Any point to ask for referral for therapy for ADHD?

[Return2thebasic]

I'm thinking if it's worth trying to ask the GP for a referral for DS10. He's diagnosed with ADHD and is on medication.

The psychiatrist mentioned in the diagnosis report recommending for 1) Psychoeducation ; 2) School based support; 3) Consider executive skills training.

I can't quite interpret the first and the last intervention. But I think DS can benefit from educational therapy. He has anxiety in some situation with only mild level of threat. For example, he nearly bursted in cry yesterday when he spotted a tiny unknown insect on the window next to him in the car. He also seems to have bodily phobia - can't bear to hear anything to do with blood or whatever to do with inside the body.

I'm tempted to ask GP for referral before I have to go privately. But don't know if it's something they would prescribe these days. Plus his symptoms are much milder than other children with more pronounced ADHD traits.

Just wondering if anyone has the experience for this type of referral.

Thanks.

You could look at an NHS referral, although even if a referral is accepted there will be a long wait and I’m not sure it will offer the type of support you are looking for.

If you think an EHCP is necessary, you could request an EHCNA which, in the LA agree to assess, will include an ed psych assessment.

Psychoeducation looks at giving DC/parents information and skills to better understand, manage, and support difficulties. Executive skills training is about providing DC with skills and strategies to help and cope with their executive functioning difficulties.

@Relaxinghammock , thank you for clarifying about Psychoeducation and executive skill training. Psychoeducation would come in handy at later stage and it's good to know.

Do you know if NHS provides executive skill training? Or is there a more formal name for this type of therapy that I can look into?

I don't think his symptoms are severe enough to warrant a EHCP. School's senco teacher wasn't even convinced he has it. (I think people tend to stereotype ADHD as disruptive type of kids and tend to neglect the inattentive side of this spectrum.)

He struggles hugely on the speech formation side. Always has a hard time to find words to describe what's in his mind. It's really hindering his communication with others. Unless someone who's patient and willing to wait ages for him to finish his sentence or half guess what he said half way, not many peers of his ages would really engage in any depth.

Can you recommend anyway to help his speech formation? Is speech and language therapist still sufficient at his age (10 yo)?

Thank you. 💐

Some areas provide executive skills training, others don’t.

SALT can be helpful. From your posts, I suggest you request an EHCNA. Schools sometimes don’t recognise a child’s needs &/or state DC don’t need or won’t get an EHCP, but parents go on to successfully apply themselves. It sounds like DS needs more support, including SALT and OT and an EP assessment.

There is a good book (American) called Smart But Scattered that gives a good insight into what executive skills training is.

@Relaxinghammock I will try to ask GP for referral anyway. For the EHCNA, I will look into it. Thank you.

@Phineyj I will look it up. Thank you.