Dr thinks teen girl might have ADD

[NoraVayom]

My DD has been suffering with depression and anxiety, especially around school. Basically dropped out of Year 11, doing a partial programme in Year 12. This is from a girl who was on path for top grades according to her report at end of Year 10.

She's always been a perfectionist and also quite a slow worker but she had always managed previously. Never had behaviour issues at school, always very well behaved.

She's thinking now of taking GCSEs (and eventually A levels) and we had her assessed to see if we can apply for any leniency or special conditions from the exam board.

The results of the assessment have made the psychiatrist think DD might have ADD. Basically her verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning were considered 'superior' - in the 93rd percentile. But then her working memory and processing speed especially were way down below average with the processing speed in the 8th percentile.

They also tested her "attention flexibility" and she scored from the 2nd to the 16th percentile in those - basically low average to borderline which apparently shows copromised capabilities in attentional tasks.

I was totally surprised that she thinks it might be ADD given that it's never been suggested before but now I've been reading about it, some of it makes sense. The perfectionism, the hard working, the difficulty handing work in - it all seems now part of the package but we never saw it. Dr is starting DD on ritalin to see if it helps.

Anyone else had such a late diagnosis, especially in a girl? Any advice on what to do going forward?

My DD probably has it too, we've done the GP questionnaire and are waiting for a referral to a psychiatrist. She's always done well at school though she was out for a year with anxiety but went back andd got a good set of GCSEs, though she became really distressed because she couldn't focus to revise. Same with A levels, which she dropped out of. It was her who suggested that it might be ADD, and when we looked at it it fitted, though she had an unsettled early life and I'd thought it was that, though that can also be a factor in ADD. I think it's common for it not to be picked up in girls.

She has an apprenticeship now and working in a fast-paced environment with people suits her. Lots of people have expressed disappointment or criticism that she's given up her A levels, butt she was so distressed. I'm relaxed about it, if she wants to go to uni later then she might have more strategies to manage it, or she can have a perfectly good career without a degree.

Im following this as my DD 16 has just been referred to Camhs for assessment for adhd/add.

It's good they have picked up on the discrepancy, I think these cognitive tests should be more widely available. Just having the problem diagnosed can really help a child feel successful again, and it's worth trying the medication, it really helps some people.

I am following. My 11 year old scored very similar in an Educational Psychologist assessment and has been referred for an assessment for ADD and dyspraxia. She has some traits of ADHD, not the hyperactivity part but the inattentive definitely.

Issues first came to light when she struggled with being timed and having to get work in during the first lockdown. She is a total perfectionist. Interestingly her father was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. If children have a parent with ADHD they have a raised chance of having inherited the same.

I have a friend who is a mentor for girls with ADD. She met my daughter and is 99% convinced she has ADD. Interestingly it is often diagnosed late in girls as they are very good at masking their struggles in their school. There are some very good books on Amazon for girls/teens with ADD. I am waiting for a confirmed diagnosis then will be sharing these books with my daughter.

My daughter was diagnosed a year ago, aged 15 (year 10).

A lot of what you've written sounds very familiar, although my dd also has a hyperactivity element (both physical and in the overthinking everything).

She is now medicated and it's been transformational at school, socially and at home.

Feel free to message me if you want more information.