Paed assess for ADHD - what to expect?

[coogar]

Please can anyone tell me what I can expect to happen from an initial assessment by a pead specialising in child behaviour. My ds being assessed for ADHD at a hospital in Feb and I'd like to know what it entails and if you have any suggestions what I can tell him is happening (already done the Connors etc). Don't know how to tell him why he's going there .. do I make something up or tell him straight?? Not sure how much of an issue he thinks he has, so don't want to frighten him. Funny thing is, if this was a friend asking me, I'd probably have plenty of advice/support to offer, but I seem to be floundering with my own child Thanks!

Hi Coogar, don't want to give you a bum steer as I live in Northern Ireland so our initial assessments may not be the same as the rest of UK. Essentially we had a long chat with the Paed and he asked a lot of questions about ds from birth. Ds was taken into a separate room with two occupational therapists who did a lot of exercises with him - stuff around ability to follow instructions etc. He was fine and co-operated very well.

The Paed and two ot's got together then (we waited outside) and they shared information and when we came back into the room told us the outcome of their tests and observations -which was that he had adhd. He was then also referred to occupational therapy for a block which was great.

The Paed then discussed medication with us - at that time we weren't sure so he gave us a follow up appointment in 3 weeks time by which time we had made our minds up to try it and then we had a six month appointment thereafter and must be due another one soon.

Anyway, I don't think we told ds an awful lot about why he was there other than the appointment was to help with him being able to focus and concentrate better at school.

I hope that is not completely unlike what you will experience. The Paed and staff were all very nice and very good with ds who also has a dx of an asc.

Helens thanks for that .. what's an 'asc'? I think Imay go down the route of telling him it's to help him focus more at school ....

Autistic spectrum condition.

Ds now knows that he has a dual dx and that his medication is to help him concentrate and focus which he understands. If it's any help the word "tricky" is one I use to explain, for example, "ds sometimes finds it tricky taking turns".

Good luck with your appointment!

Helen what are the asc symptoms and which are the ADHD? The more I read, the more there seems to be many duel dx. I also read recently that rarely is ADHD dx on it's own.

We received our dx separately, asc and then about, maybe 2 yrs later (may not have been as long as that) the adhd dx. In fact, it was at ds's ed psych appointment that he picked it up; we just thought he was on the spectrum tbh. The adhd was a surprise but made sense.

I think there can be a cross-over with some of the difficulties - some dc's with adhd have asc like traits without full dx, I expect because of the difficulties with socialisation (although not for all).

I'm not sure how to word this, are you worried that your ds may also be on the spectrum? Or just perhaps quering some traits or perhaps none of those at all, of course! I could be completely off on a tangent!

I've never felt he has other traits other than add. He's very lively, can be in your face, attention seeking, a comic, exhibitionist, feisty, great sense of humour and is very sociable. Has never had tantrums or melt downs, no obsessive behaviours, no sensory issues but fidgets, talks lots, butts in and can be a pain in the arse iygwim. He is very independent and strong willed. He's not aggressive, just doesn't know when to stop. Im fairly new on here but have been researching and reading others experiences and it seems there are few dc with adhd dx only....maybe MN doesn't attract them ?? No one has ever mentioned sac to me and he's been on SAplus or 2 years.

I've never felt he has other traits other than add. He's very lively, can be in your face, attention seeking, a comic, exhibitionist, feisty, great sense of humour and is very sociable. Has never had tantrums or melt downs, no obsessive behaviours, no sensory issues but fidgets, talks lots, butts in and can be a pain in the arse iygwim. He is very independent and strong willed. He's not aggressive, just doesn't know when to stop. Im fairly new on here but have been researching and reading others experiences and it seems there are few dc with adhd dx only....maybe MN doesn't attract them ?? No one has ever mentioned sac to me and he's been on SAplus or 2 years.

Oops meant asc, sorry

He sounds like a character Coogar and good luck with your appointment! x

Thanks Helen, he is!

Anyone else with experience of the assessment?

Sounds like my son Coogar ... just doesn't know when to stop ... find myself saying "Calm Down" or "Quiet Down!" a lot of the time. Our paed assessment wasn't very long actually (1 hour) and we were referred for OT & SALT as a result. The whole process took about 6 months, so not too bad I think compared to some areas. Good luck!