Does my child have ADHD?

It can be a worrying time for parents to feel their child is behaving differently from others. Perhaps they are showing signs of social struggles, finding schoolwork difficult, or perhaps you have been contacted by your child’s teacher wanting to talk about their behaviour at school. It can be a challenge if you don’t have any experience of ADHD but there are ways in which you can support your child, get them the help they need and help them to succeed in all areas of life. 

What is ADHD? 

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that typically appears in early childhood. Common traits include appearing restless, having trouble concentrating, and acting on impulse. Children tend to be diagnosed under the age of 12 and symptoms become more prominent, usually when there is a circumstantial change in the child's life, such as when they start school. The strictly scheduled days can become difficult to adapt to when they have been used to the odd days of nursery and spending time with parents and grandparents.

Inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are the sub-types of ADHD, but there are many other lesser-known traits, such as appearing spacey and unmotivated, which can understandably leave parents and caregivers feeling worried and confused.  

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but it is thought that it may run in families and can present in people of any intellectual ability. It is most common in those with learning disabilities and those that were born prematurely (before the 37^th week of pregnancy), those that had a low birth weight, and those whose mothers smoked or drank alcohol during pregnancy.

ADHD in Children: Signs and Symptoms.

One of the main difficulties in children is distinguishing possibly ADHD traits from normal childhood behaviours. An inability to regulate emotions, acting on impulse, selective hearing, and erratic emotions are all common childhood behaviours typical of an underdeveloped brain, but they are also signs and symptoms of ADHD. So how do we differentiate between the two?

If your child exhibits at least 6 of the symptoms from one of the lists below, and if the symptoms have been noticeable for at least 6 months in two or more settings – at home, school, and play – these symptoms seem to interfere with the child's functioning and development and are apparent before age 12, then there is a possibility that ADHD assessment and diagnosis may be needed. 

Symptoms of Inattentive ADHD type:

• Difficulty in organising tasks and needing to constantly change them.

• Difficulty sustaining attention.

• Reluctance to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort.

• Being forgetful, losing things often, and making mistakes, often at school.

• Getting easily distracted and having a short attention span.

• Difficulty listening to instructions, carrying out tasks, and being unable to stick to them. 

Symptoms of Hyperactive and Impulsive ADHD type:

• Constant movement and fidgeting, particularly in calm and quiet surroundings.

• Running or climbing in inappropriate settings.

• Unable to play or engage in activities calmly and quietly.

• Acting without thinking, interrupting conversations, and being unable to wait their turn.

• Finding it difficult to concentrate on tasks and talking excessively.

• Having little or no sense of danger.

It’s understandable to worry about your child's ADHD affecting their life in negative ways like making friends, underachievement at school, and bonding with others and it can also impact your daily life, making simple tasks far harder than they would for a neurotypical child. There are ways to make coping a little easier:

• Plan your day so your child knows what to expect, and break tasks down in structured steps.

• Set clear boundaries and make sure they understand what behaviour is expected.

• Give clear and brief instructions for tasks.

• Intervene early and look out for warning signs of frustration and over-stimulation.

• Create plenty of opportunities for physical activity during the day.

• Consider keeping a diary of what your child eats as certain foods containing additives or caffeine can impact behaviour.

• Stick to a bedtime routine.

• Speak to your child’s teacher at school about extra support. 

Gaining an ADHD Assessment for Your Child

The first step in gaining an assessment for your child would be through your GP, however, this can often be a lengthy process, where you may be asked to complete a period of watchful waiting, lasting around 10 weeks, where you will need to keep a check on if your child’s symptoms improve, stay the same or get worse. If after this time your child's behaviour does not improve then your GP will refer you to a specialist via the NHS for a formal assessment. 

If you have completed the watchful waiting period and are finding it difficult to stick to the NHS wait times then speaking to an ADHD clinic could be the next step into helping your child enjoy their life to the full, not be held back by their limitations but instead use their unique abilities and superpowers to enhance their lives. 

Getting Help: How Beyond, a Private ADHD Clinic in Manchester Can Help You and Your Child

At Beyond, private ADHD clinic in Manchester, we fully understand living with undiagnosed ADHD in children can be incredibly challenging, for the child and parents and caregivers. Undiagnosed ADHD in children can impact learning, careers, and relationships, that’s why Beyond provides rapid access to ADHD assessment and diagnosis and if applicable, treatment. We aim to minimise waiting times, allowing you to start your’s and your child's journey toward better mental well-being as soon as possible.

Our simple step-by-step process involves:

• Step 1 - Initial contact by calling us directly or booking a call with one of our dedicated customer service team who will take the time to explain our assessment and treatment process in detail.

• Step 2 – Information gathering from reliable informants, enabling us to gather a comprehensive understanding of your child’s experiences from birth up to their current age.

• Step 3 – Completion of a computerised ADHD symptom test from home, allowing us to build a greater understanding of your child.

• Step 4 – Completion of an objective ADHD symptom test about your child’s life experiences.

• Step 5 – Support step-by-step of the way through calls with your child’s dedicated patient coordinator who will be there to help if you have any questions and provide support.

• Step 6 – Diagnostic interview with a specialist mental health nurse to complete the DIVA 5 interview, which will seek to understand which of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD your child fulfills.

• Step 7 – Comprehensive assessment with a specialist psychiatrist to draw together information and complete a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis.

• Step 8 – Post diagnosis support call with one of our nurses to ask any questions you may have and reflect on the diagnosis of your child.

• Step 9 – Comprehensive medication care pathway is offered if you choose to sign up for the medication care plan and will include ongoing review and support from our specialist nurse prescribers with monthly review appointments.

• Step 10 – Final review. One of our psychiatrists will complete a final review before requesting shared care from your GP or signing up for our ongoing medication pathway.

Beyond: A private ADHD clinic in Manchester.

If time is of the essence and you want an assessment and diagnosis for your child as quickly as possible then Beyond is here to help. Beyond is an ADHD clinic, empowered by personal experience, founded, and run by those who have walked the path. We are here to help individuals, families, and children navigate ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and treatment together. 

If you would like to speak to one of Beyond’s friendly and personal team about obtaining an ADHD assessment for your child, you can get in touch here.