f.a.o ppl with dx adhd dc

[MummyO3]

hi there im kinda looking for some advice, now my ds has been getting seen and tested for adhd, i was told they play sessions last about 12 weeks, well he had his first one today and another in 2 weeks time, then a week after she wants to meet with me n dp as by that point the person will have been to observe him in class for an hour :o am i wrong to think thats not alot to go on for an assesment? i thought that it was a long process so to speak, she has spent more time finding out about scotts background and today at the play session he was pretty well behaved surprise surprise im just totally lost now, seem to get contradicting advice all the time
thanks in advance for any help :) nikita x

I think that for most children with ADHD, their symptoms will be evident within quite a short time period. It isn't just hyperactivity they would be looking for, it would be all of the other diagnostic criteria, so fidgeting, inattention, etc.

DS1's play sessions always ended up very short during both of his assessment periods. There was only so much of him they could take!

The play sessions weren't all he had, though. During his recent diagnostic process, we had a long interview, we (and school) filled in a conner scale questionnaire, he was observed at school and the views of ASD outreach (lucky boy has that, too) and his community paediatrician were sought.

ouryve yeah thats the same stuff we have had, lougle what happens thought if he is behaving on those days lol as today yeah he fidgited and flited between toys etc but he was alot better today than most days iykwim, i dont normally see him behave that well but at the same time he does respond well on a 1-1 basis,
x nikita x

Well, they will be looking at the whole picture. Also, conditions such as ASD and ADHD are very pervasive. It isn't really about bad behaviour is it? A child with ADHD/ADD can be very well behaved but their traits are seen in the responses they give to everyday situations.

I mean, DD1 can be having a good few minutes, and sit still, but if she is doing that, she is shutdown to everything except what has caught her attention. There is no middle ground with her. She is either fixated or inattentive. Whoever was watching her would see an unusual presentation, whether she was having a good day or not.

I think we get used to our children, and what can seem like them 'behaving' to us, will still flag as 'not quite right' to professionals who are used to what to look for.

right im gonna sound thick here what does ASD mean? and pervasive mean? and yeah i never thought about it like that, thats like ds either fixated or inattentive.
and thanks i think im just worried they would make a quick assumption and not get it right iykwim, probably more my nerves that they will say everything is fine and we get all support cut iykwim, i think id cry without the support we do have lol

nikita x

ASD = autistic spectrum disorder
pervasive describes a condition that affects pretty much every aspect of someone's behaviour and being.

And the professionals can see right through even the "good" behaviour. One of the times DS1 was visited at nursery by the ed psych, he was having a good day and the nursery staff were worried that things would be missed. Oh no... the ed psych was under no illusions and actually initiated statutory assessment himself after talking to me about it. (I had no idea how unusual that was until I came to mumsnet!)

aww fab , thank you have really put my mind at ease :)

ADHD pretty obvious even if the child's behaving well, ime. Good luck.