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Original poster

To wonder why paeds even bothered with an ADHD Qb test?

36 replies

Eeksteek · 15/07/2022 16:58

DD12 is being assessed for ADHD. She scores highly for it at home, but not at all at school, so paeds referred her for a QB computer test. On which she showed ADHD traits. But as the school senco (with whom I have had no contact and do not believe she has even met) and her teacher (who says she can’t have ADHD because she ‘doesn’t fidget’) say she has no issues at school they have concluded she does not have ADHD symptoms in two settings (which they already knew) and discharged her.

So what was the fucking point of the QB test, if they are going to ignore the results, then? I can understand wanting an objective marker when two subjective scores differ, but why even bother if you are going to just…..discount it?!

Am I being unreasonable to kick up a (polite) stink? Am I ‘that parent’ chasing a label to excuse poor parenting and disagreeing with the professionals? She different, I’m sure of it. She’s so difficult (I never say that in front of her but there’s no other word for it) and I was so hoping to get some support. I wasn’t expecting much, but this is below even my expectations.

OP posts:
Dinodigger · 16/07/2022 05:05

I know you shouldn't have to, but can you afford to go private? Best thing we ever did for our son, he now has an EHCP which pays for him to go to a small independent school and it had been life changing for him.

TooManyPJs · 16/07/2022 02:52

I am very surprised she's not showing ANY signs at school? Can she concentrate on her work? Does she daydream? Does she get involved in things other people are doing (rather than her own stuff)? Does she finish tasks? Does she seem emotionally "immature"? Does she have social skills issues? Is she very talkative?

Is it the school filling in the questionnaire and saying she doesn't have any issues or was she assessed in school by someone independent?

QueenCamilla · 16/07/2022 02:19

My "fidgeting" was (and still is if I'm not on meds) scalp picking. No one would have known as I hide it.

I did exceedingly well academically at school as a child. But I had many other symptoms - chatting non-stop, 10 hobbies a minute and promptly abandoning them all, risky "adventures", unable to switch off at night, unable to get up and get started in the mornings.

School performance started falling apart with teenage years. The 10 hobbies turned to 10 jobs a minute, dropped out of uni, dropped out of every single course thereafter...
I got diagnosed at 36.
At 12 it just wouldn't have happened. Unfortunately. I think women on average get diagnosed in their 30's!

NrlySp · 16/07/2022 02:01

I had no issues at school - I was polite, academic enough to get to university- where I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get about a certain grade, but always terrible at maths!
Aged 42 diagnosed with inattentive adhd.
I do fidget - but at home. I suppress it out of the house.
Just because a child is doing well academy doesn’t mean they are not neuro diverse. Girls particularly present differently.
keep persevering

MrsPartridgeKleio · 16/07/2022 01:51

They refused to assess my daughter as she didn't disrupt the classroom 🙄 despite the fact she is classic inattentive adhd

Marvellousmadness · 16/07/2022 01:46

Fidgeting would fall under the category of HYPERACTIVE. But some people (especially girls) had innatentive adhd.

But the fact she scores high at home and not in school might just indicate a problem at home?

We all display adhd traits
But that doesnt mean we have it ( I have it btw) it is the severety of those traits and how much it impacts your life for one.
It goes hand in hand with dyslexia. And anxiety. Depression etc.

Also i dont think it is the label you shohld be chasing
She might just be a bit different but thats fine too . Labels will put you in a box.
And you can get rediculed for it. But if she actually has if then you just have to find a different way to go about it. Like via gp and then to a shrink. Good luck

shivermetimbers77 · 16/07/2022 00:22

The diagnostic criteria require it to be present in at least two settings, so can you provide evidence from places other than school? Eg a written report by someone who runs a club she is part of, evidencing any of the main symptoms? That may help.

YeahNahWhal · 16/07/2022 00:16

Any lip biting, nail biting, hair twirling, skin picking? That's ADHD fidgeting that most manage to find socially acceptable.

Original poster
Eeksteek · 16/07/2022 00:02

@HairyKitty the impression I was given was that the Qb would settle it one way or the other. It just seems utterly pointless even doing it, if they are going to ignore it. They knew before they started that school didn’t think she had issues. What a complete waste of everyone’s time.

@serenghetti2011 it was her form tutor that said that about fidgeting, proving that she knows little about adhd and is not remotely qualified to comment. I have no idea about the Senco. Afaik, neither of us have ever even met her. So I’m not going give her much credence either.

I’m obviously glad she’s not failing at school, but it seems she will not be considered for diagnosis unless she does. I might see if I can get another opinion. It can’t hurt. I was mostly worried about the transition to secondary, but it seems to have gone ok so far.

The things her teachers say about her are pretty telling. Mostly, they all
think she’s lovely, but the little bits that do come out - rushing to the answer, limited depth to discussion, not showing workings, either does it perfectly off the cuff or ‘gives up’ on it, difficulty going with the flow in group work - are significant , I think. Her handwriting is awful and my biggest issues at home are sleep (massive. She’s 12 and does not sleep through yet) and teeth cleaning. Which do not even happen at school! She’s a massive sensory seeker, too and likes noise and bustle and routine, which are also heavily in schools favour (although she strongly resists all routine at home)

OP posts:
serenghetti2011 · 15/07/2022 17:25

My son has adhd and doesn’t figit, some kids do but your senco clearly hasn’t a clue - we don’t have those in Scottish schools so no idea what qualifies them to diagnose or not. My son was diagnosed by a clinical adhd specialist who is amazing. my son also has Asd he is a sensory seeker rather than avoiding highly sensory triggering environments etc he seeks them out and loves it, people just do not get it. Your daughter will have her own profile of adhd that is unique to her. I hope you get some answers and people who know what they are talking about behind you. It’s a bumpy road that’s for sure!

HairyKitty · 15/07/2022 17:20

ADHD doesn’t require fidgetyness for a diagnosis.
Nice does require 2 settings (otherwise it’s blame the parenting) but surely a home setting and other social or club settings plus the QB would be sufficient?
If you are seeking medication then no I wouldn’t let it drop.