? ADD in almost 8yr old. Feeling helpless and knackered, help!!

[nethunsreject]

Hi all
This is a whole new world for me, I don't really know where to start.

Ds1 is about to turn 8. He's always been flighty, never able to concentrate, very highly strung, loses things all the time, unable to stay still, clumsy, can't keep friends (too in their faces/intense) though he makes them quickly, no staying power, absolutely no concentration, daydreams all the time, has no recollection of anything anyone says or does, to the extent that he has completely fallen to the bottom in class despite teachers saying he is by far the brightest and picks things up instantly, over reacts constantly. Till recently I put it down to normal small boy behaviour, but he is MARKEDLY different from his peers now and school are hinting that he needs to be assessed, I think he may have ADD?? Pead is assessing him next month but I don't know what to do. I am so lost and sad. Everything I read about ADD describes him to a T. I am so sad for my boy

Hello

My son was referred to ed psyc and school health about a year ago. It was very upsetting at first as I didn't want him to be labelled etc and know what stigma I have applied to children with ADD/ADHD in the past (we're all perfect parents until we have one aren't we?).

I went to SureStart for some help as well, and they have been so supportive! They arrange 6/8weekly "CAF" meetings where we all sit down and discuss what we're doing, what's working, what's not and what's next.

Once you realise that they'll give school - and you - support and strategies to help your child's ADD, and that it's all just to make his learning easier - and it stops feeling like a witch hunt, it's a really beneficial situation.

In the end, DS has low self-esteem - his acting up is a mask apparently - so not ADD or ADHD - but the thought of him having ADD stopped being scary when I figured that if it is that, at least we'll get the support he needs.

We've had behaviour support in school and they have given some really helpful strategies which have worked very well with his behaviour.

I'd recommend SureStart though - I wouldn't have gotten through the last 18mths without her support/hand holding.

Thanks seza, I'm feeling a bit calmer about it now! It was kind of a relief and a chock if that makes sense? I appreciate your reply