Eldest son has ADHD
Discussion
Our eldest is 7 and a half and was diagnosed with ADHD last summer. It was the school who suggested we should get him assessed as he was often very distracted, fidgety etc. We got a questionnaire to fill in, as did the school, next thing we knew we were on a Zoom call with a consultant who immediately wanted to prescribe Methylphenidate. No mention or discussion of non-pharmaceutical approaches whatsoever.
We're not dead against medication so long as it works and it's safe, and doesn't detriment his life or character in other ways - a different thing I realise but my own experiences with various antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs over the years have not been universally positive. Even if we do go down that route though, there's been very little suggestion of other things we can do, what we need to know as parents, etc. The school have been really good but beyond what they're able to do they're not very sure. They don't really see the kids outwith school either so can't comment on side effects of the various medications and the consultant just dismissed all of that sort of discussion outright.
Generally it seems to be just his school life that's affected, at home he's a bit restless and fidgety sometimes but generally happy. We don't really get any of the significant behavioural issues with him either. That's partly what's making us a bit wary about medication, because his case appears, to us at least, to be relatively minor, but then we're not seeing first-hand what he's like at school I suppose.
Bit of a brain dump but just wondered if anyone had any useful insights that might help
We're not dead against medication so long as it works and it's safe, and doesn't detriment his life or character in other ways - a different thing I realise but my own experiences with various antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs over the years have not been universally positive. Even if we do go down that route though, there's been very little suggestion of other things we can do, what we need to know as parents, etc. The school have been really good but beyond what they're able to do they're not very sure. They don't really see the kids outwith school either so can't comment on side effects of the various medications and the consultant just dismissed all of that sort of discussion outright.
Generally it seems to be just his school life that's affected, at home he's a bit restless and fidgety sometimes but generally happy. We don't really get any of the significant behavioural issues with him either. That's partly what's making us a bit wary about medication, because his case appears, to us at least, to be relatively minor, but then we're not seeing first-hand what he's like at school I suppose.
Bit of a brain dump but just wondered if anyone had any useful insights that might help
It’s up to you if you use it or not. I know a lot of kids on it and that have come off it as it wasn’t having much affect of their kids. As you say you need to find out how bad he is in school, how much of an issue is it? You may find as he matures it become less of a problem after all he’s only 7, what 7 year old wants to be sat in class rather than outside playing.
Thanks so far. Very aware of the varying quality of responses on forums but that's good advice Will look up CAMHS.
Regards our lad, his teacher writes some notes about how he's been each day in a little book which he takes home every day. Most of the time he's done some but not all of his tasks and required quite a bit of one-to-one support. The last couple of days he's been apparently very distracted and hardly done anything but last week he had a few really good days. In general terms, they said he's just about keeping up with the average for his age but they say his potential to do far better if he could focus more.
I absolutely agree with your point about seven year olds and school but we have to take their word for it that he's disengaged to the point of disruption to his own education and potentially others.
Will look up CAMHS.Regards our lad, his teacher writes some notes about how he's been each day in a little book which he takes home every day. Most of the time he's done some but not all of his tasks and required quite a bit of one-to-one support. The last couple of days he's been apparently very distracted and hardly done anything but last week he had a few really good days. In general terms, they said he's just about keeping up with the average for his age but they say his potential to do far better if he could focus more.
I absolutely agree with your point about seven year olds and school but we have to take their word for it that he's disengaged to the point of disruption to his own education and potentially others.
I think you're right to be sceptical especially if the lad is OK at home. My own prejudice is that primary schools are controlled, feminised environments which are unsuitable for a large proportion of normal boys. ie it's the environment thats abnormal not the kid. However if your son genuinely has ADHD getting treatment and support will be better sooner rather than later.
If consultant is NHS they will be part of NHS CAMHS team.
Approaches differ in terms of how soon to prescribe and it is definitely better to take a multidisciplinary approach with support from specialist nurses and psychologists
The drugs can be very effective and change can be instantaneous in genuine ADHD patients (rather than naughty Jaydens) and the consultant might be recommending it as a 'diagnostic probe'. They should tell you about side effects of psychostimulants but they do fall into a perception of 'generally well tolerated'.
The best approach is use drugs where necessary but with support of MDT. CAMHS services are in total meltdown with referrals far outweighing resources. I wonder if Zoom -> prescribe is the best the NHS can do. There is a lot you can do to self educate in lieu of direct support from CAMHS
NICE guidelines here
Info on methylphenidate here
If consultant is NHS they will be part of NHS CAMHS team.
Approaches differ in terms of how soon to prescribe and it is definitely better to take a multidisciplinary approach with support from specialist nurses and psychologists
The drugs can be very effective and change can be instantaneous in genuine ADHD patients (rather than naughty Jaydens) and the consultant might be recommending it as a 'diagnostic probe'. They should tell you about side effects of psychostimulants but they do fall into a perception of 'generally well tolerated'.
The best approach is use drugs where necessary but with support of MDT. CAMHS services are in total meltdown with referrals far outweighing resources. I wonder if Zoom -> prescribe is the best the NHS can do. There is a lot you can do to self educate in lieu of direct support from CAMHS
NICE guidelines here
Info on methylphenidate here
Edited by oddman on Friday 11th February 14:43
This is all from memory of going through something similar as a child and I’m now 39, most of my memories involve Thundercats, Porn in a bush and pulling wicked skids.
In Class 2 (so I was around 6) I was tested a lot outside school, hyperactive, ADHD, some speech issues and generally a bit of a t
t. I could learn stuff very quickly but if it didn’t sink in straight away I’d never be able to get it without some quite forceful teaching, one on one work.
