Not sure how to feel.....dual diagnosis

[Anna85]

Today I was told as expected my DS who already has HFA has ADHD as well.

He is 5 1/2 and I felt a bit fobbed off really.

They gave me a list of parenting courses to attend and said they would review things in January. I did try telling them I have had many courses and support from professionals re his autism. The course in particular was Triple P.

The Dr said that as he is in reception he wanted to see how he performs in Year 1 before decided if medication is needed.

I suppose I feel just a bit annoyed that a lot of these professionals think the answer is parenting! I agree that we need to be educated but feel its not an answer......I may be wrong!!!

A lot of doctors won't medicate children until they are six years old because the medicine has not been tried on children as young as this and they dont know if it is safe. I think they offer all parents courses to go on so that it looks like they are being supportive.

I am just having bad day I think x

Anna take your time to come to terms with it.

Even though you have been heading down this road, when it actually happens it can be quite a blow.

Please don't dismiss the parenting course out of hand, after DS got his diagnosis we were referred for one - it was for parents of newly diagnosed DCs and it was really useful to speak to other parents who were going through the same things.

It also helped us understand that parenting an ASD child is often the opposite of conventional parenting. For eg - the clear and direct speaking - "DS shoes on" sounds rude and abrupt when other parents are saying "Darling please can you put that down and come over here, we need to get your shoes and put them on" but DCs with ASD need clear and unambiguous sentences etc

I have been to ones for his ASD and loved them x