To think most online adult ADHD diagnoses are bullshit?

It’s not linked to intelligence though.

Do you actually know the symptoms?

I think you're absolutely incredible for being able to sit behind a screen and telling everyone they have or haven't got it. That's some talent that.

Wait, what now?
Are you aware that ADHD/ASD are not learning disabilities? They have absolutely nothing to do with intelligence. Yes, many people will have dual diagnosis but not every person who is ND is also LD. Reminds me of a nurse I used to work with who said "he can't have autism, he is very articulate and intelligent". What a knobhead...
I am autistic but am perfectly intelligent. Not a genius but not struggling either. I don't really feel the need to tell anyone at work about my diagnosis because it doesn't affect the work I do (because I chose this job based on my needs). My diagnosis was beneficial to me because it allowed me to understand my needs better. I am not "a bit thick" just because I can't cope with loud noises or last-minute change in plans. Funny how working in a quiet environment and having autonomy over my diary suddenly made me less thick...

DLA is also based on need.

Some autistic children won't have the same needs as other autistic children and therefore would not qualify for the medium or higher rates or even the lower rates, however if your daughter is entitled to any, even the lower rates, this will benefit her and you.

There are hidden costs with being autistic. Needing taxis because buses are too much stimuli, needing to buy branded super noodles because unbranded ones are too unpredictable, strictly only eating mcdonalds chicken nuggets despite any best efforts to find replicas. These are just a few that we have. We call it the autism tax.

By definition if your daughter is autistic she will have the triad of impairments which ultimately do mean additional costs associated with helping her lead a normal life.

Her needs might be accommodated right now, which is wonderful and just shows what an amazing job you're doing, but it's easy to not realise at what cost to you meeting those needs impacts if that's always been your norm.

Whether you do apply or not is entirely up to you. I just didn't want you to miss on something you might be entitled to.

I work in MH and the nhs ax is a much fuller, more intense assessment. There's no way that most people can be completely unbiased when reporting their symptoms. That's why collateral information is so important, such as from a parent or school reports. My own child has been on the waiting list for so long, but I'm not bothered about a diagnosis. We have an EHCP, what does the piece of paper mean. Everything should focus on 'need' not diagnosis. I don't think most kids 'need' the support but certain parents just think they deserve it. Why would I apply for DLA? My daughter's autism isn't necessarily costly, neither is it something that money can 'solve'. It will get to the point where autism and adhd will become meaningless, places are already having to limit disabled spaces in theme parks as so many people want the short queues etc, regardless of whether their child actually needs it.
If we reframe it to 'what do you need?' Rather than 'what diagnosis do you have?' then it will separate the more acute presentations from those who can mostly cope.

That first bit was supposed to be a quote

I don't think anyone these days can accept that life is hard and they just have a mediocre intellect.

What does intellect have to do with it? :/

Someone else getting a diagnosis doesn't lessen your own diagnosis or struggle.

I don't have ADHD but I do have another mental health condition that is currently 'trendy', so I get it. But at the same time, I can appreciate the sunlight it's currently getting and hope that mass diagnosis means that treatments and accommodations will become more accessible to the average person.

I think that you should stop being ableist and judgemental.

My daughter's private assessment was gruelling. It then got transferred to shared care which was complex and tough. Her NHS psychiatrist has agreed that she would not have half the MH problems that she has now if she'd had a diagnosis earlier.

There will be charlatans out there, but your post is awful. Just awful.

ADHD is often comorbid with autism or dyslexia and other diagnosis. Each person with adhd is different.

My diagnosis in my 50s and the subsequent NHS group therapy I received has been hugely helpful.

The MH struggles ADHD can cause can be huge, many can’t just get on with it. It’s not about manning up.

Lucky you that your son was identified. 14 years ago my daughter was missed because of outdated views as to how ADHD presents in girls. Several attempts on her life and severe MH struggles later needing admission over and again she finally knows why she struggles and getting the treatment she needs.

Thankfully we are better informed now, probably down to a lot of parents pushing. Parents need to push a lot! I should have pushed more.