Certain foods were removed from my diet and I had 4 Efavite and 10 Efamol a day, which I think were to give me some extra vitamins. My parents said it was to help stop my scatterbrain but I think it’s like being given an aspirin during a heart attack, it was just something to try anyway.
Very vivid memories of being at cub camp, Beavers etc and not being allowed orange cordial, there was always a cup of blackcurrant for me, if I had orange juice I went a bit hyperactive.
I’m pretty sure I just needed to find out how to learn as 2 teachers in particular had a brilliant affect on me in primary school.
I see similar things with my eldest who is 8 in March, getting him to focus is hard and again if he doesn’t get something straight away it takes time. He also does maths like I do by breaking things down differently, doing it the way the school taught him he really struggled and now his maths is one of his biggest strengths.
2 things that really helped my boy, he started a hobby which only he can do, so he does Tang soo do you nice a week and is doing really well. So all the belts, compliments etc from his instructor is solely his work.
The second was a tip I got on here, that complimenting his work has a much bigger impact when he hears you tell someone else of his achievement, great work etc.
Also never let it be an excuse, it gives them an easy way to excuse bad behaviour or a lower than expected performance.
All the above is not to say your son has issues which take more work but it may not only be his problem, he may not be getting what he needs from his school, friends, parents.
Also, he is only 7, he is still figuring himself and his own brain out.
Dave!
In Class 2 (so I was around 6) I was tested a lot outside school, hyperactive, ADHD, some speech issues and generally a bit of a t
t. I could learn stuff very quickly but if it didn’t sink in straight away I’d never be able to get it without some quite forceful teaching, one on one work. Certain foods were removed from my diet and I had 4 Efavite and 10 Efamol a day, which I think were to give me some extra vitamins. My parents said it was to help stop my scatterbrain but I think it’s like being given an aspirin during a heart attack, it was just something to try anyway.
Very vivid memories of being at cub camp, Beavers etc and not being allowed orange cordial, there was always a cup of blackcurrant for me, if I had orange juice I went a bit hyperactive.
I’m pretty sure I just needed to find out how to learn as 2 teachers in particular had a brilliant affect on me in primary school.
I see similar things with my eldest who is 8 in March, getting him to focus is hard and again if he doesn’t get something straight away it takes time. He also does maths like I do by breaking things down differently, doing it the way the school taught him he really struggled and now his maths is one of his biggest strengths.
2 things that really helped my boy, he started a hobby which only he can do, so he does Tang soo do you nice a week and is doing really well. So all the belts, compliments etc from his instructor is solely his work.
The second was a tip I got on here, that complimenting his work has a much bigger impact when he hears you tell someone else of his achievement, great work etc.
Also never let it be an excuse, it gives them an easy way to excuse bad behaviour or a lower than expected performance.
All the above is not to say your son has issues which take more work but it may not only be his problem, he may not be getting what he needs from his school, friends, parents.
Also, he is only 7, he is still figuring himself and his own brain out.
Dave!
I have something a little similar with my eldest daughter aged 9 now though so far we have resisted getting her diagnosed with anything, at school she performs at the top of her class in all key areas, she is enthusiastic and generally loves school.
At home she can be very fidgety, she does things like taps herself on the head or will put her hand over her mouth then tap her head, seemingly for no reason, often when she is watching TV, if she is focused on doing something, colouring as an example it doesn't happen. It does also seem to escalate if she starts feeling uncomfortable, I noticed it on New Years eve when we were out with extended family for a meal at a place we go to every new year, the owner s a family friend to my in-laws and is perfectly nice, she tried speaking to my eldest who responded but I could tell she wasn't comfortable and sure enough the fidgeting started just after again.
I was worse 12 months ago than it is now, she seems to be calming down so I'm tempted to see how it plays out hopefully it is something she's leaving behind but the wife and I were convinced she has ADHD at it's worst.
At home she can be very fidgety, she does things like taps herself on the head or will put her hand over her mouth then tap her head, seemingly for no reason, often when she is watching TV, if she is focused on doing something, colouring as an example it doesn't happen. It does also seem to escalate if she starts feeling uncomfortable, I noticed it on New Years eve when we were out with extended family for a meal at a place we go to every new year, the owner s a family friend to my in-laws and is perfectly nice, she tried speaking to my eldest who responded but I could tell she wasn't comfortable and sure enough the fidgeting started just after again.
I was worse 12 months ago than it is now, she seems to be calming down so I'm tempted to see how it plays out hopefully it is something she's leaving behind but the wife and I were convinced she has ADHD at it's worst.
Jamescrs said:
At home she can be very fidgety, she does things like taps herself on the head or will put her hand over her mouth then tap her head, seemingly for no reason, often when she is watching TV, if she is focused on doing something, colouring as an example it doesn't happen. It does also seem to escalate if she starts feeling uncomfortable, I noticed it on New Years eve when we were out with extended family for a meal at a place we go to every new year, the owner s a family friend to my in-laws and is perfectly nice, she tried speaking to my eldest who responded but I could tell she wasn't comfortable and sure enough the fidgeting started just after again.
That description sounds more like stimmingoddman said:
Jamescrs said:
At home she can be very fidgety, she does things like taps herself on the head or will put her hand over her mouth then tap her head, seemingly for no reason, often when she is watching TV, if she is focused on doing something, colouring as an example it doesn't happen. It does also seem to escalate if she starts feeling uncomfortable, I noticed it on New Years eve when we were out with extended family for a meal at a place we go to every new year, the owner s a family friend to my in-laws and is perfectly nice, she tried speaking to my eldest who responded but I could tell she wasn't comfortable and sure enough the fidgeting started just after again.
That description sounds more like stimmingGassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff