Adhd

[di]

Does anyone have experience of???

[binley100]

A friend of mine has a son with adhd . Why?

[Jeanied]

Yes - why do you ask?

[di]

Do you think a diagnosis has been worthwhile or do you feel it's now left the person you know of with a label that could maybe hinder them?

[binley100]

I know that she had to have him diagnosed with adhd so he could get help and treatment because she was at her wits end trying to cope with him.

[Jeanied]

I only know that once the diagnosis was in, you were still working with the same person and the label only helped explain what was going on, not how you deal with it! However I always believe that information is better than not knowing, and possibly the diagnosis would be the starting point for a whole journey of discovery.

[SarzWix]

From a different point of view; I think it's better to know about it when you're young and learn what it is and how to cope with it, rather than find out when you're an adult that this is what has been causing problems all your life and you never knew and never got any help...

[di]

I just worry that it could end up being a label that people use to build a negative picture of the person before ever having met them?!
I can also see your point Sarah that maybe it's better to know from an early age as opposed to discovering in adulthood and wondering if things may have been easier knowing earlier on.

[Shadylane]

Surely it's better for people to understand why someone behaves the way they do rather than to have a false impression of them. Some labels can have a negative effect but certain conditions like ADHD or autism can have such an impact on a person's life/behaviour, that having as much info as possible would definitely be an advantage.

[Two_Sheds]

I just worry that it could end up being a label that people use to build a negative picture of the person

There was a boy in my class who 'should' have been statemented (so that he could access extra TA help etc) but his parents refused to have him labelled.
So he struggled on alone, unable to cope with the school. A lovely boy: a label wouldn't have changed that.

[Incy]

Two of my brothers have ADHD ( it was called hyperactivity back then).
Having a diagnosis meant that they were then given the right tests to identify the cause. Theirs was food related although that is not always the case.
Having a label enables the people around the child to provide additional support ( eg. schools as mentioned by TS).
Nowadays it is unusual to be negatively judged by a label of that type. The lack of support if undiagnosed and therefore unhelped can however have a very negative impact on that person's life both as a child and later. I would definitely advocate knowledge and as a result, support.
Good luck

[di]

Thanks for your words everyone.I think a call to the Drs may be the next move.As well as your comments,I also chatted again to a teacher who pointed out that without the label of ADHD,he could earn himself the label of "naughty/disruptive".
It's been in the back of my mind for sometime that he may have issues but I've always dismissed them,firstly not wanting to be the parent that tries to blame poor parenting on a medical condition.(I don't think I'm honestly too bad at it!).Also,he's incredibly intelligent which has previously made me think he can't be ADHD.
Thanks again for your comments.x

[bluemoon]

Sorry to be negative, but the friend of a friend's son who was diagnosed several years ago has found that it is hard label to live with as an adult, he's now 22 and is finding it difficult to be accepted for any career. The RAF and an apprenticeship as an electrician are just two of the people who have turned him down citing his problem as the reason they didn't think he'd cope. He's intelligent, very clever with his hands, but has never had a job. He thought he'd like to learn some form of woodworking with the hope that he'd be able to work for himself, but the college are insisting that he jumps through hoops before he can even get on a basic course, presumably to see how he reacts in a learning environment. They haven't actually turned him down, but if he completes everything they want him to first it will be another 3 years before he even starts the course. I'm not saying don't do it, I'm just telling you of his experience.

[Incy]

Thanks for your words everyone.I think a call to the Drs may be the next move.As well as your comments,I also chatted again to a teacher who pointed out that without the label of ADHD,he could earn himself the label of "naughty/disruptive".
It's been in the back of my mind for sometime that he may have issues but I've always dismissed them,firstly not wanting to be the parent that tries to blame poor parenting on a medical condition.(I don't think I'm honestly too bad at it!).Also,he's incredibly intelligent which has previously made me think he can't be ADHD.
Thanks again for your comments.x

There's no link between intelligence and ADHD.
Bluemoon, your friend of a friend's son seems to be very unlucky. My brothers are both doing very well (also in their 20's). One has a high level graduate job and the other was studying law at the Sorbonne last year and has now got into a very good MBA school.
I think there is a lot to do with the individuals outlook as well as whether the condition is controlled.
My brothers accept they have it but have never allowed it to be an excuse. The younger one also has dyslexia but opted not to disclose it to the examining board when he sat his baccalaureat (French A level equivalent) as he wanted to know what he could achieve without exceptions being made for him.
It is a condition that is not a requirement to disclose as an adult usually as it requires no medical intervention from outside parties, although the forces may have different rules due to the nature of the environment the individuals could find themselves in.
As for a college. I wonder why he told them

[Brengirl]

There is no such thing as being normal. Within that context there is a multitude of differences. In the past birthmarks, deformities, speech impairment even being left-handed were considered stigmas. Thank goodness we now know better. Being labeled is the first step towards getting the help, understanding and acceptance that we all need.