• Replies 7 replies
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 1828 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

ADHD????

Sans

hi, im looking for some information if possible.

I have a son who is 11 and was diagnosed as severely Autistic when he was 5, but now my problem is this.

I have a 5 year old daughter who started school in Aug. Her behaviour is "wild" but up until now we had put this down to living with an older brother with Autism, having a difficult home enviornment and not having i hate the word normal but a sibling with no difficulties that she could model her behaviour on.

Our difficulties started in Aug when she started school. She has been completely disruptive during school hours and we are now having some major concerns with the school. Her teacher appears to dislike her but i think this is because she sees my daughter as defiant rather than the potential for something to be wrong.  At first we thought she was just "copying" her brothers behaviour but now im not so sure.

The teacher regularly describes my daughters behaviour as

*hiding under the table

*shouting out, constantly interupting

* making silly comments not paying attention

* she doesnt appear fearful of any consequences often "enjoying" a visit to head teacher.time outs etc etc

* at home - her eating is very fussy and she doesnt sleep well and annoying makes a silly noise to express annoyance. she does however have lots of social skills and enjoys immaginative play etc etc

After a visit to my GP she had suggested maybe she has a mild Autism. but on closer inspection I believe my daughter could have ADHD??? I appreciate no one can diagnose on here and we have been referred to paediatrican for assessment i was just curious to hear other people thoughts with some experience?? 

Am starting to worry ive not seen whats been staring me in the face!!!!

Thanks in advance

Sans

  • Hi,

    I have a 13 year old son who was diagnosed with adhd when he was 11yrs.  How your Daughters teachers describe a typical day in school with her is exactually what my Son teachers kept telling me.  I knew from around the age of 4 when he started school that something was not quite right.  It took 7 years to finally get a diagnosis.

    Believe in your gut instinct.  I went to my GP who then referred me to a paediatrician. The school and i were given the Conners questionaire(for adhd) to fill in.  At the time my score was 9 and the school 2. Long story but basically due to a bad headteacher.  When she left a few years later i asked if we could fill in the questionaire again and the scores matched and an adhd diagnosis was finally given.

    Since he has started secondary school, things have been excellent, his diagnosis means thankfully we dont have battles with teachers anymore but, social issues have come to the surface.  He has been assesed by an ed psych who has requested he be assesed for autism as it was felt he has aspergers alongside his adhd.

    I have a 5yr Daughter who was showing signes of autism when she was a baby but picked up by professionals when she was 2.  She was assesed last year but came back inconclusive and she will be re assessed when she is 7yrs.  We believe she has high functioning autism.

    In hindsight, Adhd was obvious with my son at 5yrs, i went through hell believing that i was a terrible parent and went on many parenting classes etc

    I hope things work out for you and the school will cooperate. Good luck : )

  • Google autism outreach and then your town, area, county etc and that should come up with the contact details to help get you in touch with ascoss.

  • It does take a good ten days for anyone to get back to you when you ring the helpline, but they are worth the wait.

  • Autism Spectrum Condition Outreach Support Service. If you search Outreach on this website, you should be able to find out who is responsible for your area. Get in touch with them as they work with the schools in their district and they should be able to help you.

    Definatly contact the education advocacy on this website and they will give you all the information you need on your rights and help represent you when facing the school.

  • hiya, thank you for reply.

    excuse my ignorance but ASCOSS???? my son was diagnosed 6 years ago and we have never had any follow up we were just kinda left to it.

    As for my poor wee daughter. she has been referred to paediatrician for assessment, but the school are a complete nightmare! my son gets 1-1 assistance in an ASN class in the same school but my daughter is mainstream.

    The headteacher and class teacher appear to think my daughter is just "naughty!" her class teacher is completely unsympathetic, and even told me to tell my daughter that her brothers behaviour is wrong!! I dont think so! my son acts the way he does because of who he is i am not telling anyone what he does is wrong.

    My daughter is constantly removed from class and excluded from activities, for "disruptive" behaviour, im basically at my wits end.  I have asked for educational psychologist review but was told it would take a year.  im pinning my hopes on the paediatrician but she wont be seen there till April.

    the school have brought in a behavioural support teacher to work with her twice a week but my daughter is telling me shes only seen her once? and that was only after i made a great big fuss.

    i have a follow up meeting with school and a woman from the council in a few weeks.

    once again thanks for ur reply!!! xx

  • Also make an appointment with your daughters headteacher and explaining how you see things and ask the headteacher if they could provide one-to-one support for her to help her in the class room. 

    Good luck

  • I am in the exact boat as you. I have a four year old boy who is autistic and a three year old son whom everyone thought at first, wouldn't have any behavioural problems as his development seemed quite on track. From about 1 1/2 years old it slowly dawned on me that maybe there might turn out to be learning difficulties with my second child and as he attended all my first sons speech and language sessions, the speech and language therapist also became aware of his reduced rate of development and it was her who mentioned that it might be worth while getting my second son assessed as well.

    As with your daughter, the staff at the Childrens Development Centre aren't sure if my seconds son behaviour is down to growing up and only having his older autistic sibling as a role model or if he also truely has autism/aspergers/adhd. The Childrens Development Centre will be reassessing  my second son at the end of this year after he has started school in September to see if the is a better indication into his condition.

    Ask your GP to refer your daughter to the CDC for an assessment as regardless of whether at the moment she is autistic or not, she behaves like an autistic child and has the same needs as an autistic child and therefore, at this moment in time and in the foreseeable future, requires the same level of support as an autistic child.

    I'm assuming that ASCOSS are involved with your son and it might be worthwhile getting them to look into your daughters situation and seeing if there is anyway that they might be able to help her with her situation with her school and current class teacher.