Please help - AdHD

[Gunznroses]

just had a meeting with ds2 7 teacher, SENCO was present to our surprise, apparently ds2 has been under observation and showing all the classic signs of adhd.

Ds2 has been having lots of bevioural problems at school which we had been working up but its all now come to a head. Partly i'm in shock, but partly relieved there seems to be light at the end of this very dark tunnel we've been in.

Ive made an appointment with our GP, first step towards getting a formal diagnosis, but my question is, who should we be seeing/referred to ?

Is it a peadiatric neurologist, child psychiatrist, educational psychologist, dietitician ? Senco said we should investigate his dietas well as there might be something setting him off.

In the meantime, i'm giving ds2 fish oil, and have ordered some vitamins high in zinc and magnesium ( all curtesy MN info!) . Thank you.

Bump

We are just starting down this same road. Saw the GP yesterday -she is referring to the community paediatrician.

What was useful was that we had a phone call with the GP first to describe DS and his ways, and then appointment with him there, so we didnt have to talk too much about him in front of him.

Hi himalaya! I though no one was going to reply! The appointment is just for me and GP, ds will not be present, second appt he'll be there.

How old is your dc ? Has it been really rough with managing his behaviour ? Ive been tearing my hair out, sore throat almost every night.

Our gp referred us to a community pead who diagnosed x

Chundle and himalaya, did the comm.paed have to observe your ds over a period of time, or did they just go by what you and senco said ?

I haven't seen the community pediatrician so I can't say... but my guess is what Drs usually do is that they make a rough dx of what something could be and then they try the most low risk/wide spectrum treatment to see if it helps and/or narrows it down....I think DS could benefit from CBT, I am a bit wary of medication.

DS is 9. He has always been a 'free spirit' but is getting hard work recently. It has really been grinding us down, but we didn't know why.

Then he started having trouble at school - with friends, and with noticing he is different and therefore feeling really sad and miserable.

I actually went to the Dr (and talked with the SENCO and school) because he was so sad, and they said it may be because of his behavioural issues. Then reading the description of ADHD I thought it describes him perfectly. It kind of fits into place, why we are all having such a hard time of it at the moment.

Am going to a support group meeting tonight...I'll let you know anything i find out!

You might get reffered for a hearing test, speech and language and OT and maybe a clinical psychologist as the paed may want to rule anything else out. School will be given a connors questionaire and so will you to fill in. It maybe a while before you get a dx but if school think this is what it is then they can try strategies to support him in class and in the playground.
Medication maybe worth a try it doesn't work for all and some experimentation maybe needed if it does help him to get the right one and the right dosage.
There are parenting courses as well that may help you find some strategies that may help at home.

Sometimes CAMHS dx, and sometimes paeds do.

You're doing the right thing with the Omega, Zinc & magnesium :)

Next thing to do is cut out all aspartame (artificial sweeteners), and almost all sugar and additives.

And to give him protein at every meal.

The Brain Food Plan

There is loads and loads you can do to help - whether or not he gets a dx.

Thank you so much indigo and everyone else

What is weird is my DS2, with suspected ADHD is a big protein eater.

His brother would happily eat plain carbs allday, everyday, where DS2 has always been happier gnawing on a lambchop since babyhood.

I wonder if his body knows something I don't know ?!?