I’ve just read One in 14 children (or rather their parents) are currently claiming DLA for ADHD or autism.

FGT2 would you mind putting on a link to the original article?
Thanks

FriedGreenTomatoes2

^I’ve seen no support here for benefit fraud FriedGreenTomatoes.^

Me neither Iam.
But this is quite probably the wrong demographic.

I don’t know enough about the possible benefit fraud, but certainly I’ve seen a huge increase in parents demanding a diagnosis for their child, followed by a demand for extra help for their child.
That’s on top of the information from the class teacher, that certain children have issues that need assessing.
Sometimes, the violent verbal or even physical attacks by parents who don’t get what they want have risen.

I’ve seen no support here for benefit fraud FriedGreenTomatoes.

Me neither Iam.
But this is quite probably the wrong demographic.

I’ve seen no support here for benefit fraud FriedGreenTomatoes. I’m not convinced there’s a huge problem with bandwagon jumping. We are becoming better at recognising that dyslexia is a real thing, not something middle class parents say to excuse their not very bright child, as used to be said.

We are more aware that boys (it usually is boys) with areas of special interest and a preference for their own company might be on the spectrum

Those seven year old boys (again boys more prevalent) who can’t sit still, don’t focus in class, have a tendency to high expressed emotion might be adhd

Of course these children may not meet the diagnostic criteria but all children deserve the best we can give them

Benefit frauds like tax cheats need prosecuting
Good post viceversa

valdavi

I've never had a formal diagnosis but I'm sure I have ADHD. Professionals I've spoken to agree I likely have.
Autism does seem to be more common & it is proven that there's not a vaccination link, but no-one really knows why it's increasing. I don't buy the genetic theory that it's bound to increase (up-post), most of these things are less than 50% heritable & even if both parents have ADHD it doesn't mean their children will. But it also seems unlikely that it's all down to better diagnosis.

I was specifically talking about dyslexia where children are up yo 1 in 2 children with a dyslexic parent will inherit said condition. I do not know statistics on Autism or ADHD but I do know from experience that it tends to appear throughout a family and the genetic link exists. If I look at my own sons, one has hereditary medical conditions from his father and the other from me, perhaps their children will inherit both or none or even more thrown into the mix. I read a rather interesting article about it, I will attempt to find it.

Oh dear it changed DLA to flat

Flat and pip isn’t just for children/people with obvious disabilities and it’s a structured benefit so those more severe would get the higher allowances to cover the day to expenses ‘covered’ those with lesser disabilities qualify for less. Having a disability is expensive, especially if someone has to give up work to cover that care (which saves the government and taxpayers millions btw)

For the families I know who have ASN children, they didn't see it so much as a 'label' as a means to getting them the help and support they needed, and I'm not just talking about financial support. I saw parents who were almost at their wits' end struggling to cope with the demands of raising a child with conditions such as severe autism.

My impression is that posters with personal or work experience of children with the various neuro diverse conditions under discussion readily acknowledge how tough life can be for child and family and how hard it is to get additional benefits.

And although I have no experience within my own family of these conditions Iam, I do most readily acknowledge how difficult like must be for some families. It’s called empathy. I have in in spades for genuine cases and the family trauma must be immense in some households.

Yet it’s those who jump on the bandwagon that get my goat.
They spoil it for everyone else don’t they?

Years ago everyone aspired to an ‘ology.
Now it’s a ND label.

escaped

I'm thinking maybe I have got this wrong, as I understood the DLA was for children with mobility problems. By this I mean, that they have quite serious walking difficulties, like a limp, and they may get tired more quickly so need practical help. Maybe this condition can then spill over into behavioural problems, and this is where the crossover label occurs?
I didn't think the disability allowance was for behavioural conditions as such, though I am not an expert, so maybe someone can give a brief explanation what is meant here?

I have 2 young friends ( sisters) between them they have 3 autistic children.
They both receive DLA.

My impression is that posters with personal or work experience of children with the various neuro diverse conditions under discussion readily acknowledge how tough life can be for child and family and how hard it is to get additional benefits.

escaped -it is possible but difficult to get additional benefits for complex needs, not only physical needs.

My son's ex gets attendance allowance for their autistic son. He can only manage half a day at primary school and even then there are days that he doesn't go in. He's got a place at a comprehensive next year, but we've got no idea if he will cope. My son works and helps financially as much as he can.

My daughter's older boy has ASD and ADHD. His GCSEs were a disaster but he's at college so our fingers are crossed and his parents have never had any benefits for him. My husband, I realise now was certainly autistic. He was the classic naughty boy at school. At secondary school he excelled at Science, but they only did it for one year and, with no qualifications, he ended up on a building site. He lost several jobs over the years because of his inability to deal with people. Such a waste of his potential.

