Boys Development Project
320 Commercial Way, Peckham, London SE15 1QN
0207 732 9409

ADHD and boys, time for a review?

With as many as 10 boys to 1 girl diagnosed as having ADHD in those 10 and under, there is clearly something about gender to address. There are those that think girls are under, and those that think boys are over diagnosed.

There are concerns about the long term effects of Ritalin (and other psycho-stimulants); the use of such drugs on young children; the possible misdiagnosis of the condition; parents using a diagnosis to avoid responsibility for poor parenting; parents looking for a diagnosis to be eligible for care allowances and those that don’t think there is even a condition.

NICE guidelines (2008) concentrates on diagnosis and management and recommends a range of priorities including specialist teams; training for parents (or carers) and teachers in managing the condition in children (defined as 3-11) and drug treatment to “always form part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychological, behavioural and educational advice and interventions”.

Our concerns are that current practice in many areas may fall short of the NICE guidelines and that they will remain wanting unless agencies; parents and advocates push for improvements.

We are interested to hear your experience and views of current practice, so please fill in the questionare below; we intend to use your feedback as a way of raising discussion about ADHD and boys as well as influencing services. We would like to know who you are, but we will not use this information or attach it to any quotes or issues that you raise, unless you specifically say you would like us to.

Please circulate this request through your own networks to people who you think will want to respond to our consultation. We will post material to this page as we receive your thoughts and views.

Trefor Lloyd

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Questions we would like your experience and views on:

Q1: Have the NICE guidelines been accepted in your area? (http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG72/Guidance/pdf/English):
Comments:

Q2: If they have been accepted who monitors whether they are being followed?
Comments:

Q3: How well co-ordinated are the services in your area in relation to ADHD? (Mental Health services, GP’s, schools and parents)
Comments:

Q4: Are there any of the following concerns in your local services (these are nine of the most common concerns raised within the literature or anecdotally:

  1. Young children are being diagnosed, too early?
    Comments:


  2. That some parents are seeking ADHD diagnosis primarily so that they can claim for benefits?
    Comments:

  3. That too many small children are being prescribed psycho-stimulants?
    Comments:

  4. That there are too few alternatives to medication, especially for children under 11?
    Comments:

  5. That an ADHD diagnosis is being given to too many children now?
    Comments:

  6. That there is a general reluctance to accept that ADHD really exists?
    Comments:

  7. That more training is required to ensure that professionals use the assessment tools accurately?
    Comments:

  8. That the assessment tools are too American and can be easily misunderstood?
    Comments:

  9. That boy’s are being over diagnosed for ADHD?
    Comments:


    10. Q5: What other concerns are there in your service currently about ADHD?
    (please list up to 5)
    Comments: