Teen stepdaughter with Dyspraxia and AD(H?)D Help Please?

[Jellywobbler]

Hi there :D Am looking for advice please. My partner's daughter has just moved in with us and she has been diagnosed with Dyspraxia and also ADHD. I'm just looking to chat and listen really. One thing I'm not sure about is that she has been diagnosed as ADHD but she is the least hyperactive little thing I have ever seen! She can sleep for Britain.. I see that lots of sleep is associated with Dyspraxia. Could that cancel hyperactivity out? Also, she was taking Concerta XL 36mg once a day. I advised the consultant on our first visit that she hadn't been rested from this for several years. We withdrew the medication for 2 weeks and there was no change whatsoever. He has therefore told us to double the medication I'm all for the tablets if they are helping her but am quite concerned about just doubling up. I want her to be able to focus properly, she is currently doing GCSE's and I want her to have all the help she can. Am also wondering about the laptop at school thing?? All help gratefully received. Thanks

Hi There Jellywobbler, I hope by now you have maybe gone onto the general special needs forum which is has much more traffic. Your daughter sounds as if she has ADD rather than ADHD. ADD is ADHD but without the hyperactivity. It is much more common in girls and the reason why so many arn't diagnosed. They tend to sit quitely in the back of the classroom being ignored. Their brains don't work as fast and they tend to be unable to focus and concentrate for sustained periods of time. It's probably worth goggling it and finding out more. My dd was put on Ritalin for a few years and to really was much better and happier off it. It works for some but made my daughter very quite and uncommunicative, she lost her joy. But taking her off it around her GCSE time is probably not the best idea.

Laptop is probably the most important thing she can have and also fast touch typing, if she can't already do it think about putting her on a course or downloading an app if you have a mac, such as Mavis Beacon.

Good luck and do post or pm if you are looking for help.