1st paed appointment - what should we expect???

[Cosmo74]

Well we have our 1st paed appointment for DS this Thursday - I am feeling relieved and scared - what should we expect to happen - the behavioural officer who has been working through the school is going to send in all her reports including the connor test that both me and his teacher done. Will the paed. start form scratch or will he take the behavioural officer recommendation on board - she has told me that while she cannot dx she thinks that DS has AD/HD. What should I want to be happening and is there any questions that I should be asking. I have wanted something to be done for ages but now that it is here I am dreading it - BTW what do we tell DS - I just told him he was going to see the doctor - will they take DS and ask him question by himself? How should I prepare both him and me

anyone got any advice?

Its a long time since we did this, but in our day they Paediatrician observed DS as he roamed around and talked to us and asked us lots of questions. I can't remember what any of the questions were now it was over 8 years ago. Try to relax and be honest with them, write anything down you want to say/ask beforehand, ask what happens next, erm...... can't think of anything else. Anyone?

we had this recnetly. The appointment lasted about a hour - we went through everything from ds' delivery and first weeks, illnessess etc to his recent development and performance at school. Most of the questions were directed at me not ds. He weighed and measured ds and asked him to complete a few exercises (drawing a circle, a diamond etc). That was it really - no indicaton of whether a diagnosis would be made or not so we are still left wondering.

DS will be 6 this Feb. when he was younger I was probably a bit tough on him as I thought he was just a spoilt little boy not doing what he was told and pushing us to our limits so we use to punish him alot by sitting on the bold chair and we probably shouted at him too much - now looking back this has probably done more harm than good - I feel really gulity about this - should I tell them all this ? I am so scared that we have made his situation worse!!! Going to bed now as DD will probably be up at least 3 times tonight and am feeling very stressed and anxious atm.

At the first appointment the Paed asked lots of questions about the pregnancy, birth, any illnesses, when ds reached his milestones, any behavioural difficulties or concerns, family history of difficulties etc. While this was going on the Paed was also watching to see what ds did. At the end the Paed carried out a very brief physical examination (height, weight, head circumference, ears, throat, chest).

I suppose the big question you need to ask, regardless of the findings, is "What happens next?"

Hi Cosmo - I've no experience with 6 year olds so not sure what you should tell him about the appt. My DS is 3.10 and has very limited understanding so I didn't tell him anything about the appt. as there wouldn't have been any point. I think if I were you I would just say it was a Doctor's appt.

Our first appt. with the paed. lasted for about 90 minutes and started with her observing DS in the waiting room. She wanted to see how he interacted with family and whether he made any attempt to engage with the other children.

Although we were there because our H.V had refered DS she wanted to hear about DS's problems from our POV. At this stage she ws only interested in where he was WRT development right now, and not about baby years or my pregnancy. She also asked about relatives with developmental issues/learning difficulties. During this DS was given puzzles to keep him busy, but she was watching him all the time. Then she gave him some informal tests to do. She timed him with shape sorters and puzzles so she could see if his fine motor skills were age appropriate. There were also the normal tests that H.V do such as build a bridge with 3 blocks and draw a circle. At the very end she weighed him, mesured height and did a brief physical which involved genitals.

At the next appt. we were asked about DS's developmental history and my pregnancy. Then she gave her DX.

I'm sure it's different for everyone but I've never heard anyone say it had been a negative experience.

As has already been said, I would write down any worries that you have and any questions that you would like answered. I did this but didn't really find it necessary on the day because the Paed. was so thorough with her questions.

Hope it goes well for you both. Good luck

We are off this morning - wish us luck and off course DS has a cold and is very subdued so he will probably sit in the corner and paed. will be thinking what is wrong with them two. Will let you know how it goes.

I hope it all went okay, Cosmo. xx

Good luck Cosmo
we have had 2 fantastic paeds in our dd's life (she's 3) and hopefully you get one equally wonderful

Well I don't know whether to say it went well or not we have come away with a perscription for DS for AD/HD - it was very strange and not what I expected at all - I hope I do not offend anyone saying this but the consultant was a midle eastern man with a strong middle eastern accent and I couldn't really understand much of what he was saying DS was the same - Dh could understand and he did most of the talking - he didn't really ask me much about the pregnancy or birth or how I felt afterward - I don't know if this was because he had all the behavioural officer notes with him - she has been observing DS at school for about 11weeks now and has visited me at home - DS teacher and me have had 3 meeting with her and she done the connor test with both his teacher and me and in her final report to the paed. she says that she wanted him seen for AD/HD so maybe cons. took that all on board - he done alot of tests with DS but could not see and learning difficulties DH explained that at this stage we were not concerned with his intelligence but it could become a problem if his behaviour was not sorted out. He then talked to us about medication and has perscribed a new drug which is not licensed yet but he has been using it for 2 years on other patients - it is a 24 hour non-controlled drug with little or no side effects he say that it sometimes takes 3 weeks to work and it doesn't always work on all children - so we have left the letter into GP and I am waiting for the perscription - I had to ask him if he thought DS was AD/HD and he said from the reports he had and from the results of the connor test that it did look like he had it - I would have liked to ask more questions but I knew I would not understand his response. The only reason why we are going to give the drug is from my discussion with the behavioural management officer who I have had long discussion with and she has worked with ADD/ADHD children for 7 years.

I am still feeling very confused - is it definate that DS has AD/HD or maybe I haven't let it sink n yet but if the medication helps DS feel better about himself that is all I want.

I cannot remember the name of the new drug but will let you know when I get it - Dh asked lots of questions about the drug and where it is used - it is widely used in america and is just waiting to be licensed here.

One thing that was really funny and I actually started to laugh while we were there the consultant asked DS to say 579 backwards - Hubby had to repeat the question to DS so then DS said "579 backwards" and I thought well that is what you asked him to say but I went into a fit of laughing - DS is so literal!!!

Thanks for all the advice and support - we have to start the mmedication and go back in 2 months for review or phone if DS has any adverse reaction to it.

One more question - what changes should we expect to see in DS - I really do not know what to expect.?