ADHD medication for AuDHD child?

[Scratchybaby]

This may be a dumb question, and maybe not possible to really answer as every individual is different. But I'm trying to get an ADHD assessment for DS who already has an ASD diagnosis. He runs at a million miles an hour and there are a number of things that make me think he may be AuDHD.

I've read lots of accounts where ADHD medication hasn't been helpful for AuDHD people, but I'm not sure if I've ready any where it has been beneficial - are there any positive stories of medication helping reduce at least one of the hurdles AuDHD individuals have to deal with?

Obviously I will ask a medical professional these questions, whenever we finally see one, but wondered about other peoples' experiences as well.

As you say totally varies on child.

My AuDHD son found traditional stimulant meds made his anxiety too bad and increased sensory needs though did help him focus. We then tried non stimulants like Guanfacine (made him a zombie) and now landed on Atomoxetine. This was developed as an anti depressant so actually helps his anxiety. It’s nowhere near as helpful for hyperactivity or focus but is better than nothing.

My son attends a special school so I have a big group of SEN families I know, a lot of autistic children I know have had great results with stimulants like equasym, so it’s always worth a try I think. Like you say, it’s about helping reduce some barriers… the kids i know who have had good results their ability to access education but also access therapeutic interventions, like having enough patience to remember the steps around taking themselves out of situations before having a meltdown etc.

are there any positive stories of medication helping reduce at least one of the hurdles AuDHD individuals have to deal with

Can't speak for a child as I have been recently diagnosed as an adult and my DD wad diagnosed with AUHD in November and not medicated

Funnily enough, I had no idea I had autism until I started the adhd meds. They really helped me stay focused on one task at a time, but they made me so sensitive to sounds which then made me really irritable. I think I was so used to my brain having a thousand thoughts at once that they masked how much sounds actually bothered me

I have yet to come across anyone with AUHD where the beds work foe them unfortunately

Thanks for the responses on this. And yes, the issue of the "noise" and whether it's helpful or unhelpful for the individual is what I'm wondering about. On the one hand, I just have this feeling that if DS was able to slow down and focus a bit more on one thing at a time, all the work we're doing with speech therapy, attempts and OT-recommended activities - which he's clearly capable of, he's so smart! - would have a bit more of an impact. But if he enjoys the noise and it helps keep him sane and comfortable I don't want to take that away from him either!

In a bit of a chicken and egg spot at the minute because I wonder if, with ADHD symptoms reduced, he'd be able to make quicker progress with his language and communication skills as he's still not able to articulate feelings and is not yet fully conversational. But on the other hand I don't want to subject him to medication that could cause painful or stressful side effects until you get it right.

It might be that the long waiting lists for ADHD assessments will actually do us a favour and give us more time to get ready for making that decision!

Our is DS is on a lowish dose of Medikinet XL (30mg). It has had some beneficial effect - he can concentrate for up to 15 mins at a time at school now, whereas it was hard to get him to focus for 60 seconds before. He also gets less mentally fatigued and is able to cope with things like social events more easily because he can follow conversation better. Although we could go higher with the dose, we've opted not to because of the risk of sending his anxiety sky high. He is in year 6 and is already very anxious about SATs and transition.