My first MN post so be gentle! I have a 15yr old DS currently with suspected (but not diagnosed) Inattentive ADHD and Autism. The Inattentive part is important to stress because this seems to be the crux of the issues. We have been battling for assessment since he was 11 and it has been the most exhausting journey due to COVID an unhelpful SEN and his school being in a different county to the one that we live although only a few miles away. Anyway, my question is does it get better as they get older. I can’t help to worry that if we weren’t literally yelling at him to get out of bed and to study he would just not go to school and stay in bed all day. Now I know he is a teenage boy and I get that a lot of people will say this is normal teen boy behaviour, but it’s not (I’ve already had teens) - it’s extreme. He wants to go to Uni after A levels but I have no idea how he would motivate himself if his Dad and I weren’t there to force him out of bed. Has anyone had similar experience and watched there child grow into a fully functional adult 🙏🏻
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15yr old DS with ADHD - please tell me things will get better
Coolmom81 · 14/04/2024 12:57
FlexIt · 14/04/2024 13:54
Sorry we’re still in a similar phase but older than your child.
ADHD can be a shade worse at peak puberty in boys so if that’s right now things may improve a small amount later (or maybe that already happened for him).
Also as the brain matures (age 25 😵💫) the manifestation of symptoms may change.
Can you afford a private referral? Can you get your gp to refer under Right to Choose. Can you afford any executive function coaching (I totally recognise that a certain level of functioning is needed for this to have any benefit).
Also I have to say that the struggles with inattentive ADHD at A level are much greater than at GCSE, so it would be worth seriously considering alternatives to both A levels and uni.
Mintymatchmakerheaven · 14/04/2024 13:32
I have 2 dc with adhd and 1 with autism. The most important thing is to get your son diagnosed. You don't need school involvement for this. Have you tried getting a diagnosis via your gp and right to choose. Can you afford private?
I can't promise that things will get better for you but a diagnosis will help. He could possibly have meds which can be life changing for those with adhd.
Things aren't easy for my dc, there's always one who has issues and they are now adults. I have to say, things did get better for them once they left school.
FlexIt · 14/04/2024 13:54
Sorry we’re still in a similar phase but older than your child.
ADHD can be a shade worse at peak puberty in boys so if that’s right now things may improve a small amount later (or maybe that already happened for him).
Also as the brain matures (age 25 😵💫) the manifestation of symptoms may change.
Can you afford a private referral? Can you get your gp to refer under Right to Choose. Can you afford any executive function coaching (I totally recognise that a certain level of functioning is needed for this to have any benefit).
Also I have to say that the struggles with inattentive ADHD at A level are much greater than at GCSE, so it would be worth seriously considering alternatives to both A levels and uni.
Littlefish · 14/04/2024 15:48
A levels were considerably more motivating for my dd than GCSEs. Only 3 subjects, all of which interested her and had been chosen by her.
She's now at university.
She struggles to wake up for lectures, so sets 5 alarms!
She learned the hard way about leaving assignments until the last minute, but got them all done, with only one extension. I was exactly the same when I was at university. There has to be an element of peril for both her and I to get anything done!
Look into DSA (disabled student allowance) for university. Diagnosis makes the process much easier.
Dd has been allocated one hour a week with a learning mentor to support her with workload, assignments etc. However, because she would have to make phone calls or write emails to organise it, it obviously hasn't happened (plus she's determined that she doesn't need any support from anybody!)
She also has a laptop with lots of great adaptive software on it to help with note taking, organisation, spelling & grammar etc.
Littlefish · 14/04/2024 16:24
She’s living away from home and absolutely loves it!
it look her about 6 weeks to get round to using the washing machines as they’re in a different building.
Her bedroom is a health hazard, just as it was at home.
m she has fabulous flatmates who all seem to have a similar tolerance to mess and filth in the kitchen, so she hasn’t pissed anyone off!
Before she went, we honestly didn’t know if she would cope, and decided that the first year was more about successfully living independently, than about academic learning - as long as she passes!
So far, she’s surpassed all our expectations and is genuinely having the time of her life.
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Littlefish · 14/04/2024 18:06
My dd was diagnosed and medicated at 15. She went from predicted GCSE grades of 2-5 at the end of year 10 (unmedicated) to all 7-9 grades 9 months later (medicated) in year 11.
The meds were transformational for her, academically.
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