Ed Psych assessment at 15

[Jazamatax]

Hi there, first time poster here.

I'm worried about my daughter who is going into year 11. She has a diagnosis of ADHD since January. She has been medicated since then and has gradually uptitrated dose to the max. As per doctors advice. It has made some difference but not huge. She's definitely more able to focus with than without the meds.

I'm worried that it's not the entire story. She has always had difficulty focussing, concentrating and being organised. Her year 7 sats were very high (130-140 range) but she's just not able to get started or consistently study. Her grades have always been completely all over the place. From very high to very low in the same subjects often in the same set of exams with no clear rhyme or reason as to why.

She's getting very demoralised and demotivated. I wonder if we're missing something. Getting her to think about any study for GCSE's is extremely difficult. She doesn't see the point and her mocks were a disaster.

Anyone have any experience of Ed psych assessment at this age?

In context of adhd she is allowed to sit exams in a separate room and have breaks. No extra time allowed as her "processing" was assessed as low normal range.

Am at a loss as to how to help and feel like endlessly pushing her to study is just making her miserable.

Help!!!

Similar child and I would be interested too. Sorry not to offer advice except to say it sounds very familiar.

My DD is the same age and she just had another EP assessment in April. Her last one was in 2018 so ages ago. It's incredibly helpful but does depend on how thorough it is.
What other worries do you have?

Thanks for your responses.

She massively struggles to start anything. I know that's a feature of ADHD but even with meds it's a big issue. She spends significantly more time procrastinating in advance of a task than the task actually takes. This applies for anything she doesn't really want to do, not just school work.
Maybe I'm expecting too much.
She's an unconventional thinker and has never fitted into the school system. I feel like we just have to survive this year and then see what her grades are and go from there.

Really just wondering what an Ed psych assessment will offer. It's expensive, so if it tells me she's an unconventional thinker who struggles with task initiation due to x, then does that really help?

Who tested her for extra time? Was it an ed psych? I would personally contact the ed psyc and ask these questions. If they're a good one they won't rip you off and will tell you to leave it if it's not worth it. I have contact details for a relatively affordable one in London if you want.

Your daughter has had many many years of unmedicated ADHD and very often this leads to that sort of behaviour in girls. They present so differently to boys. My DD also started on meds in Feb and we had to tweak them a lot. She still has trouble actually starting tasks but that's quite normal, esp where confidence is a huge issue for girls at this point.

A good Ed Psych assessment will help. A good report will give strategies to support needs rather than only stating needs.

As DD has ADHD, the rules for extra time are different to those for applications under the learning difficulties route and a Form 8 is not required. You can see the JCQ guidance here on pg 36.

Not had a formal Ed psych review. We had to go privately for the ADHD assessment and it was triggered in response to the report from the psychiatrist. I've met the school SENCO. She just talked and talked and talked. Didn't feel like there was much listening or attempt at understanding from her.

Despite the adhd diagnosis and option for a quiet room, she did not actually get these in mocks. It apparently didn't occur to anyone to make sure this provision was in place. I could have kicked myself for not checking.
She said as sick for one of her English exams so did that separately.
She got a 3 in the one in the big hall (the girl sitting next to her was breathing do she couldn't focus!) and a 6 in the one she did in a quiet place.
It clearly matters.

I have e mailed a couple of places re: an assessment, but any advice is gratefully received.
Even if it helps her to understand why she thinks differently, it might help her self esteem/confidence.

Sorry should say

She was off sick for one of her English exams

Sadly I'm not surprised. My DD has an EHCP so I'm very used to badgering the school for everything. DM me if you want.
Ed psych report can include access arrangements too. Form 8 is not always required as per the above poster.

Access arrangements have to be the normal way of working, so in the upcoming year it is important DD receives the access arrangements. I would request another meeting with the SENCO and also speak to the exams officer.

Good EPs will have waiting lists, but you could look at Catharine Pierce, Vivienne Clifford, Patsy Kershaw, Mike Hymans, Jemma Levy, Ruth Birnbaum, Valerie Hero, Amanda Furness. There’s many others too.

I'm an EP and see a lot of young people that fit your DD's profile. I'd recommend an EP assessment because it will highlight any underlying factors that may be impacting your daughters ADHD. In the meantime, please look up 'task paralysis'- very common with those with ADHD and exactly what you describe your DD as experiencing atm.

This was so helpful.
I feel like I'm coming to this very very late.
I've e mailed her school to ask about how access arrangements have been assessed.

Thank you!

