ADHA teenager

[Hithereeveryone]

Hi all. So I have a 13 year old daughter who has always been hyperactive from a very young age. Since going to secondary school this has got worse and also developed Tics. I have spoken to the school about this as her behaviour and grade started slipping. They are not really willing to do much. The Tics recently have changed from head shin and nose scrunching to a verbal tic but its a noise in the back of the throat rather than words. She is a very active girl and she is in multiple sports inside and out side of school. I was wondering if anyone had a y tips on the verbal tics as people at school are now starting g to he horrible to her about it and mincing her noises. I have spoken to the doctors about an ADHD assessment but there is a 2 year waiting list and that doesn't help her at school, I hate the thought of her going through this and not being able to help her. She has has problems at school before with racism and her tics got really bad then and she refused to go to school. I kept her off untill she was calm enough to have a conversation about it without getting upset and 'setting the tics off' again any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

[GreenGrass24]

Hi there, I'm really sorry to hear about what your daughter is going through — that sounds incredibly tough for both of you. It’s amazing that you're being so proactive in supporting her.

While you're waiting for the ADHD assessment, something that might be helpful in the meantime is occupational therapy (OT). Occupational therapists are trained professionals who can work with people of all ages, including kids and teens with ADHD, tics, and other challenges. They can help develop strategies for managing tics, staying focused in school, and coping with social stress.

For example, my OT helped me with things like time management, staying calm in overwhelming situations, and finding ways to adjust my environment to reduce triggers — all tailored to my specific needs. An OT could work with your daughter to build strategies that fit her lifestyle, especially since she's so active and involved in sports.

I know it can feel overwhelming, but there may be some OT services available in your area or even through a platform like Melo, which connects people with experienced occupational therapists. They focus a lot on personalized support, and I believe they’re offering free consultations right now if you’re interested. here is the link for your to check out: hellomelo.co/

I really hope things start to improve for your daughter soon — she's lucky to have you in her corner. Sending you both lots of strength ❤️