to wonder why there are lots of posts asking apparently innocent questions about disability benefits..

[tomhardyismydh]

am I just being a bit meh or is there an underlying reason. some of them are laced with harsh judgments in guise of an innocent question.

I don't think we should indulge the ops in even answering.

Gooseberries

I think it's unfortunate that some of the effects of bad parenting look quite similar to ADHD.

Children with no boundaries, no structure, ineffective discipline, parents who lack confidence, effects of a poor diet etc. have behaviours that mimic some of the behaviours associated with ADHD.

Therefore, it's easy for people to assume children with ADHD are a result of poor parenting. When it isn't.

I think the big difference with more/less priveliged families is that the less advantaged a family is, the more likely it is that they will have involvement with other services, therefore, they are more obvious. Middle class families are able to 'hide' things better.

As an aside and in no way suggesting a link... there is also a huge misconception that child abuse is also more prevalent in poorer families. It isn't. The wealthier families hide it better because they have more to lose.

I'd look at how the ADHD was diagnosed. If it was by a consultant after taking into account all factors (ie in DS2's case he also has Autism and they are linked) then it's likely to be genuine.

If it's diagnosed by a parent (and it is, there are some mums at DS2's mainstream school that say their kids are 'a bit ADHD') then caution should be observed.

A mum's diagnosis won't attract an award of DLA though.

why do you think they are over-diagnosed? what's your evidence for that?

Unfortunately glitter, I hear parents diagnosing their children with ADHD when it's clear to all and sundry why their child is 'misbehaving' they just assume that by attaching their own label to it it will deflect some of the attention from their role in it!

This is, as you say, completely different from a diagnosis + dla award.

My son has dyspraxia (bit clumsy and his gross motor development was slow/still isn't great) and ASD (didn't listen so didn't always follow instructions well well he was younger) if you listen to my aunt . Self diagnosis is a wonderful thing!

What a strange thing to post OP.

Not only is there a lot about disability in the media, but if you look around MN at any given time there are lots of threads about the same thing. Cat shit, dogs off leads, racism, the good old days on MN etc....

As far as I can see it's always the same. As soon as one thread starts on a certain subject, a few more will spring up because the OP wants to ask something different about it, without their question/comments getting lost in the previous threads.

I don't think there's any underlying reasons for the threads, and to suggest people don't 'indulge the OPs by answering' when they've posted here for help/with a question is pretty off IMO

I think it's inevitable there is over-diagnosis. The fact that this epidemic has ballooned indicates there will be over-diagnosis under the criteria for diagnosis. I absolutely believe that most children with the diagnosis should have it: but I am sure that the net is broad enough to bring in others who don't.

GOoseberrybushes..do you know how hard it is to actually get an ADHD diagnosis officially?

The story in the Daily Mail which I deliberately didn't link to has a father who says his child was over-diagnosed.

But actually fanjo no - you are right, I'm not very well-informed to be honest.

Well, it's not a matter of going to GP and saying 'my kids a bit lively, sign here'.

Sorry, but getting fed up of people pontificating on subjects they are ill-informed about.

For those who would like to ask questions about SN, but feel put off, please read this thread in chat. But please remember it is in chat, not AIBU and be polite.

It took 3 years post DS2's Autism diagnosis to get the additional ADHD diagnosis. His paed rarely diagnoses it.

I read the thread in chat. The one thing I shall take away from that?

The next time I see mum with a child in meltdown and I want to offer some assistance but am not sure if it will be well received or not, I shall make the offer.