DC is top of the list of CAMHS ADHD assessment. But is it worth anything?

[TiffanyAchingsHatFullofSky]

He's going for a QB test.

But it's been 3 years since we were put on the waiting list, we went private in the interim and one thing we have learned is that a diagnoses does not mean extra support and an EHCP is like pulling teeth and extremely hard to get.

So after being thrilled to hear we are top of the list, I'm beginning to wonder if the wait has even been worth it.

If he was diagnosed with ADHD, how would life change?

How old is your son?

my brother has adhd and got an echp at age 8 (but we'd known since he was very small and been fighting a long time)

my daughter was diagnosed at 23

anyway, with a diagnoses he can gain a deeper understanding into himself and how to manage symptoms and of course access to medication, which has changed my daughters life (and my brother all those years ago too)

I'm surprised to hear echp isn't necessarily given, but if medicated that lessened the symptoms enough for my brother to not really need his if that makes sense

it's also important in case he comes up against discrimination in his working years

He might be offered medication.

That’s probably about it!

With adhd it means he can access medication if needed. Knowing also means he can understand himself more

The private psychiatrist said he can't have medication because he has tics.

I forgot to mention that but.

I wouldn’t rush for a diagnosis as he already has one privately which will allow him to understand himself better etc as an adult.
What are your thoughts/reasons for not wanting to proceed?

Well that's a new one! My ds has ADHD and autism, he also has quite extreme tics which his medication helps keep under control.

Medication is a fricking game changer

My niece tics badly and has ADHD and is medicated. It helps her ADHD but does nothing for the tics. My DDs best friend is same. Medicated ADHD + full body tics.

Not sure where the expert got his information but it doesn’t match what seems to be the norm.

I've been told on here a few times that the tics/medication issue is BS. The psychiatrist was a bit crackers tbh, she didn't believe that Covid existed and left the practice shortly after
So perhaps his whole diagnoses with her was rubbish.

I'm not rushing for a diagnoses, it's been 3 years. And I'm not cancelling the appointment, I was just mulling it over.

I would definitely go for the NHS assessment, generally a lot schools and the LA won’t take private diagnosis and want an NHS one. As for the EHCP, you really do have to fight for it and be very assertive - almost annoying.

My DD was assessed by a psychiatrist and she’s said yeah classic ADHD just from seeing her in clinic and few times and getting mine and school reports, unfortunately where we live she’s not allowed to make the diagnosis and we’re just coming to the top of the list with the specialist ADHD service who CAN formally diagnose her and prescribe medication which she really really needs (psychiatrist said so). It’s an minefield.

Is your son struggling to keep up at school? My daughter has always been behind, never caught up and is falling even more behind as the years go by, shes 13 and I think needs an SEN school as she also had an Ed Psyc assessment recently and she scored very low on everything. Asking the school for an EdPsych to do an assessment is a good step especially in the EHCP world.

DD2 has suspected ADHD. While we went private for her Autism diagnosis (as a placid girl who has it manifesting in anxiety following the rules and being "good" she was never going to be a priority on the NHS), we're trying to go through the NHS system for the ADHD diagnosis we've been told we really should look at - because otherwise you're potentially into having to negotiate shared care agreements and private medication reviews etc.