If your child has a diagnosis of moderate ADHD, what support/treatment do you get?

[PlantingPowers]

We are considering getting DS (9) assessed, but wonder if he did end up with a diagnosis, what would it actually mean for him/us.

What would he be offered as 'treatment'? What about us as a family? What would school do? Do they have to do anything? Would Ds get extra support/extra time for exams etc? Would we have to 'declare' his diagnosis to organisations like swimming club for example? How have family/friends reacted?

Would really appreciate hearing what a diagnosis has actually meant for other people before we step on the pathway. Thank you.

Hi, my 9 year old ds has recently been diagnosed with ADHD too. This is on top of other spld which he already has a statement for.

To be honest, both the school and I have known for years that he had attention difficulties so the school have already got strategies for managing him eg. a cool off space if he gets wound up, his own TA for repeating instructions and trying to keep him 'on task' etc.

As far as CAMHS - who made the diagnosis - goes, well crap to be honest. It was medication or nothing. When we refused the meds, we were signed off and waved goodbye. I have just insisted on a second opinion, though, so we'll see how that goes!

Sometimes, I will mention his 'issues' to out of school club organisers, other times not if I don't feel it will have a bearing on the activity eg. judo when all the kids are all over the place anyway!!

OK, thank you.
So, no great practical benefits then?
I can see that giving DS some explanation (not excuse) for his difficulties would be helpful to him.
However, extra support will not necessarily come with a diagnosis? School are ok, but as he is keeping up (just not meeting his potential), he isn't getting much extra help.
Teachers don't feel the need to use any specific strategies with him and therefore treat him the same as the rest of the class (which he isn't). Maybe a diagnosis would be the thing they need to recognise he can't be expected to just 'get on with it' and that his activity levels are not always under his control?
Hmm. ADHD has such a social stigma - it is crazy I am even having to think about the costs/benefits to a diagnosis

Thanks Polter. Yes, he seems NT sometimes. Off the wall at others. But holds most of it in at school. He isn't making much progress though, and is very inconsistent in what he can do.
School have imo bigger fish to fry, but I am worried that DS really won't get the extra he needs to achieve. He is capable, but takes a while to warm up/finds working independently difficult. He is firmly pegged as 'lively child, bottom of the middle attainment'.
Thanks for taking the time to reply

I have never seen getting your child diagnosed, as something that a parent should reasonable consider not doing. It makes no sense. If they have a condition, then they have a right to have it diagnosed. I don't see any disadvantages. There are no negatives. The social stigma is of no relevance. In what other circumstances would you put social stigma above your child's well being?

It is yours and his business so you declare it when you feel it is appropriate. Places cannot discriminate, so they can't tell you that they don't take kids with ADHD.

School may or may not provide additional support, but even if they don't, it offers you more legal protection and better understanding in general.
It also means that if in the future, he has a clear need for some additional support, possibly at times of transition, then it is much easier to get that set up. You can't wait for his need to drive the diagnosis, as it may well take too long to get the diagnosis by the time you realise you need it.

Ultimately, either he has ADHD or he doesn't. If he does, then he deserves a diagnosis, if he doesn't, then you have a definitive answer.

Planting my son has dx of ADHD and got it aged 7 … he is 11 this year. Support was in place for him prior to a formal dx, but with it he get extra time in SATS, exams etc. We've just had another EP assessment done for the transition to senior school this September as it allows him extra time there too. More than anything, it has bought understanding on his behalf which before was uncertain. Staff at his school now realise that he just can't do some things, so instead of getting into trouble about it, low level stuff is pretty much ignored. This has led to a much happier boy in school .. No one on his case all the time if iyswim? As a result, he has flourished especially over this academic year. He's teacher was well armed and ready with lots of innovative ideas to help him and it's worked. I do not mention to outside clubs because it isn't a huge problem for him outside school … yes, he's lively and has boundless energy, but that's about it. His impulsive behaviour has dulled as he has matured and he is aware of his past and present issues which we talk about alot. He is in charge of his behaviours now and if he lets himself down, he only has himself to blame - may seem harsh, but he has to learn as he gets older what is appropriate and we won't be there most of the time. I would say it depends on what level on support your son and you need as a family to be honest. If he's behaviour is fairly severe, you could get DLA to help pay for extra clubs etc you need to help with his energy levels. He would get a little more money from the school SEN pot to help in the classroom. And if he was in need of a statement, he would get more support and it would be legally binding for his school to support him. That's another mine field, so I'd take one step ata time. As for CAHMS, it varies from area to area … I've heard great things and really bad things about them. Whare are you in the UK?

Thanks both. Interesting to hear your viewpoints.
I do feel that a diagnosis (which I am pretty sure we would get) would be helpful to some degree, both for DS and for prompting support from school, although how much would be forthcoming is a moot point.

I have held back from pursuing a diagnosis for years though, partly because I don't want people/school to see DS as 'the one with ADHD' and making assumptions based on that, which let's face it, are more likely to be negative than positive. I don't like the idea of pathologising what is after all just behaviour that doesn't fit the school-shaped, calm, attentive box, when his behaviour would be valued in other contexts (ie high energy levels, creativity, humour).

DS has many lovely characteristics, and I have hoped that as he has got older his ADHD-ness would calm down. He is nine now though, and his 'silliness' and activity levels are becoming harder to excuse now.

Thanks for your thoughtful posts everyone .

Go for the dx. Even if you find your son doesn't get the support he needs in school or elsewhere, you will be in a much stronger negotiating position to get it if he has a diagnosis.

All children get labelled, whether it's 'the one with ADHD', 'the naughty one' or 'the one with ginger hair'. In my opinion it's far better that the label is for a confirmed medical condition which requires understanding and support, than for behaviour that's inaccurately described and for which he's blamed rather than helped.

Well said Streaky !