ADD Worth Going for a Formal Diagnosis?

[earlyriser]

My dd (7) displays many of the characterisitics of ADD (although not the
hyperactivity so much). I have spoken to the school about her inability to concentrate for long and her constant fidgiting, and they wereconcerned enough to arrange for the Educational Psychologist to speak to her, but at the time he was off on compassionate leave.

This was back in April. Since then I haven't heard whether the school are still trying to arrange this meeting and i wonder whether it is worth pursuing?

Would a formal diagnosis make any difference to how much support she gets?

If your dd is still finding it difficult to manage at school, i would approach the school again.

E.P's do not diagnose ADD/ADHD but give advice on managing the behaviour that results from these conditions.

As for a formal diagnosis, well it depends on what you want. In my ds case, he was on a reduced timetable and wasn't able to manage in school so i had to get a diagnosis as his behaviour was so challenging.

The route to get a child diagnosed varies to where you are but generally a referral from the G.P to Camhs is required.

Good luck.

Sorry, when i said, about what you want from a formal diagnosis, i meant in terms of support in school or at home for your dd. Behaviour management, support for the family, medication etc...

A diagnosis is a means to open doors to other support. Technically it shouldn't matter if she has a dx or not, she should still receive the same help, but from experience it definitely makes a difference. EP won't give a dx though, ask for a referral to CAMHS or a paediatrician (or both) for a dx.

I would. Unfortunately, ADD/ADHD specifically are very often thought of as made up/excuses for poor behaviour . You need a proper diagnosis to back you up. It shouldn't be like that, but it is.

I had a lot of undiagnosed issues as a child and I really feel I would've benefited if my parents had noticed got me the assessments and support I needed back then... as a 25yo now it is proving to be difficult.

I think because her (possible) ADD manifests itself in daydreamy behaviour, it largely goes unnoticed, or as she isn't deemed to be a disruption to others it isn't picked up upon.

She has an inablilty to stay on task for very long (cannot watch a dvd for example, although can watch approx 20mins of a programme if there is lots of different content in it).

Cannot sit still at the table, will fidgit (is that how you spell it??) when doing her reading (pulling socks, kicking legs, moving around, biting her toenails )

Her reading is fine but she can only read aloud about 6 pages before the restlessness starts, would never sit down and read for pleasure.

Can be quite impulsive- will launch herself at her brother if he has done something to upset her.

Will stomp off in a huff at someone one telling her off/saying no to her, but after 5 minutes it is all totally forgotten about.

Not sure what i want really, i know i am quite hard on her and perhaps having some strategies to deal with her behaviour would help, rather than just having a label?

Sorry, that was a bit of a ramble! Thanks for everyone's input, it does feel good to get it all out

Thanks Fuzzy, i do think the teachers just think she is lazy/disorganised, there was a while when she was getting a lot of work home from school that she hadn't completed in the day, but when i sat down with her to do it, it only took a matter of minutes, but that was because I kept her on task.