DS says he is unable to concentrate on school work and has self diagnosed ADD!

[SecondhandRose]

DS (17) says he has been unable to concentrate on school work for a number of years and that his mind is always wandering off. He has self diagnosed ADD and says he needs medication (gulp). He did well in GCSE's but says that was due to his good memory and not actually revising.

I did say to him that we need to start with 3 things the first one being improve his diet, then getting him to exercise and also to cut his time he spends online. He agreed to the first two. Personally I think his problem is due to the amount of time he spends online. He runs various online channels for which he gets paid a monthly amount per hit (about £100 total). This takes up ALL his spare time.

Does anyone know if a GP can prescribe placebos? Or maybe if the GP agrees to prescribe maybe I could then swap them for aspirin or something. I don't think he has ADD but he seems to think he needs to place his problem firmly elsewhere rather than with himself. He has just said to me "I am going to fail the IB".

I asked him to look at the symptoms of depression online and he said he doesnt feel like he is depressed but just cant concentrate.

He has always been easily distracted, noisy in class but has always got by and always been a great sleeper. i have wondered in the past if he has it but his behavioural has got better and better over the years whereas when he was 7 he was a complete pain.

I dont want him taking drugs he doesnt need, but what if he does need them?

Any thoughts?

I'd say.. as the parent of a now 20 year old ADHD-er... get him checked out, preferably while he is still under 18 as I suspect it will be quicker to go through CAHMS than adult services (ask the GP t refer urgently ) although he CAN be assessed as an adult!

My DD1 was diagnosed with ADHD at 6 years old.. she was bright, but really struggled to focus, massively distractible etc etc .She was on ritalin til her teens and it helped enormously. She came off it (her choice) at 15, and still did very well at A level,but found it twice as hard to study as her peers, and is now studying medicine at University.

However... in her first year at Uni she realised once again how difficult it was for her compared to her peers to focus, work solidly.. her brain is full of a million thoughts that distract her,(and she can't sleep either) and as a result has gone BACK on ritalin aged 20... via adult services.

The difference has been startling.. she finds it much easier to concentrate (and let's face it ..you don't want a doctor who can't!!) She is happier, she is able to work properly, and is enjoying medicine far better as a result.

If he is mistaken.. then he won't be prescribed unnecessary meds. But if, actually he has always had a problem and has just 'got by' then a correct diagnosis will be helpful.

He won't be prescribed ADHD meds by a GP.. thorough assessment takes place first, and if he IS dx, then I swapping real meds for aspirin would be a very bad thing to do, a) for health b) it wouldn't be good for your relationship when he inevitably found out!

he may be wrong about himself and looking for an excuse..but he may be right and should find out!

Just wanted to say - brilliant post Medusa - very useful. You have clarified some things for me.

Thank you, very helpful. Last night he agreed to go down the 'natural therapy route' first. The suggestions online were Evening Primrose, Gingko and St John's Wort. Last night he had a cocktail including multi vitamins, Evening Primrose and Melatonin. He said he will be able to work tonight as he will be "drugged up"!! Well, if that is all it takes then fingers crossed!!