ASD several times ADHD has been suggested as well. He has poor attention can't sit still, focus is zero unless it's something he's interested! I've never chased dual diagnosis fear only offer would be medication

[Lottielou7]

My daughter is 7 and has just been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. She was diagnosed by her paediatrician and she also has dyspraxia. We didn't have to wait long for the dx and we haven't had to involve CAMHS.

In my daughters case the doctor has recommended meds because she does have a very high score and is really struggling at school. The school are good in that they are pushing for a EHC plan, but not so good in that her teacher keeps shouting at her when she really does want to be compliant and learn. It's a real shame.

[Lottielou7]

See, I wonder if my daughter might be on the spectrum but I've heard it said that if you have ADHD you can't also have ASD - is this true?

[reader108]

You can definitely have ASD and ADHD together