I do agree that the market for private diagnosis is a Wild West of quality. There are a lot of fast buck seekers exploiting the crisis in NHS care. I think YABU though if you think many people seek support for these things without real foundation. People paying for diagnosis are normally desperate and in a personal crisis themselves. I believe that rates of ADHD and ASD have been systemically under reported in prior generations.

While NHS waiting lists for adults are 5 years plus people are going to go private.

I appreciate you may not like it but NHS provision in this area is basically non-existent.

My opionion for what its worth, is that the current push/trend for diagnosis is taking something away from the very real struggles many with ADHD have. Now 14 years ago my son was picked up as having some issues and was referred by the school to the paediatrican and occupational therapist. He had a number of interventions and used to have things like wobble cushions to sit on in school, writting sloes, pen grips etc, and learnt to touch type in primary school as handwritting was and still is a big issue, there did seam to be an initial relcutance to label, he got rerefrered 18 months later again to paediatrican and occupational health and I was told that alomost certainly ADHD possibly other issues and they wanted to refer on to speach and language therapist for a diagnosis. I decided at the time I didn't want him labelled so never followed up any further (I do now regret that decion, though not sure the outcome would have been any different). We have ADHD/autism in wider family, some diagnosed and some not, one who was quite severe overdosed on meds at 21 and died, another (not in UK) was refused to be allowed in school, without medication, so was homeschooled for a few years. I couldn't bare the thought of medicated my young son which was my reluctance for diagnosis. Instead of a label we worked on strategies for his differences. Diagnosis of anything isn't and shouldn't be a get out of jail free card when things get tough. He has recently had an educational psychologist diagnosis of ADHD and dyslexia whilst at Uni, it was clear during his first year he was sinking, the diagnosis provides some specialist software and laptop to help with his studies, and there is avaialablity for mentoring to help with organisation. But ultimately despite any label he has to work on strategies to get through life.
As an aside my husband and family are convinved I also have adhd, and when I do all the tests I score very highly, I wont be seeking a disgnosis as what is the point in my late 40s?, thankfully these days I run a business so don't have a boss to answer too which helps when I am struggling. I do and always have struggled with different aspects of life, but do you know what everyone has different struggles they have to face.

@Tw33dleD33

Exactly. Executive dysfunction has fuck all correlation with academic ability. It just makes it twice as hard to get there because of all the obstacles your brain throws up.

Anyway I don't need to spend my day arguing with someone. You think what you like but I know what I know. And that's all that matters.

Jesus wish my life was a bloody fad, then this difficult shit might stop after a life time of it.

Like I said internal ableism is a thing and you definitely have that.

Yes my NHS suppprt group for NHS diagnosed adults is full of highly qualified and intelligent people.

I would hope that the medical practise would take it seriously and that wouldn't just let rogue cowboy wannabes just diagnose anyone.

Mine is 100% legit and like I said was face to face. This guy is a consultant psychiatrist. Can't get higher than that. To be a consultant is someone who is at the top of their field. They have GP data sharing too so I didn't need to go through them for medication if I didn't want to. I never got pushed into any medication.

To be fair, I don't need to explain myself to anyone but you know that a lot of time we do over explain.

There was a lot of undiagnosed women due to female conditioning, masking and it comes out differently in females which is why it's the biggest newest diagnosis age. All the previous research was skewed and based on little boys.

I hardly think in my late 30s, that I want to be labelled as this for a trend. No I did it to get help at work. To understand myself. To help myself. Not to be drugged up.

How do I even know you have it anyway? You could be just saying. Just like anyone can these days apparently.

@olpo

Do some reading on ADHD. DS1 has just got almost full marks in his SATs. I've got a degree from Oxford.

This. My children and I all have it. My dc are all grammar educated and 2 are at uni. It has wrecked our lives for a variety of reasons. 2 have been seriously ill. Medication has been life changing for 1.My other child has it too. He is very bright and recently fell to pieces at uni. I don’t want him to try to kill himself like his sister and waiting lists are 4 years so I am going to have to pay for a private diagnosis. Nice to hear it’s bullshit.