Case study: Laura, aged 14, ADHD

The concerns

Laura's parents were worried that she spent a lot of time daydreaming and was not reaching her potential. Laura, 14, was quite anxious and her mood was sometimes low. She had one or two friends but spent a lot of time at home and did not want to go out. She loved watching videos about make-up and hair styling.

Her teachers were not concerned, although they thought Laura was capable of better grades.

The assessment

Laura came for an ADHD assessment, and the doctor reviewed all the questionnaires. We ask parents and teachers to complete questionnaires before we meet, as part of every assessment.

Strengths and interests

Laura was reluctant to talk about her strengths, but with a little prompting from her parents she said she liked drawing, fashion and playing the guitar.

Home and school saw different things

The questionnaires told two different stories. Her teachers had no concerns about her concentration and only a minor concern about her organisation. Laura and her parents described real difficulty concentrating, and fidgeting.

What the QbCheck showed

To get more information, the doctor arranged a QbCheck, the interactive computer test that is now part of every new assessment. It showed major problems with Laura's concentration.

The outcome

Laura was diagnosed with ADHD, mainly the inattentive type. The doctor explained ADHD to Laura and her parents and set out ways of managing it at home and at school. Laura is now much happier.