GP said Not ADHD

[CompluterSaysNo]

DS age 13 recently diagnosed ASD/ADHD after a school move and urgent child Psychology referral due to severe anxiety.

Clinician advised seeing GP as he falls asleep at school every other day (sometimes for up to 5 hours). He is in bed 9pm-7am every night and his Fitbit shows he sleeps between 7 and 11 hours. (Still sometimes suffers from occasional nighttime anxiety).

GP said bloods were normal and he "doesn't look like he has ADHD" however the SENDCO had sent the dates/times he's slept at school including the times they've phoned home for collect as he was confused and disorientated. GP has referred him to Community Paediatrics. She said CAMHS are overwhelmed in our region and even with a diagnosis of ADHD referral is likely to be rejected or may take 2years.

I am waiting for the ADHD report to arrange a private medication trial as his anxiety is much better (since accomodations at school) but he is still struggling with fatigue after just very basic demands. It's half term this week and the doctors appointment yesterday has exhausted him for today.

Does anyone else have experience with severe fatigue in a teenage child who is not depressed and otherwise seems well?

Does DS fall sleep during the day anywhere other than school? How often is he only sleeping 7 hours a night? What is DS’s diet like? Does he have any other symptoms? What bloods were done?

“doesn't look like he has ADHD" I would complain about that. Also, assuming the ADHD assessment followed NICE guidelines, the GP shouldn’t be questioning the validity of it.

Thanks for this. He doesn't usually sleep during the day at weekends/holidays - although will still get tired and want to rest a lot.

Bloods were thyroid, iron levels, kidney function and glucose and all well within normal range.

I think the tiredness is related to finding school busy and stressful.

I'm just wondering if this level of fatigue could be related to ADHD and whether meds are likely to help.

Sensory overwhelm could be the cause or at least exacerbating the fatigue. It could be burnout, either related to ADHD or ASD. Some find meds helpful for this, others don’t so much. Has DS had an OT assessment? What support is the school providing? Does DS have an EHCP? Although, before accepting this I would want to rule out a physical cause or contributing factor. I would request Vit D, B12 and folate levels are tested.

Hello, I have ADHD and used to fall asleep in school and university all the time
It’s because I found it so boring and mentally unstimulating my brain just used to switch off

It especially happened in lessons I found uninteresting like History but I’d be totally fine with Art

ask him if this is the case?