ADHD testing

[EverythingsDozy]

Hi, I'm hoping you can help me.
I think I've started the ball rolling regarding my DS and possible ADHD. He's 5 (6 in November) and I've suspected it for quite some time. I've been to the GP who said that the school is often the ones who initiate a referral. The school is aware of my concerns and have highlighted it themselves. They have referred me for parenting classes to give me some support and strategies. They have also put some strategies in place for when he starts year 1 in September.

I know this is potentially the start of a long process, but how long are we talking? Will I get support in the meantime or do I just wait it out? I don't know the pathway in all of this. I don't know what to expect. All I know is that we can't continue this way. It's too hard. I'm just hoping for a bit of advice. Thanks.

In my experience gp will always try and get the school to do and visa versa. I had more luck with NHS route as schools are so overwhelmed. Make the case to the gp of the problems you are having at home so you need to go via NHS route. Also ask teacher to write a list of problem behaviours at school to prove behaviours are happening in more than one setting.

The advice from the BPS is that diagnoses aren’t given for children so young. Instead they advocate parents going on supportive courses for how to manage their children’s behaviour. Have you been offered anything like this?

I've been referred to Webster-Stratton classes but I don't know when this might start.

We were advised it would be a 2-2.5yr wait in our area. We decided we couldn't wait this long and so opted for a private diagnosis for our boy who was then 6. We had the full support of his school who supplied all the supporting evidence needed and have fully accepted the diagnosis.

Can I ask how much it was to go private? Not like I think I'm in any sort of position to go down that route, I'm a student! Just wondering if it comes to that, but you don't have to tell me!

Our school didn't seem keen to refer DS, so we asked the GP to and they had no problem referring him to the hospital.

The hospital were great and have put him on the list for ASD diagnosis - it's going to take a long time though!!

Now, the school are taking his issues more seriously and have him on the SEND register. You don't need a diagnosis for this.

We're going to wait for the NHS assessment. But, we are going to pay for an assessment by an Educational Psychologist, which is something the school would do if only they could afford it, but they can't.

I don't know how much it'll be, there's going to let me know next term.

*they're!!! FFS

It varies by area/clinicians but we paid just over £1k. We did decide to go down the medication route for our boy and although our GP has agreed to shared care we pay to see the consultant every 3m for a review and health check.