Teen has just been diagnosed with ADHD

[Remmy123]

My 14 year old son has just been diagnosed with ADHD.

he had a terrible time in year 8 getting into trouble so we arrange an adhd assessment to rule it on or out.

fast forward to year 9 and general behaviour so much better and I think nope, he doesn't have ADHD.

We do the assssment and that is online 2 hours with me then questionnaires for son and school and us to do and to my surprise he has the adhd diagnoses.

i haven't told him yet I don't know why I think I am in disbelief but it wouid then explain the chaos in year 8.

am I wrong not to tell him? I worry he may milk it a bit as he as the one that wanted to have the assessment in his words 'school punishment not as harsh'

also what else do I do with this information i guess i need to read up on it.

thanks

Is this something you have paid for privately? Will the school accept that diagnosis with it not being from an NHS doctor?
My son is in exactly the same situation. He was assessed when younger but cahms discharged him as he had the ability to control his behaviour sometimes.
Since then years have passed and school is just a nightmare for him. He is on the sen register and has a classroom support plan but he doesn't actually have a diagnosis. I don't know whether to go ahead and do this as my husband, I, family and the school all think he does have it and it may be beneficial for him to have the diagnosis.

it's his diagnosis he has a right to know in my opinion

What made you have the assessment. My child is very clever and find exams easy and i wonder if this masks an underlying condition such ad ADHD. She finds school excruciating but will not explain why. She is chaotic, had extreme meltdowns, risk taking, impulsive, but she can study and do exams and isn’t disruptive in class.
But to answer your query i understand why you don’t want to tell him but think you have to really

I think that you have to tell him, he may want to try medication.

Do you think it's worth asking on the SEN section how to tell him and to get school to put a plan in place?

Would never occur to me to not discuss this with the child. It's their body and life. My DD has adhd. She has help at school and asks for it, she chose to take medication. She needs to live with it

My son was diagnosed in year 8, he failed the year due to his complete lack of being able to concentrate, he started meds immediately and while in school now is working hard and on track to pass all his GCSES. We have worked with the school to put in place an individual learning plan for him and he will get extra time and a private room to do his exams in. I’ve claimed DLA for him and now pay for a Maths tutor for him to keep him on track. I couldn’t have done all of that without telling him, so ultimately if you want to start putting things in place to start supporting him, you need to tell him.