ADHD - how and when did you know?

[Clare123]

My ds is very very excitable, and I think he may have ADHD. Please could you tell me about yr dc? I have read the formal criteria, but please could you tell me the reality of what he/she is like? Who first picked up on it? Why did you get a diagnosis?

Thank you so much in advance for taking the time to reply.

Dss has ADHD. He is 12. His main issues are; constant need for physical 'rough and tumble' play despite it becoming age inappropriate, unawareness of the consequences of his actions, impulsivity, always needing a planned activity, unable to stay in seat/ listen/ concentrate in school and therefore working 4 years behind where he should be, acting much younger than he is eg playing with toys, enjoying play parks etc, inability to know when to stop despite obvious signals from other children. He didn't get his diagnosis til he'd just turned 12 despite it being obvious for many years :(

The easiest way to describe it is like not having a control switch, concentration and attention are difficult. However if something does interest them then they can focus sometimes such as on a video game or similar. As you know from reading they are 3 different types hyperactive - both hyperactive and poor attention/concentration - poor attention/concentration.

hello my daughter has difficulty concentrating we have tantrums, lashing out, day dreams and sometimes its like her mind has left planet earth. She's 6 the school have complained to us about her concentration levels however there is nothing I can do at home we have to keep reminding her to focus if she is doing homework. I got her key stage 1 books to do at home with me after I have been at work all day just so she doesn't fall behind. Any advice would be most welcome. Also we get a constant questions from her even during t.v time she can't sit still she climbs on the chairs whilst watching t.v to. I tell her to stop it and less than a minute later she is doing the same thing again.

Also trying to teach her to read is very hard she keeps looking everywere but the book.

Ds is 10 and just dx. However, since yr 1 his teachers have been unable to motivate him to concentrate. For the last couple of years a few different suggestions re dx have been bandied about - add, ADHD, odd, PDA, asd etc. this year's yr 5 teacher wanted him assessed however, so off we trotted. And came back with a dx of ADHD plus some aspie traits (social and sensory) some phobias and anxieties. He's just ds1 tbh. A bit of a pick n mix kid. It has changed nothing about his education thus far.

DS just dx AS with adhd and others. To be honest I didnt know or suspect as he is dx with sensory processing disorder and we put it all down to that. It is for attention/concentration only. They feel the hyper bit is sensory overload plus AS issues due to his sensory issues rather than adhd. I had no idea there were 3 types till this week,

Behaviour wise at school my ds (5 - year one) Has had to have 1-1 support just to get him to the stage where he can just about know write his name. Occasionally lashes out at school, has had to wear a visibility jacket because he wanders wherever he wants, can get emotional easily, can be lively, can distract others, makes innapropriate comments, hugs and touches adults and children (tactile), can be impulsive.
At home, he climbs on everything then asks for help to get down for attention, talks fast all the time, forgets to use the toilet even though he knows how, has to have medication to help him sleep otherwise he just doesn't and does all the same kind of stuff he does at school - however he is very loving and sweet when he wants as well. He gets frustrated and can't concentrate really. He is also being assessed for ASD. We are in the statementing system at the moment and school and professionals are all saying the same kind of things.

Thank you all so very much for replying. I really appreciate it.