Getting assessment for ADHD - where do I even begin??

[NightmareLoon]

Hi all,

I know it's either GP, school, or private to get assessment for ADHD, but to be honest, as an adult with ADHD myself I'm finding it difficult to complete the necessary actions/figure out the correct steps.

DD is 9, I've been thinking of getting her assessed since Year 1 (now entering Year 5), and as she's having more and more trouble socially I think it's time to bite the bullet.

Which route do I choose? How much does private assessment cost? (South East)

Has her teacher flagged issues at school that's made you consider getting her assessed? If she is struggling there and they've advised you to get an investigation and you have issues at home, then you can go to the GP to get a referral. The behaviour needs to be present in two different settings (eg school & home) to get a diagnosis.

My son was diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago and both us and the school completed the forms and after a consultant telephone consultation, he had a diagnosis as it was very evident from both our responses.

Not sure about private diagnosis costs.

We're in Hertfordshire and I am planning on doing things in this order for my DS, who is 7:

• chats with school SENCO and class teacher, likely on the phone due to COVID
• appointment with GP to get a referral, armed with info from school as well as home
• see what support there is via school

Depending on where in the SE you are you can talk to Add-Vance, they are a local charity here and have excellent advice.

Can I join in as well please? My DD has just started year 5 and I really struggled with her behaviour during lockdown and home schooling.
Reading about it, I realised that actually she has been showing a lot of ADHD traits her whole life and these latest things are just further evidence.
She's quite angry and rude a lot of the time and can be attention seeking and disruptive. She fidgets and can't sleep and has low self esteem.These behaviours are now staring to show in school. I voiced my concerns to the SENCO at school when term started and she was supportive and is doing a cahms referral asap, sit's already drafted.

So I was planning just sitting tight until we hear back but should I do something more perhaps? Talk to the GP as well? My big worry is secondary school - I can see DD getting into trouble if she carries on like this so I am hoping a diagnosis might help. In the meantime I am trying to figure out how to manage things - return to routines is making a difference already so I am certainly going to be sticking to those as much as possible, in lockdown they were out of the window.

If we do get a diagnosis can I expect anything to change? what would likely happen of she was diagnosed?