Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The Neurodevelopmental team consists of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) teams.

We are a multidisciplinary team who assess children and young people suspected of having ASD or ADHD. The ASD team can signpost families to post-diagnostic support services, whilst the ADHD team provides ongoing post-diagnostic support to children and families, if required. The team also offers liaison to other professionals.

ASD post diagnostic information

Useful resources and support services for children and young people

Please be aware that the information in this document is subject to change.

For the most up to date information, please see specific websites.

Local and national services

Service

Contact Details

About With Friends

Website: www.AboutWithFriends.co.uk/

E-mail: info@AboutWithFriends.co.uk

Phone 01263 515230

Access Unlimited

Website: www.access-unlimited.co.uk/

Email: info@activities-unlimited.co.uk

Phone: 01473 260026

Autism and ADHD

Website: www.autismandadhd.org

Email: info@autismandadhd.org

Phone: 07915908432

AFASIC

Voice for Life

Website: www.afasic.org.uk

Helpline: 0300 666 9410

Asperger East Anglia

Website: www.asperger.org.uk/

E-mail: info@asperger.org.uk

Phone: 01603 620500

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Website: www.acamh.org

Autism Anglia

Website: www.autism-anglia.org.uk

Phone: 01206 577678

Autism Education Trust

Website: www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk

Email: info@autismeducationtrust.org.uk

Phone: 0207 903 3650

ASD Friendly

Website: www.ASDfriendly.org

Autism Spectrum Database UK

Website: www.autistica.org.uk/asd-uk

Autism Independent UK (SFTAH)

Website: www.autismuk.com

Email : autism@autismuk.com

Phone: 01536 523274

Avenues

Website: www.avenuesgroup.org.uk

Email: info@avenuesgroup.org.uk

Phone: 0300 323 0405

Break

Website: www.break-charity.org/charity/

Carers Trust

Website: www.carers.org

Email: info@carers.org

Phone: 0300 772 9600

Child Feeding Guide

Website: www.childfeedingguide.co.uk

Email: ChildFeeding@lboro.ac.uk

Phone: 01509 228160

DIAL

Website: www.dial-greatyarmouth.org.uk

Email: info@dial-greatyarmouth.org.uk

Phone: 01493 856900

Disability Advice North East Suffolk

Website: www.lowestoftdial.co.uk

Email: info@danesonline.co.uk

Phone: 01502 511333

Dimensions

Website: www.dimensions-uk.org

Phone: 0300 303 9001

Early Help (Norfolk)

Website: www.norfolk.gov.uk/children-and-families/early-help

Early Help (Suffolk)

Website: www.communitydirectory.norfolk.gov.uk/Services/4147/Early-Help-Team-Lowe

Phone: 01502 674747

Family Action

Website: www.family-action.org.uk

Email: gorleston@family-action.org.uk

Phone: 01493 650220

Referral by a professional is currently needed

Family Lives

Website: www.familylives.org.uk

Email: askus@familylives.org.uk

Phone: 0808 800 2222

Family Voice

Website: www.familyvoice.org.uk

Phone: 07950 302937

NANSA Teens

Website: www.nansa.org.uk

Email: enquiries@nansa.org.uk

Phone: 01603 414109

The National Autistic Society

Website: www.autism.org.uk
Email: nas@nas.org.uk

Helpline: 0207 833 2299

Norfolk County Council

Website: www.norfolk.gov.uk/send

Norfolk SEND Partnership

Website: www.norfolksendpartnershipiass.org.uk

Email: sendpartnership.iass@norfolk.gov.uk

Phone: 01603 704070

Norwich FC Community Sports Foundation

Website: www.communitysportsfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01603 984 000

Point-1

Website: www.ormiston.org/what-we-do/mental-health-and-wellbeing/

Email: Point1@ormistonfamilies.org.uk

Phone: 0800 977 4077

Riding for the Disabled

Website: www.pakefieldridingschool.co.uk

Email: teresalaws@hotmail.com

Phone: 01502 572257

Scope

Website: www.scope.org.uk

Email: helpline@scope.org.uk

Helpline: 0808 800 3333

SENsational Families

Website: www.sensationalfamilies.org.uk

Sensory Integration Education

Website: www.sensoryintegration.org.uk

Sleep East

Website: www.sleepeast.com

Email: joybishop@sleepeast.co.uk or marianpearson@sleepeast.co.uk

Phone: 01692 402240

Shine Great Yarmouth

Website: www.shine-gy.org.uk

Email: info@shine-gy.org.uk

Phone: 01493 661000

Speech & Language Therapy

https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/salt

Suffolk County Council

Website: www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning

Suffolk Local Offer

Website: www.suffolklocaloffer.org.uk

Phone: 0345 606 1490

Suffolk Parenting Group

Website: www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/the-parent-hub/parenting-programmes/#tab4

Sunbeams Play

Website: www.sunbeamsplay.org.uk

Email: info@sunbeamsplay.org.uk

Phone: 01493 442181

The Curly Hair Project

Website: www.thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk

The Parent Hub

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/childcare-information-and-support-for-parents-and-providers/parent-hub/

Tiny Happy People

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

TOPCATS

Website: www.topcats.org.uk/about

Email: annemarie-topcats@outlook.com

Waveney Gymnastics Club

Website: www.waveneygymnastics.org

Email: waveneygym@aol.com

Phone: 01502 501419

YMCA

Norfolk/

Suffolk

Website: www.ymcanorfolk.org

Email: info@ymcanorfolk.org

Phone: 01603 621263

Suffolk Website: www.ymcatrinitygroup.org.uk

Young MINDS

Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

For Young People

Text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.

