What support for nearly 5 year old pos ADHD

[Tigger83]

Hi

I've had concerns for a long time that my ds has ADHD raised them with school before starting and at first parents evening and they wanted to adopt a wait and see approach... today teacher has said it's time to involve senco for support, in my gut I'm sure it's adhd and I already feel things are getting harder although I don't think he's at the sever end of the spectrum.

I've contacted a few private clinics to see if we could get a diagnosis and have been informed that they (and most) won't diagnose until he's six.

I want to be able to understand him better as I feel I'm failing him at the minute and I don't want things to get worse at school or at home if I can help him now. He's has low self confidence anyway and I don't want it to be further eroded.

Any advice or links to support or parenting courses or anything anyone could give I would really appreciate. I just want to help my little boy in the best way possible and will do anything I can to help make things better for him.

There is 2 different issues:

Diagnosis - in some areas you can self refer. If you can5 in your area the GP or school can refer you.

Support in school - you don’t need a diagnosis for this. The school should be providing support now. If you think one is necessary you can apply for an EHCNA. IPSEA have lots of helpful information on their website, including a model letter. SOSSEN’s website is helpful too.

If you post more about the difficulties DS/you are having posters might be able to advise.

Ds has trouble concentrating, gets very easily distracted.
Gets massively frustrated if he feels he can't do something
Daydreams/zones out
Have to repeat myself multiple times
Does not listen to instructions
Fidgety doesn't sit still constantly moving
Will only get to sleep with us in the room but goes down quickly and well but wakes multiple times during the night
Licks people and objects (licking is a sign of affection for ds)
Rough in play doesn't seem to understand boundaries takes things too far, barrels into people at home etc
Not keeping up with his peers in writing or reading
Repeats questions 'when is x happening' 'what are we doing today/tomorrow' etc etc etc on repeat.
Seems to have a good group of friends I think.
Nervous about new situations doesn't like the idea of going out etc but fine when we are out.

He also has tummy problems - does not appear to know when he needs a poo and so at least daily has a poo accident.

Thanks for any help and advice I will look at the things suggested

Oh and massively impulsive despite being told no.

He will sit and listen when engaged but appears to zone out e.g. at kids parties will sit and listen to the entertainer but doesn't appear to engage with the questions activities fully

Many of the things you list could well be due to sensory needs. DS would benefit from an OT assessment. In some areas you can self refer, if you can’t the school or GP will be able to. Not all areas commission sensory OT on the NHS but it’s worth a referral anyway. Some examples of support the school could provide are: a wobble cushion, fidget toy, chair bands, sensory circuits, movement breaks.

For the repeatedly asking questions have you tried a visual timetable and a now and next board.

Is it nervous of going out or is it related to transitions?

You could ask about melatonin.

Has a physical cause for the faecal incontinence been ruled out? It could be sensory issue but a physical cause needs ruling out first. You can ask for a referral to the continence service.

Something else just to rule out, has DS has his hearing and eyesight tested?

We're under pead gastric team, seeing them today so hopefully going to rule out physical. Also going to ask what other support can be offered and if they can refer.

I'm trying to find a private ot but struggling atm as I know wait lists are ridiculous in my area.....

Gastro team today have said toddler diarrhoea and advised to change his diet a bit and meds to help him if needed. They're also writing a letter to support keeping him in school during these periods to discuss with the senco and teacher so I'm hoping that will help with that element.

I've got the forms for the nhs ot self referral and have been given a price of £750 for a private ot 2 hr assessment so we will need to make a decision what we do with that. I think it'll end up with us going down the private route.

I am going to contact his community paediatrician who were still under to ask for advice too but I think any referrals will come from senco? The gastro paediatrician did say that the could consider an earlier assessment to rule things out related to the tummy issues just in case.

I'll contact gp regarding hearing test and assuming eyesight with be a high street optician?

Have you considered applying for an EHCNA? If you do and the LA agree to assess an OT assessment can be part of the needs assessment without sitting on the normal waiting list.

If you think you may go down the EHCP route and you do get a private assessment make sure they have experience of writing SENDIST level reports.

Referrals can come the community paed or GP as well as the SENCO. For some things you may be able to self refer too. In some areas you can self refer for a hearing test. A high street optician will be fine for an eye test.