I've never had a formal diagnosis but I'm sure I have ADHD. Professionals I've spoken to agree I likely have.
Autism does seem to be more common & it is proven that there's not a vaccination link, but no-one really knows why it's increasing. I don't buy the genetic theory that it's bound to increase (up-post), most of these things are less than 50% heritable & even if both parents have ADHD it doesn't mean their children will. But it also seems unlikely that it's all down to better diagnosis.

I'm thinking maybe I have got this wrong, as I understood the DLA was for children with mobility problems. By this I mean, that they have quite serious walking difficulties, like a limp, and they may get tired more quickly so need practical help. Maybe this condition can then spill over into behavioural problems, and this is where the crossover label occurs?
I didn't think the disability allowance was for behavioural conditions as such, though I am not an expert, so maybe someone can give a brief explanation what is meant here?

Shelflife

Oreo, very well put. I am amazed at the lack of acceptance and understanding on here. Living with a severely autistic child is a living nightmare! and ADHD is also a complex condition.

👏👏

Oreo, very well put. I am amazed at the lack of acceptance and understanding on here. Living with a severely autistic child is a living nightmare! and ADHD is also a complex condition.

There must be thousands of people who are high functioning neuro diverse in highly paid jobs in this country too, never claimed a single benefit

hulahoop, very well said - thankyou!!

Oreo

It’s depressing that so many think it’s easy to get benefits, it really isn’t.My neighbours son who is on the autistic spectrum and couldn’t cope at school and was often violent at home is now grown up and doing a job at a supermarket but still has some days when he can’t face interacting with people.He’s a lovely boy but I know he put his parents through the wringer when young and then a teenager.He’s getting PIP but that’s all in the way of benefits he’s ever had.
He had to be diagnosed by experts in the NHS when he was around 5 years old.They can sort the wheat from the chaff as it were, but I think diagnosis has now ceased? Someone will know on here.If it has then it’s the fault of the last government.
Don’t rush to judgement by thinking everyone is swinging the lead, MH is the poor relation in the NHS and has gradually got worse as time goes on.Just be glad that your DC and DGC don’t have any form of autism.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Iam64

Who is ‘you’?

I have one daughter with dyslexia, diagnosed when she was 22 after she managed a 2.1 in her degree. I first asked if she was dyslexic age 7, then 11k then 16. Each time her teachers said not dyslexic, an end of August birthday.
Her 9 year old is dyslexic.
I have a two members with ADHD (parent and child) and another with ASD.
So we are a neuro diverse family. As a society we are learning all the time about mental and physical health, neuro diversity and genetics.
Complicated, isn’t it

We too are a ND family, it’s a blinking nightmare and none of “us” get additional benefits as all “high functioning”

It’s depressing that so many think it’s easy to get benefits, it really isn’t.My neighbours son who is on the autistic spectrum and couldn’t cope at school and was often violent at home is now grown up and doing a job at a supermarket but still has some days when he can’t face interacting with people.He’s a lovely boy but I know he put his parents through the wringer when young and then a teenager.He’s getting PIP but that’s all in the way of benefits he’s ever had.
He had to be diagnosed by experts in the NHS when he was around 5 years old.They can sort the wheat from the chaff as it were, but I think diagnosis has now ceased? Someone will know on here.If it has then it’s the fault of the last government.
Don’t rush to judgement by thinking everyone is swinging the lead, MH is the poor relation in the NHS and has gradually got worse as time goes on.Just be glad that your DC and DGC don’t have any form of autism.

Who is ‘you’?

I have one daughter with dyslexia, diagnosed when she was 22 after she managed a 2.1 in her degree. I first asked if she was dyslexic age 7, then 11k then 16. Each time her teachers said not dyslexic, an end of August birthday.
Her 9 year old is dyslexic.
I have a two members with ADHD (parent and child) and another with ASD.
So we are a neuro diverse family. As a society we are learning all the time about mental and physical health, neuro diversity and genetics.
Complicated, isn’t it

Children still need to have a full multi disciplinary assessment to get a diagnosis of ADHD. A private diagnosis won’t get medication or an EHCP or ‘benefits’

There are lots of people on Gransnet and mumsnet who have been dx later in life. It can cause all sorts of MH or addiction issues if undiagnosed

You need to get your information from a reputable newspaper or the BBC, not the Daily Mail or social media.

School as it is now ( big schools, noisy classrooms) is not ideal for many neurodiverse children. The old tiny village school with mixed age children learning together but at their own level -may have suited some less able children better.
Parents want to do the best for their children and that nowadays means fighting for support if their children are neurodiverse. Getting the right diagnosis can help get suitable support.
As with many neurological differences there is a spectrum of these disorders. In the past children with what was probably severe autism were shut away and not seen in society. Non academic children left school early and either found their way ( press ganged for a short life in the navy, the army or on the land). I dare say many impulsive children died young -eg hung for stealing an apple.