Published on 12, July, 2020
So this is the first time I have ever posted anything but honestly I'm at the end of my limits. My child is 12 I have know since he was very young that something was special about him, but because it was my first child I was patted on the head and passed from pillar to post. 12 months ago we were told adhd and referred to more services!! Please let me say that my child has been let down by so many services cahms, Schools and Dr's. 5 weeks ago we went for ados assessment still waiting on outcome, but no one ever gives you a straight answer or offers constructive advice so for everything that has happened and all the fighting to try and get help all I have is a bunch of labels !!!!
As others have said, this is the norm. I had the same first child problem and didn't know he had ADD until he got suspended from school at 6!! He then didn't get diagnosed with Autism until he was 11. Where ever you live in the world with a public health service, it is not easy and the answers are limited. We have tried everything and strong ADHD is not easy on the kid or the parent. My only advice from someone who has tried everything (alternative approaches etc). Do yourself and your son a favour and get medication. Concerta is best because it doesn't lead to so many peaks and troughs. Watch out if your kid is gaming however as in my child it led to epilepsy for a while until he learned better habits (don't game straight after taking a pill, don't do certain types of games) and grew a bit and the medication smoothed out. It doesn't cause fits but it does lower the threshold for about 5%? of kids. So just be aware. there's a small chance. On the bright side, I don't think my son would have graduated school without it and the trouble they find themselves in and the vilification from peers does much more harm psychologically than the medication does. No parent wants their kid to take what is effectively amphetamines. But sometimes there are no good choices, just practical ones. Also not all ADHD is severe enough to require treatment and some kids do effectively grow out of it so you need to make a call on depending on the real life behaviour you are seeing. Easiest way to know if they need medication is to try it. If you are seeing a whole different kid then they probably need it. When my son took it the first time, I suddenly became aware that he had never sat still or quietly before. Even when watching TV, he would be humming or hanging upside down off the couch or something. Also trying it with schoolwork gives a good idea. If he is suddenly motoring through some homework, you will know.
Thank you for replying his medication has helped but does cause a problem with food and sleep sitting still is better now but still no homework he just won't and it becomes to much for us all, thanks for the information on gaming as he very much likes to but I will keep an eye on that