Moderate v. Severe ADHD

[Anonymous]

What do people mean when they say moderate v. severe adhd? I've seen that on this board - are those casual observations or ones given by medical professionals. Is it based on the type/level of accommodations that they may need?

[Anonymous]

My son has been called "severe" by several professionals. All I can say is that severe is casual observation, but it is quite obvious in that it impacts every aspect of functioning (eating, walking, talking, thinking, sitting, standing, reading, processing, etc.) I am a teacher, too, so I have the perspective of witnessing its impact on cognitive facets as well.

[Anonymous]

Two of my kids have moderate ADHD. They can both get dressed normally. They could both do something like pour themselves cereal and milk and eat I in less than 10 minutes. Both would be on grade level academically even if un-medicated. One of my son's friends had severe ADD, and he tales a really long time to get dresses or eat because he zones out all the time.

[Anonymous]

Interesting.

My son was tentatively diagnosed with mild ADHD at 6, even though I did tell the doctor that he took ages to dress and eat - as in, I either had to dress him and spoon feed him half the time, or repeat myself 500 times in one sitting.

Now at 10 and after getting terrible grades all year, we are having him re-evaluated. I'll be in shock if the diagnosis isn't moderate to severe ADHD.

[Anonymous]

They won't diagnose it as such because it is not a clinical measurement.

[Anonymous]

I have one of each and this

it impacts every aspect of functioning (eating, walking, talking, thinking, sitting, standing, reading, processing, etc.)

is right on.

[Anonymous]

I have one that has been diagnosed by 3 different doctors/clinicians as having severe ADHD and another with moderate. It's really obvious to me, one is extremely challenging the other is just challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They won't diagnose it as such because it is not a clinical measurement.

Not true. Look how many of us on this thread received that diagnosis for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They won't diagnose it as such because it is not a clinical measurement.

Not true. Look how many of us on this thread received that diagnosis for our kids.

It's not actually a diagnosis though. Just like "severely broken leg" isn't an actual diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Yes- my DS with severe ADHD only has "ADHD" for his diagnosis. The severity is obvious in minutes

[Anonymous]

DS's neuropsych result states "mild to moderate" ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have one of each and this

it impacts every aspect of functioning (eating, walking, talking, thinking, sitting, standing, reading, processing, etc.)

is right on.

Yes, you nailed it PP. this is my DS.

Want to add that its a diagnosis that most public schools and their SpEd teams just do not understand. They'd rather label your child as "ASD", because to them ADHD= can't sit still or focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one of each and this

it impacts every aspect of functioning (eating, walking, talking, thinking, sitting, standing, reading, processing, etc.)

is right on.

Yes, you nailed it PP. this is my DS.

Want to add that its a diagnosis that most public schools and their SpEd teams just do not understand. They'd rather label your child as "ASD", because to them ADHD= can't sit still or focus.

YES! My son's IEP team thinks that his lack of eye contact means ASD, when we've had multiple reports that say, "No. He simply can't focus long enough to look at you. He isn't incapable of looking you in the eyes, he is incapable to stopping long enough to do so."