ADHD diagnosis

[PinkBlueCat]

I really need to get my child diagnosed with ADHD but as I don’t have a second setting I am unable to get them diagnosed, does anyone know what I can do in this situation or has anyone ever been in this situation? They are not currently at school so don’t have them to ask and there is no where else I can ask. How do adults get diagnosed if you need two settings? Can anyone help thanks.

How old is your child? Have you started the process and been told that by an assessor you need two different settings? It’s very well known anyway that children mask and just because a child doesn’t show difficulty at school it doesn’t mean they don’t outside of there, and I know children who’ve been diagnosed while not attending school. My best friends daughter was diagnosed after years being unable to attend school. There was documentation from school though showing difficulties and communication between parent and school.

What do you mean about adults needing two settings? I am diagnosed and I’m not sure what you mean by two settings in that regard as it wasn’t my experience.

She’s 14 and doesnt mask, yes I was told we need two settings and they can’t diagnose without 2 settings. I was wondering how adults get diagnosed if that’s the case there must be a different way used for adults? She really needs a diagnosis

Is she out of school for a reason associated with the adhd? If so, you probably won’t need a second setting for the actual diagnosis, so you could skip that stage by going private.

If, for example, you have a paper trail from school about her being excluded, that would count as evidence of difficulty in a second setting.

Could she spend some regular time with a friend? Or be in a home-Ed group or join a club? And then that would be the second setting on the referral.

We got an ADHD assessment whilst DC2 was being assessed for ASD. We did have a second setting, school, but they were very obstructive as they just kept saying they didn’t see and signs. We went through the GP instead.

What assessments have you tried to arrange so far and who have you been through? Have you called the School Nurse Service for some advice?

And do try the SN section on MN. The MNers in there are usually very helpful

No it isn’t for that reasons and I can’t afford private sadly.

I don’t know if this would count as a second setting but as well as school (who fortunately picked up on it), DD’s therapist/counsellor suspected the diagnosis and wrote a report for me to provide the GP with.

We can’t speak to a school nurse because she isn’t on the roll at any school. This is through the GP and the company are saying a second setting needs to fill in the form.

She doesn’t have a therapist unfortunately

If she's not at school does she attend any other home education settings?

I've also know parents use therapists, sports groups or wrap around care as a second setting?

She’s not home educated she has a tutor but this is a recent thing (it needs to be 6 months) and tbh the tutor has zero experience with Sen kids so I’d worry about her messing it up and not getting a diagnosis so I really wouldnt like to ask her even if it had been 6 months.

If she has a tutor that is also form of home education.

If she's not been with the tutor long has she recently left school, they would be able to provide evidence if she was recently a pupil.

Does she attend any groups or activities?

she did leave school years ago, the tutor is recent. She was previously home educated but not anymore. No she does not attend groups or activities as she does not cope well with these.

Unfortunately if she doesn't attend any settings or activities the tutor is probably going to be your only choice.

Yes but sadly tutor is young no experience with Sen kids would be worry she’d mess it up, and it hasn’t been 6 months, I will have to call the company to see if they can offer any alternative.

How do adults get diagnosed if you need two settings?

By having a parent or someone from your childhood complete questionnaires and attend a meeting about you.

If your child has a tutor, then you need them to complete the paperwork. They don’t need to be experienced, as they will just need to complete some multi choice questionnaires. It’s only part of the assessment anyway, just like any information you give will only be part of what’s used.

If you're not happy with this tutor then you need to look for another that would be able to support your child.

Unfortunately they need two settings so if she doesn't attend any school setting, education groups or activities your only choice is the tutor.

As I said it’s not been 6 months and I need her diagnosed as soon as possible. I’ve filled in a questionnaire but it wants two settings, that wouldn’t be two settings for an adult then?

Im not paying for the tutor it’s alternative provision so we have to take what we’ve been given.

Use a Qb check as your second setting. Unsure if it is available on the NHS as we had one done privately. When my DD had hers I think it was around £200.

DH was diagnosed last year and provided an occupational health report from work, I completed a questionnaire and so did his mum.
DS is currently under assessment referred by GP and school provided an assessment. His gymnastics club were also willing to if requested as well as his swimming coach who specialises in coaching neuro diverse children. Who else does she have in her life other than you? If she's in home education and only had a tutor recently who was teaching her before? Has she tried group learning and it didn't work out? Those settings might help if so

The forms we have says it needs to be a professional setting so can’t just be a random family members (thats what the form we have says anyway)

No I know it can't be random family members that's why I asked about group educational settings that hadn't worked out or any clubs or organisations she's attended. I gave DHs experience because you asked what they do for adults.

For an adult the process is very different. For your daughter she needs someone not in the family to support the diagnosis. If she truly doesn't see anyone else outside the house then the tutor will have to act as that second setting when they have been working with your child for the 6 months.

My daughter has just been diagnosed AuADHD, she is 17 and was assessed last September when she was 16, she had been home educated since 14, so had no educational setting, she had just started at college the month she was assessed so they didn't know much about her and had very little information to go on. When she was waiting to be assessed, I asked them what would happen as she didn't have an educational setting, and they said We could ask a family member who did not live in our household to complete a second setting form in this case it would have been my oldest daughter.

Round my way, 14 is already too late. It’s years on the nhs - first appointment is a few years, next one a few years more; and when they reach 18, you have to start from scratch with an adult diagnosis. The problem is there are just too many who - and they genuinely all have it - have adhd. I think we’ll discover it’s more typical than anything else.