Adhd??

[mrssparkle123]

Posting on here for traffic, please don't tell me I'm being unreasonable 🙂
Oh and well done to anyone who makes it to the end of the post.... it will be a challenge!

Hi everyone,

I went to the GP with concerns about my 4 year olds behaviour and I only got a third of the way down my list when he said he'd refer us to rule out adhd, he did say it could be that there's nothing wrong with my son but a paediatrician would be able to assess more extensively than he could.

The concerns I have are mainly 'normal' child behaviour (I think) but possibly not that at the frequency and extremity that my son displays them. My brother is dyspraxic and some of these things do overlap, so that's also a possibility. I would just like some opinions from anyone who knows about adhd...

1. random loud noises at random times
2. very loud
3. interrupts half way through a sentence
4. 1 way conversations
5. frequent emotional outbursts, screaming and crying up to 10 times a day
6. irrationally aggressive, violent behaviour towards younger sibling (for example if he says a word he doesn't like)
7. hates loud noises
8. hysterical laughter
9. impulsive behaviour (jumping up on the table randomly)
10. always fidgeting, moving, can't sit still
11. lack of awareness of his own body (accidentally kicking people when flailing his limbs around)
12. obsessed with food
13. obsessed with death
14. inappropriate with body parts
15. very physical - sitting on people, squeezing people, jumping on people and likes people to do it to him, will be laughing while doing it and if the other child is crying he doesn't seem to realise/he able to stop
16. will totally switch off when television is on and be absorbed by it
17. very short attention span (unless it's for television!!)
18. very obsessive with characters/colours
19. very routined
20. takes a long time to fall asleep at night (up to 2 hours)
21. irrational fears, eg terrified of cars in the distance when he's on the pavement holding my hand, or terrified of a dog in the distance
22. appears sorry for doing something wrong but doesn't seem to stop himself from doing it 5 minutes later
23. repeats a question over and over until he is satisfied with your answer even though you've been saying yes all along
24. low self esteem and says he can't do things without trying
25. gets distracted half way through a task
26. instructions have to be repeated over and over very clearly and concisely

Thank you to anyone who managed to get to the end of my post 😂😂

@ipswichwitch that's amazing! How long from referral to appointment?

Struggling at the moment as my son has been night waking ever since he started school in September, he hasn't done that for over 2 years (unless unwell) he is still not dry at night and is getting really upset with the feeling of wetness and he's pooing in his sleep again which he's not done for a couple of months (it's been a long 2 years of trying to get him to poo while awake, it was a control/fear thing!) he's getting really upset taking his pull up off then getting upset again later because he's wet the bed 🙁

Still not heard anything from the nhs, the referral was at the beginning of September!

He was referred in April, and seen by the paeds a month later, then the psychologist in July. The early years practitioner did the referral when she had been to see him for a pre-school visit and spoken to the nursery staff about his behaviours.

He was also been waking through the night since starting school, having previously been a very good sleeper. He’s having nightmares, and won’t settle again unless he’s in our bed.

@ipswichwitch it's heartbreaking isn't it :'( I'll be patient with the referral then, think I've still got a long way to go!

Following with interest. Been referred to Camhs 18 months ago. Suspect adhd and odd

Seen the psychologist today and he’s getting referred for an autism assessment

@ipswichwitch please remind me, was this on the nhs? Still heard nothing 😒 had his first parents evening last night and they said they don't have any concern at all. Maybe I'm just making it all up 😫

Yes it’s NHS mrssparkle. I’m a bit stunned how fast it’s all happening tbh. The psychologist said he’s struggling with school and exhibiting a lot of sensory seeking behaviour. She asked if we had any knowledge of asd (!) and said he’s being referred for the full assessment.

I know we’d suspected it for a while but now she’s identified these issues it all seems very real now. Still trying to get my head around it all!

@ipswichwitch here if you want to chat! It must be a real shock to have your concerns realised and will take time to get used to it, even though they were your concerns in the first place!! I'm really happy for you how quickly it is going though and hope you get some answers and support!!

My son isn't struggling in school. But the sensory seeking behaviour is off the scale at the moment and he is struggling more at home as a result of holding it together at school!

Yeah he has days where he does well at school then falls apart in the car park with a massive meltdown! The psychologist said it was really common, and can lead to the perception that it’s to do with parenting and “well they’re fine at school!” attitudes. She said many autistic kids can keep a kid on it all day and let it all out for the parents because they feel safe.

Keep a lid on it that’s meant to be!

@ipswichwitch that makes a hell of a lot of sense. My son does show certain behaviours at school but they're not concerned about it. Does the psychologist think it is asd? What did she say/do with your son?

The appointment this week was just for parents to discuss what her findings were when she observed him at school. I think, reading between the lines, she believes it’s asd, but since he’s not had the full assessment with input from other professionals she can’t say as such. She did give us info for the National Autism Society though!

@ipswichwitch was the psychologist through the nhs or did you pay privately for her to assess your son at school, sorry struggling to remember!

Shes an NHS psychologist. After seeing him in clinic and doing a few tests (things like logic puzzles, jigsaws, etc), she came out to school to observe him.

@ipswichwitch that's great. So pleased it's all happening so quickly for you. We are still no closer to getting even an initial app :(

Fingers x it’ll come through soon mrssparkle123. Can you find out who the referral went to then ring and ask about waiting lists? At least you’d have an idea when to expect an appointment, and you may be able to ask for cancellations

@ipswichwitch I called them yesterday and they said 'ooohhhh well. You should have an appointment soon, sorry we can't give you any more info than that' ......

How helpful , we’ll lets hope it is soon then!
I’m sat watching the Gruffalo with DS now. We were all meant to be going to the pictures but he’s had a meltdown about it so DH has gone with DS1 instead. Was looking forward to it too!

@ipswichwitch 🙁 we do love the gruffalo!!!

We’ve watched the Gruffalo, Gruffalos child, stick man and room on the broom! With popcorn so that’s the closest I’m getting to the pictures today.

@ipswichwitch ahhh I bet he loved it! We've got all of those and that would be my children's idea of the best day ever!!!

MrsSparkle times for assessments are variable between health authorities, it can take up to 2 years to get a NHS diagnosis, 18 months is average. See SNChat or SNChildren for more info, read the many threads from people asking about diagnosis.

If you want to go privately, make sure your diagnostic team are "NHS accredited" I've forgotten the exact term, i.e. that the NHS will accept their findings, because if not and you want an EHCP, you will need "NHS accredited" diagnoses to proceed.

@BlankTimes oh yes I know all about the dreaded waiting times, but I thought I would have at least heard when the initial appointment will be, the senco at my sons school said the initial appointment should be within 6 weeks 😬 I have tried and tried to find somewhere private with nhs accreditation but I don't really know what I'm looking for and there doesn't seem to be a lot in my area!!

@BlankTimes I'm mrssparkle btw 😂

Glad to hear you’ve had progress since you posted. My son now has adhd added to his diagnosis (also has asd). Actually accessing services is feeling s fat harder battle than diagnosis though