adhd or not?

[lorraine29]

My 14 year old son, has had problems at school for the last couple of years, he has been getting anger management etc as he usually walks out of lessons as soon as he doesn't like what his teacher says.
After home schooling him for the last week i can really see why the teachers find it so hard to deal with him, but i can also see that his temper seems due more to frustration than difiance. He is getting upset that he can't do the simplest of work even before i have had chance to explain it (he is trying really hard to do the work, so not just a lazy teen) .
when i was talking to a friend about this she suggested it may be adhd initially i doubted it as he is far from hyperactive, but having looked online and filling in a questionaire on the DORE website it suggests there is a strong possibility it is.
My 2 questions are how do I go about getting it diagnosed (especially without giving him an excuse for bad behaviour if it isn't)
and secondly what foods are best avoided as i know diet can make a big difference.

Thank you

Lorraine x

[bird_81]

Talk to the school. They should be able to give you more info. I know that if there is a child that they think should be statemented they gather info and send it to the SEN panel, it might take ages but it is worth it to get support in class. I have a boy with ADHD in my class and he is assigned a learning mentor who he can go to if he is not coping in class. I really think that talking to your school would be a good idea, or even your doctor. As for diet, this boy has to have frequent snacks throughout the day. Hope this helps a bit.

[lorraine29]

Unfortunately for the next couple of weeks until I move house I am home schooling him, so I have no school to approach.

Lorraine x

[Jules001]

There is also a condition called ADD (Attention Deficient Disorder) which obviously doesn't have hyperactivity as one of the main symptoms, this is a good site for recognising the sypmtoms http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/attention_de ficit_disorder.htm

it might , as you say he has only had problems in the last couple of years, be worth checking with the Dr to see if his problems are due to something else like hormones as I am fairly sure that ADD/ADHD are normally recognised much earlier on than your son's age.

[maviscoull]

a visit to the doctor would be the best thing to do.

[Lore]

Have you thought of the possibility that he could be dyslexic?

ADD or ADHD is usually picked up much earlier than teenage years. whereas dyslexia can be overlooked for the whole of your child's school life.

[lorraine29]

I had considered that but he is quite a good reader, altho not overly keen. We also had his hearing checked as he has had trouble with his hearing from quite a young age, (glue ear, with several sets of gromits). His hearing seems to be fine.

Lorraine x

[catra1]

you need to see your GP or ask for an appointment to see a school doctor when he goes back to school. Your own GP should be a quicker route. If he is a concern to the GP they may refer him to a paediatrician. ADD and ADHD are both diagnosed by a medical professional. You could also ask the school if he can be assessed by an educational psychologist who may write a report to reflect behaviour in school this can be used by the paediatrician and the GP to help give a fuller picture of your child.