Two diagnoses not one!

'What started as a negative experience was gradually transformed into a positive one. First though, we quickly discovered that, as parents, we needed to be on the ball, aware of, and on top of developments and up to speed with what resources are, or can be made, available.'

Seldom do special needs neatly fit into one category. Here a mother describes how her son was diagnosed first with ADHD and later with dyspraxia. Co-morbidity is increasingly common; getting the right help and support, together with perseverance and determination, can make a real difference as Chris’s story highlights.

Chris's story

Early days

At three years of age, Chris (names changed to preserve anonymity) was hyperactive, didn't settle to activities or seem to listen well. It was recommended that we attend a special playgroup once a week at the Family & Child Guidance Unit where we lived. The paediatric neurologist attached to the unit diagnosed Chris as borderline ADHD, but explained that he didn't like to put young children on drugs such as Ritalin. The playgroups helped and although he continued to be a bit of a handful he seemed to be doing reasonably well at his playgroup and, later, at his local infant and junior school.

Moving house

When Chris was in year 4 we moved house and Chris started at a new school. At first everything seemed fine, though he found it difficult to break into established groups of friends. Gradually his frustrations turned into verbal and physical confrontations in the playground; he wasn't doing brilliantly at paying attention in class either. Initially, neither the class teacher nor the head were particularly sympathetic, no doubt because our family and Chris were unfamiliar to them. I guess they were unsure whether Chris’s behaviour was the result of bad parenting or whether he was a child with a real problem.

Assessment and treatment

This pushed us to have Chris assessed and treated privately, first for ADHD and then on the recommendation of the paediatric neurologist for motor difficulties (it can take a long time if you don’t opt for the private route and we were all keen to get Chris sorted as quickly as possible).

His treatment consisted of: a low dose of Ritalin; occupational therapy to address fine motor, auditory and balance problems; blue glasses to address tracking problems discovered with his eye; and fatty acid supplements.

ADHD/ADD children often have other problems such as dyspraxia or dyslexia and if you treat the whole child, then Ritalin use is certainly lower and can often be stopped much sooner. Undoubtedly, prescribing drugs for children is a delicate and, at times, contentious issue. Parents shouldn't be given false hope, but they can transform a child's (and by extension) a family's life, especially in the early phases of treatment. However, there are often ways to minimise their use, fatty acids being one such possibility. Chris resp...