Anyone's child diagnosed with ADHD?

[liz1985]

We are at the very beginning of a referal for possible ADHD, like literally waiting for our first GP appointment. The school have told us is will be quicker to go through health than through school, but to expect a long wait and to be prepared to pester, pester, pester. Just wondered if anyone had experience? Whats the process and roughly how long did it take from referal to diagnosis? Thanks.

 

[sabby52]

We are just at the beginning of our journey too, my son was referred by his GP over 6 months ago, we had our parent workshop last Monday and we have another 4 months waiting list before my son has his first assessment, although we now have to have an autism referral as the doctor at the workshop says his symptoms may be more Aspergers related than ADHD :/ When your GP is doing the referrals is may be best if she refers him to a ADHD clinic and an Autism clinic at the same time, some of the symptoms my son has I was told were ADHD symptoms but the doctor at the workshop said they are more high functioning Autistic traits :/ Good luck on your journey and do be prepared for the long haul xx

 

[liz1985]

Thanks for replying. Ds teacher told us its taking around a year in our area right now to be seen for the first time. Seems crazy it takes that long. What do they do at the workshops? Even though im sad that ds is probably going to be diagnosed with something, im relieved to finally get the ball rolling rather than just waiting around wondering all the time. How old is your son? Ds is coming up on 5 and its so noticable now compared to peers his age. Xx

 

[sabby52]

My son is almost 9 we did have an assessment when he was about 2 but I was told back then that he was just a spoilt, loud little boy Now at almost 9 you can really see the difference between him and his friends
The waiting time for an ADHD assessment over here is about 12-18 months at the minute and the waiting list for the Autism clinic is 24 months, so we still have a bit of a wait
At the workshop we were just told all about ADHD, ODD, ASD, ect. the differences and how one can mask the other (as we may have found with our son), we were told what would happen at each appointment with our son and how they would make a diagnosis, we also received our Connors forms, one for us and one for his school. We found it very interesting, our son has all of the hyperactivity traits of ADHD, fidgeting, excessive talking, excessive movement, cant sit still, but because he is so attentive he probably wouldnt be diagnosed with ADHD, unless his school see a problem, but he has a lot of Autistic traits, no awareness of social space, tics, repetitive behaviours, so they are thinking he may be high functioning autistic x

 

[suzib76]

We are just starting for our DD2 who is 6, just saw the GP a couple of weeks ago and have had an acknowledgment letter from CAMHS and from local word of mouth I'm expecting to wait a good 6 months for an initial appointment. It's so hard that it takes so long, we don't have any parent things here but DH and I went to some things run by the national autistic society which were a great help. When DS was in nursery he was referred but through school so the ed phsyc saw him and she put it down to behaviour. We had to get another referral when he was 7 and wait all over again and he finally got his diagnosis of autism when he was 9. It does take a long time but if you feel you need to be seen sooner you can ask the GP to push it along. I always knew with DS there was something, but with DD2 we literally joked about her being like her brother once or twice over the years but this past few months it has hit us like a brick how she totally fits the box as well.

 

[Ganton]

My son is almost 9 we did have an assessment when he was about 2 but I was told back then that he was just a spoilt, loud little boy Now at almost 9 you can really see the difference between him and his friends
The waiting time for an ADHD assessment over here is about 12-18 months at the minute and the waiting list for the Autism clinic is 24 months, so we still have a bit of a wait
At the workshop we were just told all about ADHD, ODD, ASD, ect. the differences and how one can mask the other (as we may have found with our son), we were told what would happen at each appointment with our son and how they would make a diagnosis, we also received our Connors forms, one for us and one for his school. We found it very interesting, our son has all of the hyperactivity traits of ADHD, fidgeting, excessive talking, excessive movement, cant sit still, but because he is so attentive he probably wouldnt be diagnosed with ADHD, unless his school see a problem, but he has a lot of Autistic traits, no awareness of social space, tics, repetitive behaviours, so they are thinking he may be high functioning autistic x

Do you kind me asking where you are based and who the initial rederral was made to? My DS (nearly 4.5) was referred to an educational psychologist by his nursery about 4 months a go. I know the referral went through as the GP could see it on his system about 2 months a go but I haven't heard anything yet. Nursery haven't specified potential ADHD/aspergers etc, just that he is very impulsive and anxious and is delayed with personal, social and emotional skills. I think he sounds very like how you've described your DS and I also think he has the hyperactivity but perhaps not the attention deficit side of ADHD. I just how he's been referred to the correct place to at least get the process started. Id hate to wait as long as it takes to hear from the educational psychologist, only to find that we need to be re-referred somewhere else.

 

[LoraLoo]

Around 18 months from referal to disgnosis.
Our son was referred at 4 and diagnosed at 5 yrs old. He's now 12.

First we went through lots of appts which involved taking family medical history, asking about his behaviour, talking to ollie, observing his behavior at appts.
Then they sent questionnaires to school, spoke to his teachers, then observed him within the school setting.
It seemed a long time as the appts were so spaced out. We were under the child development team but he is now under camhs

 

[liz1985]

Thanks for replies everyone. Ive found out a little more about the process in my area now. So if the gp thinks he needs a referal he will be sent for a general development assesesment (gda). The waiting list for that is around 6m. Then after that they will decide which specialist he needs to see, which is around a years wait. Literally cant believe it takes so long.

 

[sabby52]

My son is almost 9 we did have an assessment when he was about 2 but I was told back then that he was just a spoilt, loud little boy Now at almost 9 you can really see the difference between him and his friends
The waiting time for an ADHD assessment over here is about 12-18 months at the minute and the waiting list for the Autism clinic is 24 months, so we still have a bit of a wait
At the workshop we were just told all about ADHD, ODD, ASD, ect. the differences and how one can mask the other (as we may have found with our son), we were told what would happen at each appointment with our son and how they would make a diagnosis, we also received our Connors forms, one for us and one for his school. We found it very interesting, our son has all of the hyperactivity traits of ADHD, fidgeting, excessive talking, excessive movement, cant sit still, but because he is so attentive he probably wouldnt be diagnosed with ADHD, unless his school see a problem, but he has a lot of Autistic traits, no awareness of social space, tics, repetitive behaviours, so they are thinking he may be high functioning autistic x

Do you kind me asking where you are based and who the initial rederral was made to? My DS (nearly 4.5) was referred to an educational psychologist by his nursery about 4 months a go. I know the referral went through as the GP could see it on his system about 2 months a go but I haven't heard anything yet. Nursery haven't specified potential ADHD/aspergers etc, just that he is very impulsive and anxious and is delayed with personal, social and emotional skills. I think he sounds very like how you've described your DS and I also think he has the hyperactivity but perhaps not the attention deficit side of ADHD. I just how he's been referred to the correct place to at least get the process started. Id hate to wait as long as it takes to hear from the educational psychologist, only to find that we need to be re-referred somewhere else.

I am in Belfast, Northern Ireland. My Gp made the initial referral to a ADHD clinic, she was suppose to refer him for an ASD assessment at the same time but she didnt It has been 2 weeks since our workshop and I am still waiting to see his GP to make the ASD referral (have an appointment next week). Hope your little one gets the right referral and everything works out

 

[jensonsmummy]

My son has had his first paed assessment in august but dont want him for another 6 months for re assessment due to age. He started nursery in September and was put on an IEP by his 3rd week. Have his parent teacher meeting later today so will be interested to hear her thoughts then. My cousin a health visitor suggested ADHD but said they wont diagnose until 6. Logan also has moderate speech delay and severe social delay.