ARGHHHHHHHHHH! 7 calls in 7 days. 7 calls in 7 days from my son’s primary school! I mean is this not verging on harassment? My son is not the worst child in the world! His behaviour doesn’t come close to warranting an ASBO for crying out loud! ARGGHHHHHHHH This will be my ADHD Rant!- Stop Calling Me! I’m sure you will feel me! My son’s miracle meds have slowly decreased in efficacy and need to be adjusted. As parents of children with ADHD know, getting a CAMHs appointment is about as easy as licking your own elbow. Anyhow, I managed to get one and the Dr. agreed with me and has written me a p ..read more

When you think of ADHD, what image immediately springs to mind?  For me, it was the hyperactive/ impulsive side.  The side that gives kids the stereotype of the ‘naughty’ kid in class.  Bouncing off the walls, unable to sit still, never raising their hands, blurting out the answer, not waiting their turn.  This is largely how boys will present ADHD, which is why society believes that ADHD is predominantly a ‘boys’ problem’.  But it is not.  Just because the girls with ADHD are not necessarily bouncing off the walls does not make it any less real.  And unfort ..read more

As we know, our children with ADHD generally have difficulties with attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity and time management/planning. These are all the things that are required to thrive in a mainstream school! I’ve used this analogy in a previous blog, but if your child was in a wheelchair, no one would expect to have to battle to get a ramp installed or wait years for this to happen. Yet a few simple adjustments to a mainstream school could really help our children and do not affect or impact the learning of the other students. Sitting still is probably the first obstacle, our kids need t ..read more

Anyone who has been through the EHCP process will tell you, it’s never straightforward. This is why I thought it would be helpful to write an EHCP “help for parents guide”. Without the legal jargon thrown in. This is by no means the bible of EHCP help guides. It’s just me, as a mum, who has been through this process, writing down all the steps I remember. What is an EHCP? An EHCP, or Educational Health Care Plan, is a legal document for children and young people up to the age of 25 years old. It is written by your Local Authority (LA), for children and young people who require more than SEN s ..read more

School avoidance can affect many students for various reasons but with our children with ADHD, it is extremely commonplace. Previously termed School Refusal the correct term is now Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). I prefer this term as it highlights the fact that the child is experiencing emotional distress about attending school, rather than simply refusing. (EBSA excludes physical illnesses preventing a child from attending school, truancy or parent-condoned absences). I work with a few children who experience EBSA, and watching their struggle can be heartbreaking. Another set of ..read more

Have you ever encountered the numerous myths surrounding ADHD since starting your journey with your child? How many false stories and fabricated news articles that exist about this condition is astounding. Regrettably, some individuals, who lack expertise on the subject but think they are the guru of it, tend to believe and repeat these misconceptions. They may even recite them to you at any given chance *insert eye roll. Therefore, I have compiled a list of the top 8 myths about ADHD that I have come across. 1. ADHD is not real Oh, how adorably ignorant it is to claim that ADHD is not a real ..read more

In the UK, ADHD is not considered a learning disability. More a learning difficulty due to the symptoms that ADHD causes a child such as focus issues, poor organisational skills and attention difficulties. These challenges can make it tough for students to focus on tasks and assignments in a classroom setting, resulting in lower academic performance overall. Learning Disorders or Disabilities are neurological, making reading, writing, spelling and maths difficult. Just for clarification, a disorder is a medical term whilst a disability is a legal term and are often used interchangeably dependi ..read more

Have you ever had to make the difficult decision of choosing a school setting, mainstream or specialist, for your child with ADHD who has an EHCP? If so, you are not alone. This is a common challenge that many parents face. An EHCP, or Education, Health and Care Plan, is a legal document that outlines the special educational needs of a child and the support they require. When creating an EHCP, parents are often asked to specify the school setting that would best suit their child’s needs. This decision can be particularly challenging because it requires careful consideration of various factors ..read more

Ever been at a family gathering or a party where people have commented on how amazing your child is and are you sure they have ADHD?  Ever gone into your child’s school and practically begged for help and they’ve looked at you like you are crazy.  Your child is an angel and maybe it’s you that needs to seek help?  You are not alone.  Your child is a masker.  I used to think I was going mad too.  I nearly convinced myself that it was all in my head and that I was just a ‘bad’ parent who couldn’t control her child.  Then I heard about ADHD and masking. My son ..read more

Approximately half of all people with ADHD suffer from another condition. This is known as a comorbidity. Sometimes comorbidities are considered ‘secondary’ or triggered by ADHD. For example, a child could be particularly depressed because they are constantly being told off for being impulsive or not being able to focus on the task at hand. This will generally subside once the ADHD is diagnosed and treated. When the problems don’t resolve this is when a condition is considered comorbid or standalone, a diagnosis in itself. The condition is both chronic and pervasive. That means they were notic ..read more