What evidence is available?
| Sources of evidence | Information Provided | Limitation of Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Parent / Carer | First source of information and associated evidence e.g. Statement of SEN or Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) or an Individual Education Plan (IEP) etc. Clarify type of school support (e.g. residential unit)
Clarify regular treating healthcare professional |
Does not have specialist knowledge. |
| Psychiatrist Report | Crucial in those <6yrs old.
Gives a profile of significant behavioural issues, medication and most up to date treatment and its effect. Those with significant behavioural problems are most likely to be under the care of a psychiatrist/ paediatrician with ADHD / ADD interest. |
N/A |
| Paediatrician Report | Same as above | N/A |
| ADHD Specialist Nurse | ADHD Specialist Nurses are usually part of the CAMHS team. They usually manage the child in conjunction with the consultant. | N/A |
| ADHD Support Worker | ADHD support workers ADHD support workers provide one to one support/ group support for children and their families. They are not medically trained; they are not equivalent to an ADHD nurse.
Their role varies a bit depending on the locality in which they work, but in the main, they do things like: a.) help signpost parents and carers to the latest methods and support for them and the young person in their care b.) give parents and carers an insight into how the difficulties impact on their children or young people's understanding. It also enables families to share their own experiences. c.) some may provide classroom assistance for children with ADHD. |
The evidence they provide should not be regarded as medical evidence, it should be considered more as observational evidence from a third party in a similar way to school reports. |
| School Report | Differentiate between support for learning and supervision for behaviour (latter more important for DLA) | Report may be unclear with respect to type of support provided.
It is not unusual in ADHD / ADD for behaviour at school to be different from that of at home. |
