"Hyperfocusing" over diagnosis

[Assumption]

I found some more old school reports, this time from when I was about 14-15.

Summary page: "...needs to demonstrate consistent effort through all subjects to achieve the excellence within his potential."
Graphics: "not working to his full potential. He can do a little better than this mark with a more consistent effort."
Workshop: "wasted a lot of workshop time during the year in idle chatter. He is a capable student and if he works very hard to complete his four outstanding assignments he will gain a good result."
English:"in class he would benefit from a closer focus on the work being studied."
Typing and science: nothing bad.
Maths: "a disappointing result, I am confident that if brings a calculator with him to the external exam, he will improve this result."

I left out the rest, most of which says that I'm smart, etc etc. but forgetfulness and lack of focus were noted in 4/6 subjects.

[Assumption]

Oh and I told one of my office mates. I'd been meaning to wait at least until i'd been diagnosed. I just kind of blurted it out. It was awkward...

[CheekyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Assumption

I found some more old school reports, this time from when I was about 14-15.

Summary page: "...needs to demonstrate consistent effort through all subjects to achieve the excellence within his potential."
Graphics: "not working to his full potential. He can do a little better than this mark with a more consistent effort."
Workshop: "wasted a lot of workshop time during the year in idle chatter. He is a capable student and if he works very hard to complete his four outstanding assignments he will gain a good result."
English:"in class he would benefit from a closer focus on the work being studied."
Typing and science: nothing bad.
Maths: "a disappointing result, I am confident that if brings a calculator with him to the external exam, he will improve this result."

I left out the rest, most of which says that I'm smart, etc etc. but forgetfulness and lack of focus were noted in 4/6 subjects.

That has ADHD written all over it.

[Assumption]

Thanks. The more of this I find, the more annoyed I feel at my parents for not spotting this...

My mother, in particular, refuses to even go hunting for my old reports. In fact, she's been avoiding speaking to me at all since I started bringing this stuff up with her. I don't think she believes in ADHD. When I do talk to her she's pretty quick to make subtly mocking comments e.g. "oh, that must be your ADHD" when we're talking about just about anything - I say mocking because she says that in spite of the fact that she doesn't think I have ADHD.

[CheekyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Assumption

Thanks. The more of this I find, the more annoyed I feel at my parents for not spotting this...

ADHD was not something that was very commonly diagnosed. Our parents just like to believe that we are free spirits or something.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by CheekyMonkey

ADHD was not something that was very commonly diagnosed. Our parents just like to believe that we are free spirits or something.

Yep. My dad was a "free spirit" too, so I really didn't have a chance.

[CheekyMonkey]

Originally Posted by ana futura

Yep. My dad was a "free spirit" too, so I really didn't have a chance.

My mom is quite the hippie, I didn't stand a chance either...especially because I'm the most "normal" of my sibs.

[Assumption]

Perhaps. I think in my case it's just turning a blind eye. My mother had four children in a previous marriage before me. I think she got pretty fed up with the whole parenthood thing by the time I was about 8 or 10.

E.g. She had no idea I was being bullied at school. Looking back on it, that's inconceivable!

Worse still, her eldest son (my half-brother) clearly is on the autism spectrum (and is legally blind). But he's never been tested for Aspergers. As far as I'm aware, he was never even taken to a psychologist. He was also bullied pretty badly by my father (who I think has ADHD, or at least is close to it) and pretty much just treated by his mother and new step-dad as a big inconvenience. Just another illustration of her unwillingness to be proactive with her kids.

[KemMo19]

I definitely hyperfocused on the diagnosis prior to it. Even still, un-medicated my mind drifts to thinking about my condition. I find it interesting. Good luck, I've heard it's hard to get add meds in a lot of countries.

[Drewbacca]

Originally Posted by Assumption

Perhaps. I think in my case it's just turning a blind eye.

I doubt it, honestly. These things just weren't noticed while we were in school. In all of my years of schooling, only one teacher in highschool ever noticed that I was having problems but unfortunately, she told me instead of my mom. LOL
It has become more recognized in the last twenty years... if I was born ten years later, I might not have slipped through the cracks.

For what it's worth, my mom was a complete and total free spirt too. She still argues with me when I point out ADHD behaviors in the family. I often describe myself as having been "raised by wolves." The fact that she almost handed an adult pair of scissors to my niece today, who is only now beginning to speak coherent sentences, gives me a pretty good idea how I was raised.

[Assumption]

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

I doubt it, honestly. These things just weren't noticed while we were in school. In all of my years of schooling, only one teacher in highschool ever noticed that I was having problems but unfortunately, she told me instead of my mom. LOL
It has become more recognized in the last twenty years... if I was born ten years later, I might not have slipped through the cracks.

I managed to get a hold of some of my old school reports though. See above. Teachers did notice. Presumably they didn't suspect ADHD, or if they did, they didn't voice these suspicions. But they were aware of the inattentiveness/underachievement. And really, ADHD in children WAS known about in the 90s (I went to school from about 1988 until 1999, I think). Adult ADHD wasn't recognized until about the end of that period, but as a child/adolescent, I think they could have been spotted. I mean, bluddy 'ell, I had friends diagnosed with ADHD!

For what it's worth, my mom was a complete and total free spirt too.

Haha. I wouldn't describe my mum as a free spirit. She's actually pretty conservative. She's just not particularly interested in other people.

[Assumption]

...and 12 days to go. RRRRAWWWWWWWRRRRRRRR. :doh :

[Assumption]

Assessment today!

ASD/fahwfoihw894rhaw$GELAKRFALKSDJFKL !!!

[ana futura]

Good luck!

Err, does ASD// gibberish mean you have ASD?

[Assumption]

Nah, just random letters! My left hand naturally gravitates towards WASD, due to my gaming-ness :P 2 hours, zomg.