Hi all,
I wondered if anyone could offer some advice, our son (5) has been referred for an ADHD assessment next week and we are deeply concerned the Dr we have been referred to I hear through the grapevine is quite pushy regarding medication, this is a route we positively do not wish to go down unless absolutely desperately required, is it true we can be forced to medicate or face procedings from social services or expulsion from school?
I'm getting extremely distressed but am also aware I am allowing myself to flap at tittle tattle tales.
We seriously don't like the idea of feeding our son stimulants, he currently sleeps 11 - 12hrs per night (I know we are incredibly lucky it's not a brag promise) we believe medication may alter this and also he already has supressed and restricted diet. Best I don't go into the other possible side effects which concern us deeply and also in the limited couple of cases we have seen where medication has been used the children have become withdrawn and sad looking constantly where they previously filled every room they entered with warmth and sparkly rainbows!
We would rather go down the behavioral therapy route having already seen vast improvement since WE created a star chart for use at school.
We're not convinced he has ADHD yes he moves alot and tries to get out of doing things he finds difficult but I don't consider that an attention issue I was like that when I was a kid preferred to be given space to work it out for myself.
It is very difficult at times to explain sensory issues to school but that, though frustrating is to be expected he is not in a specialist unit but I am concerned as he slaps when frustrated (mostly his TA very occasionally another child), this is improving though and he is understanding more everyday but I am concerned even though these incidents are becoming less and are relatively mild (I did not say acceptable mind) that they may try to force medication through threat of expulsion. From what I can gage from reports and experience at home though slap issues occur during times of overstimulation and I've read the ADHD drugs can make children more aggressive rather than less?
Our son is actually doing very well at school, his speech has come through and he is learning to read well and is improving with writing now as well.
I appreciate I'm tying myself up in knots before we've even been for the assessment but I would really truly like some advice from any who have experience with this?
We're not saying an outright no to meds we just strongly don't feel he needs them and would rather exhaust all other options first, it does not make sense to us to medicate first 
Apologies for the long post.
