Claiming DLA for child with ADHD

lexi

it is of course everybody's right to apply for any benefits & to appeal them. However i do sympathise with this ADHD 'syndrome' for want of a better word. At its worse it is an awful thing for any child/parent/guardian to deal with. But i am afraid this illness is now the new 'dyslexia'. I mean by this statement that all of a sudden badly behaved/less achieveing children are now being labelled with the ADHD tag. I do have personal experience of this within my family & no i dont have an axe to grind with these family members. The poor boy involved is just an average teenager who loves his computer games & nothing else,(esp schoolwork) so of course its because he has ADHD! I am not assuming that belfastfemale your child is nothing other than a genuine case & I am willing to admit it may be ignorance on my part, but i think the problem is & this is really what i am trying to point out, that ADHD is so hard to diagnose now as my reasons say above. i wish you luck & one other thing, please dont mention other illnesses as if they just dont count. I had a friend die of asthma, something i thought virtually impossible in this day & age, plus depression is a huge complex illness that can also be very life threatening at its worse.

islandannie

elisebutt65 wrote: »

I successfully claimed DLA for my eldest DS for 5 years until this year, when despite numerous letters from Child Psych, School, Social Worker and School - they decided he must be cured and ended it

After doing the appeals etc - I gave up - TBH - I just couldn't face going along to a tribunal and having to beg for money from some faceless bureaucrat!!! Just too humiliating!

You should enlist the help of your GP.

Your doctor will understand your childs disability better than anyone else and can provide credible testimony about the effects and extra costs placed on your family.

Belfastfemale_3

dmg24 wrote: »

I am sure you don't mean it to this way, but I do find your comment quite offensive. Though I do not claim DLA, I am pretty sure I would be eligible, for reason of both severe asthma and depression. Both conditions can have a massive effect on the life of a sufferer, and do fall under the legal definition of a disability.

Please do not think for one moment that I am saying that people with Asthma are less worthy or something. It seems here that a badly worded comment has caused outrage!!!! I only came on here looking for help - not a linching.......

sarahlouise210

islandannie wrote: »

The TA at all times is a benefit funded outwith the normal School expenditure.

Why do you think you should get/need extra money from the taxpayer?

...because the criteria for DLA is that additional care/help is needed over and above a child of the same age - it does not matter that the TA is funded ..the fact that they have the TA proves that they need additional help and / or supervision. These are the rules ...and what makes you think that the OP is not a taxpayer herself perfectly entitled to claim ???

True ADHD is a complex condition ..to be correctly diagnosed you have to meet extensive criteria ..not just be seen as a "naughty child". ADHD is horrendous to live with for the child and parents and siblings - in my own family we are being torn apart by the problems of my youngest child - she requires complete supervision..has no sense of danger...is destructive..is constantly in casualty for self inflicted injury...eats non food items during the night...is driving her teacher to distraction...cannot stay still long enough to make friends...hugs total strangers in the street...I could go on and on - the crux is that it is totally exhausting having a child with ADHD and it is so often belittled these days possibly due to over diagnosis. Additional costs do arise due to the ADHD -mostly due to the distruction of items that often need replacing, public transport is a nightmare etc etc - at the end of the day no-one will get allocated DLA unless they meet the criteria...and if they do then they are quite entitled to claim.

Belfastfemale_3

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

...because the criteria for DLA is that additional care/help is needed over and above a child of the same age - it does not matter that the TA is funded ..the fact that they have the TA proves that they need additional help and / or supervision. These are the rules ...and what makes you think that the OP is not a taxpayer herself perfectly entitled to claim ???

True ADHD is a complex condition ..to be correctly diagnosed you have to meet extensive criteria ..not just be seen as a "naughty child". ADHD is horrendous to live with for the child and parents and siblings - in my own family we are being torn apart by the problems of my youngest child - she requires complete supervision..has no sense of danger...is destructive..is constantly in casualty for self inflicted injury...eats non food items during the night...is driving her teacher to distraction...cannot stay still long enough to make friends...hugs total strangers in the street...I could go on and on - the crux is that it is totally exhausting having a child with ADHD and it is so often belittled these days possibly due to over diagnosis. Additional costs do arise due to the ADHD -mostly due to the distruction of items that often need replacing, public transport is a nightmare etc etc - at the end of the day no-one will get allocated DLA unless they meet the criteria...and if they do then they are quite entitled to claim.

I can truly sympathise with you as my son would be exactly the same....have you thought of medication for her? I have found since my son has started taking his he is a totally different child and life now seems a lot calmer

savagevixen

islandannie wrote: »

While I have every sympathy with you having to cope with a child suffering from ADHD.

