Ok, here goes. Ds2 possible ADHD consultant think aspergers?

[Julezboo]

I am posting this from my phone so it may go tits up!

I am certain he has ADHD. We saw a community paed two weeks ago who this it's possibly ADHD or aspergers. Having read a lot about ADHD I know more about it but no experience with aspergers. If I write. Little about ds could I please get some opinions?

He is 5 years old, walked at 10 months. Born by section at 38 weeks planned.

He had only Had one major bout of illness, a sickness bug which put him in hospital for a week or so. He has also recently been diagnosed with asthma.

He doesn't eat. Well eats very little, same things over and over.
Cries A LOT.
Bedtimes he is up and down for about 2 hours.
He never sits still. If he is sat on side he will quite often roll his head/neck around or pull all kinds of funny faces
He lashes out in temper quite easily
Doesn't seem to have any concept on personal space, constantly up in our faces, bit rough when "kissing" younger brother
He completely melts down over the smallest issue.
He is very obsessive about the way we drive to school. Again melts down in tears if he thinks we are going on the motorway. But is fine if we go on the motorway to visit my mum who lives 4 hours away!
He never ever listens to what we say to him
No patience, for eg, if he wants food he doesn't understand it needs to cook, he tantrums and screams until its ready.

Very obsessive about certain things, brushing teeth, his lunch box and what's in it, his collar being the wrong way.

His behaviour is awful :( I love him very very much but ATM I don't enjoy being his mummy and I hate myself for it.

He has one or two friends in school, if we take him out on his own to park/ soft play he won't move from my side unless his older brother is there.

He doesn't ever hold eye contact with anyone ever.

We have tried everything, reward charts, time out, ignoring, marble jar, praising him to the hills when he's good.

Another eg, Monday night he went to bed at half 7 and was asleep before 8. This never happens! I made him a nice certificate which we gave to him as soon as he woke up, he was very pleased with himself, even took it to school!

Last night went to shit again :(

I feel like I am constantly shouting, pleading or bribing him to be good. He is a very energetic little boy, has one older brother and one younger brother who both often bare the brunt of the violent out bursts. He has ripped wall paper in temper, broken safety gates numerous times in temper, he has hit out at me a lot recently.

I am at the end of my tether. Spoke to school nurse, hv, gp and community consultant. Seem to be getting no where fast with him.

What tests have they done? Or do they plan to do?

Ds1 had full psycho ed assessment and came out with a dx of ADHD with aspergers traits, anxieties, and phobias.

Tbh, so many issues can point to so many possible dx that it isn't really possible to narrow it down entirely. The best chance you have is with the full testing battery, but tbh the NHS don't usually bother - they cherry pick tests according to what they think the dx will be. Sort of self fulfilling prophecy!

The waiting list is really long, too. We paid to have a private assessment, which gave the psych the freedom to run tests that would (theoretically) rule in or out a number of different dx.

What tests is the consultant planning on doing?

He hasnt said anything about tests yet. Said he will liaise with the school. I should pick one thing to concentrate on n ignore the rest of the issues so we are trying to deal with the bedtime struggles and he will see us again in a few months

Also posting on my phone so i will post more later. Obviously i cant dx your ds but he sounds very similar to our ds2 who has a dx of high functioning autism. I will post more later but there is lots you can do to support him at home and also get some professional help. Has he got a statement or any 1-2-1 help at school. That would really start the ball rolling as it would mean lots of professionals assessing him. Our ds does not have any learning difficulties and can access the curricculum in school. Although he has behaviour issues similar to your ds and i have had some difficult days. I will post more later.

Ya gotta love it when they suggest a few things and then make you wait months for another chat.

Well, he's 5, so still pretty little. I would be making an appointment with the school senco and discussing issues and support in school. He has outside professionals involved in his care and so school should have him listed as school action plus, and they should be using an iep to set appropriate targets in conjunction with you. These Ieps should be reviewed and rewritten termly at his age.

We had 5 years of different suggestions before dx - asd, odd, PDA, ADHD, you name it, they wondered if it described Ds. So much crossover with this type of issue.

Just coming to the end of the dx journey with DS1, we got a dx of ADD and DCD yesterday, school take their time tbh. I have spoken with his teacher on a few occasions and she says he doesnt listen very much etc...

Might go speak to her tomorrow

Julez if ds1 is dx, they do sometimes take you more seriously with the next one, so it becomes easier.

Sounds like he may have AS and ADHD, quite often these things run along side each other. He sounds very similar to dd1, ahe has a dx of Aspergers but i'm sure she has ADD or ADHD too.

Just to say there is a fair bit of overlap in the symptoms/presentation of adhd and asd and a high rate of co-morbidity (where you have both diagnoses).

My dd is now almost 8 she got a dx of ADHD with a few traits of AS when she was 6.5. As she's getting older her AS traits are coming out more and overshadowing the ADHD traits. It's good you are getting help now. Many disorders are co-morbid with each other, a very good book to look up is In the Syndrome Mix it explains how certain disorders coexist with each other

Agree with what has been said I have Dd3 who has a dx of ASD, she is never still either but that is due to her hypermobility rather than ADHD.

A friend of mine found the route much quicker when getting abdx for her second son. Do both your boys see the same consultant? Things might move quicker if they do.

Sorry you are having to deal with this so soon after your Ds1's dx, keep coming on here for advice or a rant if you need to.

Good luck.

There can be some overlap between AS and ASHD, and he does need a proper assessment (ADOS or similar) to work out whats going on.

If i were you, I would push the Paediatrician and/or your GP to refer you to an Occupational Therapist for a sensory assessment, a Speech and Language Therapist for an assessment on things like his social communication, and your specialist autism service at your PCT. It might take a bit of hassling, but it is imperative he is properly assessed.

My DS was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 5 yrs old. At the time he was diagnosed they said he had ADHD traits but didn't issue a proper ADHD diagnosis, just the AS. I know several children who have a dual diagnosis or autism with ADHD behaviours.

The good thing is, you are tackling this now. Early intervention for both autism and ADHD is a good thing.

Good luck.

ADHD not ASHD!

They don't see same consultant ds1's is fab. Can I swap over? They are under the same health board

I think you can ask for both children to be seen by the same consultant. I woukd ring the good consultants secretary and ask if he/she would be prepared to see your Ds 2.

Thanks I will do that tomorrow morning.

I am debating secondary schools for DS1 atm... Its hurting my head

Both my dds are seen by same cons its easier for cons too