What Help can we expect

[RedRoo]

Hello all, After a very long battle with the sch we ended up saving and paying for a private assessment for my daughter. We finally recieved a diagnosis end of Feb 2024 of combined ADHD. A F CAHMs referral was completed but refused on the basis she doesnt have a co-morbin condition i.e any mental health symptoms along side it.. ?? She is 16 years old and has learnt to mask alot of her symptoms over the years, but has suffered panic attacks, melt downs and complete mental black outs in mocks exams. She has her GSCE's in 5 weeks I had hoped to get her some support to help her combate them but the door has been closed. Can I ask how you all went about getting medication for your child?

[Tiredagain1]

Our son is soon to be 7 and working with his pediatrician and child psychiatrist, meds manage his ADHD, ODD and Emotional Dysreulation to a level where his school experience has improved.

Meds include atomoxetine and aripiprazole.

[BLC89]

Hello RedRoo,I'm so sorry that is happening. We had to go our own route for assessment also, our daughter wasn't doing poorly in school so they wouldn't assess her.

How is anxiety not a coexisting condition? That sounds like it should have been identified.

I'm not sure how it works in the UK, I'm in the states so I have more questions than anything else.

Can you get any accommodations on the exams due to her anxiety? Would more time on the exams offer any relief to her even if she got it?

What happens if she doesn't take the exams?

If the exams are delayed as you get her support sorted is the consequence worse than her going thru the exams and all that entails for her - panic attack, poor results (?) tramatic experience, etc.?

We get very caught up in school systems, regardless of country, and the idea that we don't have a choice other than to do what we're "supposed" to. We do have choices, you have every right to protect your daughter from the trauma those exams represent. So what are your options truly? What happens if you just say no to the exams until your daughter can be supported or can support herself?

Again, I'm in the US and don't know the repercussions of postponing those exams but I have been the one to fight against what we're "supposed" to do when it comes to the school system - our system was not designed in any way with ADHDers or different learners in mind. So I guess I'm offering solidarity and support to you if you choose to fight, for what it's worth from way over here.

I'm not sure if any of that helps and I understand what you're going thru. You know your kid better that most, go with your gut on what you feel will serve her best.

BLC89

Full disclosure: I am an ADHD Parent Coach. I have been married to ADHD for nearly 30 years and raised two kids who have ADHD.

[Mamamichl in reply to BLC89]

I’m curious if the UK has an iep like we do in the US. We don’t need a medical diagnosis to get an iep.

[Mamamichl]

it’s different here in the untitled states, but we are able to get medications from our primary care doctor, or even a psychiatrist.