ADHD???

[User0000011]

Hello!
So, me and my partner (and other people have picked up on certain behaviour) have suspicions that our 7 year old son has signs of ADHD.

I have had a look at the NHS website and he ticks all but around 2/3 of the ‘signs/symptoms’.
He has been wearing ear defenders in class (he’s in year 2 - UK) due to him not being able to concentrate/being very talkative. He is also very sensitive to loud noises.

Anyway, my question is, where do I start with getting him assessed? Do I start at school or at my GP? We’ve been having trouble getting him into school on time just recently and I feel like if I mention the concerns to school, that they will think I’m using it as an excuse?

I suffer from anxiety so this is so difficult for me as I hate feeling like people will be judging me or not taking me seriously.

Also, once I start the process, what will happen? Do they come out to your house or just go by what school say? Or do they do it all at a hospital/GP practice? I’m just so anxious!

Thank you in advance!

You can ask school to refer if they share your concerns if not then u can self refer to camhs just to warn u if he's accepted I waited 15 months just for an Initial assessment

15 months, that's good, it's 3 years where I am! It's not necessarily CAMHS who do the assessment for ADHD, it varies locality to locality. I.e in some places it is a separate neurodevelopmental team who assess for ASD and ADHD, but yes as previous poster said, speak to school in the first instance and if they share your concerns they will refer to relevant service.

If accepted, you and school will be asked to complete screening questionnaires such as Conners, and if they are suggestive of ADHD, then they will meet with you to gather a developmental history, in some cases they may need to do a school observation.

Not necessarily, DDs ADHD assessments and diagnosis took about 4 months once the GP referred her. Think it depends where you are in the country.

Get a GP referral first.

I ended up going private for the assessment for my DD as it was 2 years waiting otherwise.

It might be ADHD or it might not. Only way you'll know is if he's assessed.