Thank you.
I have sent out some feelers for an assessment.
Looks like most places have shut for the summer.
Planning on hitting the ground running when everything restarts.

Hi there,
Thanks for your reply.
I'm wondering if an EP report looks for dyslexia? Apparently there's a high crossover with ADHD.

Leaning toward arranging an EP assessment. Hoping I won't need to them organise something separate for dyslexia.

Costs are mounting!!

A comprehensive EP assessment can diagnose dyslexia if appropriate.

I have no experience of an EP report at this age OP, my DD had one at around age 10 carried out by our LA Educational Psychologist. She spent aroud an hour or so with my DD at school and I was astonished at how accurate her report seemed to be. At this point DD already had a diagnosis of ASC and an ECHP but the EP was happy for us to use her report to seek a diagnosis of ADHD (innattentive). DD started medication and her school grades greatly improved. DD is about to enter year 13 and I am interested in having another EP report carried out. I suspect DD also has dyslexia, she has issues with expressive language and getting her thoughts down on paper - as you mentioned there can be overlap with ADHD.

Who assessed your DD's processing as within the low/normal range ? DD had extra time in her GCSE's and this was a game changer for her. She got grade 4's which we were over the moon with.
It's unlikely my DD's school will agree to her having an EP report from their budget. I must admit I have lapsed with this so I will seek a private report. Thank you to the previous poster for posting EP recommendations, I will take a look at them. If anyone has any other EP recommendations near London this would be very helpful.
I wish you and your DD all the best OP.

It was the school who assessed her as low normal for processing.

I suspect they have applied the LD rules for access and not the ADHD rules which are clearly different,

I've sent an e mail asking to discuss but obviously will have to wait until term starts.

Feel quite upset that it seems to be me having to get to grips with this and the school are not on it at all.

Sorry about that OP. Unfortunately for most kids, unless their parents are on top of it, and quite pushy, they just don't get the help. DD is in a school with an excellent reputation for SEND and even with that I've had to push for almost everything, even though she has an EHCP.
Sadly for a lot of kids, they don't really get a diagnosis or extra time until uni. The uni services seem to be far better equipped.
Don't give up, it's her last year and really even if you're embarrassed for pushing, you won't regret it. I think you'll only regret leaving it at this stage.

I always recommend this clinic on threads about ASD/ADHD. TBF. my DC are adults now so my experience is a bit out of date and their consultant from GOSH (who was also a partner at the clinic) has retired now. We used the clinic for Ed Psych evaluations for exams (11+ and GCSE/Alevel) for DS who has ASD, dyslexia and other SpLDs but is very bright with a very spiky profile so his difficulties were often masked.

The are a multidisciplinary team so can refer to other specialists for further assessment eg if they feel somthing else might be at play, such as dyspraxia or psychological issues. We found them to be far more thorough with more in depth advice on support and strategies than assessments by a dyslexia assessor.

Which clinic?

I think that poster is talking about the private GOSH clinic?
You really don't need anything that specialist. An EP is fine. They can refer you onto other professionals if there's a need but an EP assessment in itself is very thorough, esp for your needs.
A dyslexia assessor is, I agree, not something I would use in your situation.

If there is any chance you will request an EHCNA, you need an EP with experience of SENDIST and writing Tribunal standard reports.

@OvertakenByLego No they really don't. Please don't scare op into going for an insanely expensive and unnecessary report that she doesn't need. All EPs will be working at the same standard if they're registered and properly qualified. Medico legal reports are just not necessary, even if you're going to a tribunal. We used the most basic report in our tribunal, it wasn't even from the UK and the judge used it as the main piece of evidence.

I disagree. I am not scaring anyone. Having supported thousands of parents through the EHCP process I am providing OP with advice, you don’t have to agree. Not all EP reports are to the same standard and it is laughable you post that. You only have to look at many LA EP reports to see they are vague, woolly, and not comprehensive.

@OvertakenByLego I agree when it comes to LA EPs. However they're working under their LAs policy. Their reports are laughable. The same EP will conduct an assessment privately and it'll be written completely differently. I'm not saying it's not important to get the right EP, I'm just saying a full tribunal report isn't necessary per se, it costs a lot more than a normal report. If you have a good EP recommendation, it's better to go with that.
I've also helped a lot of parents in tribunals, sadly it is also like LAs, much depends on your luck. A lot of judges on SEND tribunals seem to be clueless.

As I posted, you don’t have to agree, but I make no apologies for posting what I did. I have read many inadequate independent EP reports. Not all are the same standard.