So..... apparently parents with ADHD children are "unscrupulous". Still if it paves the way for cutting DLA then that's okay - after all we're just milking the system

[DillyDaydreaming]

here

What a pile of shite.

My son received his ADHD diagnosis alongside one of ASD. I didn't SEEK the diagnosis and never even considered it until the paediatrician brought it up. The paediatrician based that opinion on extensive observations and reports of my DS - it certainly was not "just a tick box" affair. Even then it was not conformed for several months for further observations and assessments.

And if the head teacher quoted is SO sure it's just a parent milking the system why is she aiding a positive diagnosis by ticking her "tick boxes" in a positive way>

Stupid bloody woman - just hope she never gets withing 100 feet of MY son because with teachers like that he needs NO enemies. In fact she might wish to meet my son - he is NOT disruptive/bouncing off the walls. Instead he is much quieter and struggles to maintain focus and attention enough to understand the curriculum without visual aids and support. Nor is he on any medication.

What a shite report and what a shite head teacher. We are not all milking the system - as a mother and as a health professional I can tell you there are many more of us who don't seek a diagnosis because we don't suspect ADHD until it is suggested.

Still if it makes people feel more friendly to the idea of cutting DLA I assume that's okay with Shiney Dave and his pals in power.



And fwiw - all assessments of my DS suggest he will do well in life - he will work (just as I do), pay taxes (just as I do) but hey - lets stuff ALL parents doing their best - shuffle them all into the "shit parents" pile and cut off all support - that'll learn em!

[salomawe]

My stepson has been through this process and was diagnosed with ADHD so I thought I would share his experience with you. He was diagnosed at age 7 years and 6 months old. After a year medicated with Concerta (Methylphenidate Hydrochloride) in April 2012 his mum could no longer cope with his behaviour and constant arguments, so she said she didn't want him living with her any more. The medication gave him motor tics, stomach ache, itchy skin, insomnia, lethargy, lack of appetite, high blood pressure, affected his short term memory and slowed his cognitive processing. He continued to make slow progress at school where the teacher told him she didn't have time to teach him and the only sessions he enjoyed at school were lunch time, play time and home time. He moved in with me and his dad and changed schools. I withdrew the drug completely within the first week, changed his diet to a more natural diet (high protein, vegetables, fruit, complex carbohydrates, no sugar or simple carbohydrates, only water or milk to drink), introduced discipline, routines, boundaries, exercise, constructive play, verbally teaching all tasks he needs to learn, regular bedtime 7:30pm 7 days a week. Out of bed 8:00am Monday to Friday, 8:30am Saturday and Sunday. After a follow up assessment at CAHMS November 2012, his blood pressure had gone back to normal, they were not familiar with the severe learning disability non verbal learning disorder, I had uncovered and suggested he no longer needed to be on their register as he did not now appear to have ADHD. Spending time understanding my stepson's needs, I uncovered a hidden severe learning disability. The disability is effectively invisible unless you know what you are looking for. He does enjoy going to school now but has difficulties with adaptive learning, creative writing, social cues, language interpretation (takes everything literally) and organising himself (slow adapting to a switch in learning environment, getting changed for P.E, packing bag at end of lessons, poor spacial awareness, low self awareness, poor and slow writing ability, poor comprehension, can't read between the lines, doesn't understand anything that has not been verbally taught, can't adapt previous learning to new situations, inability to think creatively. Having persisted with the Local Education Authority and not accepting their initial refusal to assess him for a Statement of Special Educational Needs; the assessment is now in progress and as part of that assessment CAHMS have provided on my request, a referral to a paediatrician to examine a neurological cause of his impaired learning progress and behaviour. Could your children be saved from the debilitating side effects that come with medication? It is definitely worth exploring a neurological cause and a process of managing the challenges with alternative intervention as described in this post because your child could also have an invisible learning disability.