ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

Looking back J was always extremely active from a young age. Nothing of concern as most children are, right?

However, this didn't lessen with age, in fact it became more apparent that there was an underlying difficulty as she started school and found it incredibly hard to sit still, focus (for even short periods of time) and pay attention in class. She was always overly excitable and incredibly impulsive at times too, often to the detriment of family life.

I remember in one of our CAMHS appts the psychiatrist giving us this massive long form to fill in called the Conners test. The school were given the same form to complete also. On receiving the results CAMHS told us that J scored extremely highly for ADHD. To be honest we weren't surprised.

Our knowledge back then was pretty limited to be honest and we didn't know much more than the stereotypical traits

Defining ADHD

I think the most common symptom linked with ADHD is the hyperactivity element, but this alone does not define ADHD. Difficulties could also include interrupting conversations, talking incessantly (oh yes she certainly does that!!), unable to pay attention and struggling to stay on or finish a task to name but a few.

J was diagnosed with ADHD by CAMHS first, and although ADHD can often co occur with autism, they are separate and are very distinct from one another. Paediatrics diagnosed J's autism/PDA a few months after.

Medication

CAMHS discussed medication with us at length, as not only was Jazzie struggling with focus and attention at school, we were having many, many problems at home as well. We researched medication a lot and didn't take the decision to try it lightly at all.

Eventually, after much deliberation, and trying to not feel like we had failed as parents, Methylphenidate Hydro Chloride, (a medication to stimulate areas of the brain affected by ADHD), was prescribed by CAMHS.

I know there are lots of people out there who don't believe in medicating their child, but for us it wasn't about what was best for us and our life, it was about how J was functioning (or not really functioning), with so much to take on board with school life and high anxiexty. Times were tough for us all back then. Really tough. All we wanted to do was help her to best manage herself.

Believe me we read all the posts on the Internet saying that medicating your child will "dim" their personality and how they will become a "zombie". But I think all parents should know that not all personality changes sparked by medication are negative.

I read this the other day, which really helped me understand a bit better .... "If a child known for their sense of humour seems “less funny” on medication, it could well be that the medication is properly inhibiting them. In other words, it’s not that the child is less funny it’s that they’re more appropriately funny at the right times".

Another helpful analogy I found online:

"Sleep is incredibly important and healthy because that’s what keeps us functioning. If we did not sleep, we would notice the difference, and we would crave sleep — but that doesn’t mean we’re addicted to it. It’s that our brain and our body need it. That’s what medication aims to do — by buffering the parts of an individual’s neurology that aren’t working in ways that are ultimately helpful".

Personally I think this is a great way of looking at it!!

There was, and still is, without any doubt, a noticeable marked improvement since being on this medication. It's difficult to explain but she is generally more focused, engaging, more thoughtful and considerate and definitely less hyperactive/impulsive.

However, getting J to take the meds was extremely hit and miss in the beginning. In fact at one point the extreme anxiety to take it outweighed the benefits so we stopped it altogether for a good few months. In fact it was J herself who asked about trying to take it again as she was getting frustrated with the lack of focus she was able to achieve without it, especially when playing Minecraft!!

Challenges

ADHD is a lifelong condition, and we are fully aware what isn't a challenge now for J may well be one later on. Conversely what she may struggle with now could become issue free in the future.

One thing is certain: we will always support J and advocate what we feel is best for her.