I do However take exception To your intimation that because some Asthmatics get DLA your case is somehow a "fait a complait" It Is quite ridiculous to compare ADHD to a life threatening condition like Asthma.
What a narrow minded, ill-informed comment. You clearly have absolutely no idea what it is like to be the parent of a child with ADHD. My son has been in hospital more times than I can count due to his impulsitivity and inability to appreciate danger. His condition is life-threatening, albeit in a different way, and I have never been so offended on this site. An asthamatic, presumably is aware they have asthma, as are their families (and I am not belittling it at all) but there is medication for this condition. There is NO medication for pure ADHD and it is extremely real for many sufferers. These children are constantly at risk and a danger to themselves. They require full time supervision. Their behaviours can sometimes be supported by medication and a lot of hard work, but this does wear off, and then you have the rebound effect, whereby the behaviours intensify and the child is out of control. The problem with claiming DLA is that we parents feel guilty, as our child's disability is not as obvious to look at as a physical disability. It is however a mental health problem. It does not just go away. I appreciate that a number of mis-diagnoses has given ADHD a bad name, but this ignorance is unjustifiable. The costs of having a child with ADHD are much higher and the life extremely stressful.

DLA is awarded to enable people to live as normal a life as possible taking into account how their disability effects them and the personal care they need.Exactly why DLA is awarded to children with ADHD. I have other children without disability, and they are far more capable than my 8 year old. How dare you try to imply that ADHD is not a valid disability.

I have yet to learn of any fatalities caused by ADHD unless accommpanied by neglect.The deaths of children with ADHD are in fact very high due to their inability to comprehend danger and their lack of awareness when they are in danger. Unfortunately a child with ADHD does not understand how dangerous roads are, even when they are 8 and have learnt that cars are dangerous-this is no guarantee that they will not be distracted by something and walk out in front of a vehicle. (Even with full supervision) They are like extremely large toddlers. And whilst you may argue that this is not a disability, but a parents responsibility to care for their child, I would like you to spend one full week enjoying a child with ADHD. From their rising at 5.30am, through to their final drift into sleep at 11.30pm.

Severe (Brittle) Asthma is a dreadfull and very often fatal condition.

It is well recognised by the medical profession.I am therefore sure that they would be awarded a higher, more appropriate level of DLA. You seem to be purposefully disregarding that their are 3 different levels of the care element, and 2 of mobility. Thus I am sure that a sufferer would receive the level suited to their need.



100,000 deaths estimated yearly throughout the world [1,2]. Patients at greater risk for fatal asthma attacks are mainly those with severe, unstable disease, although death can occur to anyone if the asthma attack is intense enough [2,3,4].

To be fair to the original OP, I think the comment made regarding Asthma, was made without much thought or knowledge, like much of islandannie's post/s.

savagevixen

dmg24 wrote: »

I am sure you don't mean it to this way, but I do find your comment quite offensive. Though I do not claim DLA, I am pretty sure I would be eligible, for reason of both severe asthma and depression. Both conditions can have a massive effect on the life of a sufferer, and do fall under the legal definition of a disability.

Then perhaps you should claim it. As a fellow mental health sufferer I am sure you can full empathise with the difficulties a mental health problem like ADHD can place upon a family, especially when a child is involved. Perhaps you do not claim it because you are an adult and do not need it, but a major mental health problem, such as ADHD will affect a child and all his/her family for a long time, in some cases life. They will always have a mental health history. Money from DLA can support the child and their siblings, in allowing them to experience some of the things that 'normal' children take for granted.

UnderstandingADHD

At its worse it is an awful thing for any child/parent/guardian to deal with. But i am afraid this illness is now the new 'dyslexia'. I mean by this statement that all of a sudden badly behaved/less achieveing children are now being labelled with the ADHD tag.

I was a little cross at this post because there seemed to be a huge impression that you thought ADHD was a poor, attainers disease. You can not be further from the truth, my son has just been diagnosed with ADHD and he is a bright intelligent erudite little boy who would achieve far higher if he were able to sit still focus and concentrate. As it is at the moment he still manages to achieve good levels of attainment and is above average in terms of age related assessment. Who knows, he is just starting medication perhaps this will help him achieve what he is fully capable of leaving him able gifted and talented!!:T

shazrobo

i have two sons with severe ADHD, and its not just an excuse for naughty behaviour, my sons have complex needs as others have pointed out, they need constant supervision, even now at 12 years old i have to hold there hands while crossing the road, every day things are so hard because of the dangers, that these children just do not notice.
my sons needs are so severe, that they both have statements of special educational needs, and go to special schools, one is there as a resident there mon til fri, as he needs more supervision than i can give him at home, as there are two staff to every child.
please don't label ADHD kids as naughty as they are not, if given the correct support and supervision, they can be really good and become high achievers.
every disability is judged by how it affects the persons quality of life when being awarded DLA

mummytofour

They are like extremely large toddlers

How very true. ADHD rips families apart, its a very powerful condition which is a nightmare for parents to handle. There is by far not enough support for carers and far too many ppl in the Uk believe that it is just an excuse for naughty children, for anybody that thinks this please feel free to walk in my shoes for a day or two.

DLA is the to help improve the quality of life for suffers. Thankfully it just about on a good week covers the replacement cost of what is broken in my house on a weekly basies.

As for being the new dyslexia.. Im dyslexic so Im not going to comment.