Text YM to 85258

All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors

Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.

For Parents

Parents Helpline - call for free on 0808 802 5544

from 9:30am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.

Parents webchat – via website 9:30am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.

Parents Email service - 4pm - 9:30am, Monday - Friday and across the weekend.

Understanding Autism, Asperger's & ADHD

Issuer: University of Derby

www.derby.ac.uk/short-courses-cpd/online/free-courses/understanding-autism-aspergers-and-adhd/

Useful FREE Apps

Kids ToDo List

School Planner

My Study Life - school planning tool

Remember the milk

Childrens Countdown Timer

The Mindfulness App

Smiling mind

MyLife Meditation

Coloring Games: Coloring Book, Painting, Glow Draw

Autimo - Discover emotions

Molehill Mountain – self-help app for anxiety management, designed with input from autistic children and their families. Mainly suitable for older children and young people (roughly aged 10 and above).

Pod cast https://www.acamh.org/podcasts/eating-difficulties-autism-a-parents-guide-vicki-ford/

What is ADHD?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes difficulties in at least two settings, home life, education or work.

Symptoms of ADHD in children and young people - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms/

The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are well defined, and they're usually noticeable before the age of six.

They occur in more than one situation, such as at home and at school.

Children may have symptoms of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity and impulsiveness, or they may have symptoms of just one of these types of behaviour.

Inattentiveness, Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness

The main signs of inattentiveness are;

having a short attention span and being easily distracted
making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
appearing forgetful or losing things
being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
constantly changing activity or task
having difficulty organising tasks

The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are;

being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
constantly fidgeting
being unable to concentrate on tasks
excessive physical movement
excessive talking
being unable to wait their turn
acting without thinking
interrupting conversations
little or no sense of danger

These symptoms can cause significant problems in a child's life, such as underachievement at school, poor social interaction with other children and adults, and problems with discipline.

Related conditions in children and teenagers with ADHD

Although not always the case, some children may also have signs of other problems or conditions alongside ADHD, such as:

Anxiety disorder – which causes your child to worry and be nervous much of the time; it may also cause physical symptoms, such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating and dizziness
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) – this is defined by negative and disruptive behaviour, particularly towards authority figures, such as parents and teachers
Conduct disorder – this often involves a tendency towards highly antisocial behaviour, such as stealing, fighting, vandalism and harming people or animals
Depression
Sleep problems – finding it difficult to get to sleep at night, and having irregular sleeping patterns
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) – this affects social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour
Dyspraxia – a condition that affects physical co-ordination
Epilepsy – a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated fits or seizures
Tourette's syndrome – a condition of the nervous system, characterised by a combination of involuntary noises and movements (tics)
Learning difficulties – such as dyslexia

Three kinds of ADHD

Based on the types of symptoms, three kinds (presentations) of ADHD can occur:

Combined Presentation: if enough symptoms of both criteria inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity were present for the past six months
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: if enough symptoms of inattention, but not hyperactivity-impulsivity, were present for the past six months
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: if enough symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, but not inattention, were present for the past six months.

Because symptoms can change over time, the presentation may change over time as well.

ADHD Nursing team

ADHD Nursing team

Kate Nicholls - ADHD Nurse Specialist (working days Monday-Thursday)

Donna Milner - ADHD Nurse Specialist (working days Tuesday-Friday)

Emma Caswell - ADHD secretary - emma.caswell@jpaget.nhs.uk or 01493 452673

We are a team specialising in working with children and young people from 6 to18 years of age with a formal diagnosis of ADHD, and supporting them with their ADHD medication needs.

Within the team we have two specialist nurses who are non-medical prescribers. Emma Caswell is the team’s secretary.

Our service at the James Paget University Hospital is to monitor and manage ADHD medication regimes for children and young people with a formal diagnosis of ADHD.

We work collaboratively with other professionals to ensure children and young people’s needs are met.

Medication review

During the appointment we will routinely monitor blood pressure, height and weight.

We will also ask the child/ young person how they are managing life at home and school.

Medication reviews generally occur every six months unless there is a clinical reason to be seen earlier. Between these times Emma Caswell (ADHD team secretary) can be contacted (details above) for medication queries.

As we are not an emergency service, it may take the team a few days to call back for urgent matters.

Parents/ guardians may be asked to gather some evidence from school to help the nurses understand the child/ young person’s difficulties further.

NICE guidance on diagnosis and treatment of ADHD; https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87

ADHD explained in three minutes

The video here explains more about ADHD.

Please click the button below to find out more about ADHD and the resources available to support you.

Information for children, young people, parents and carers on ADHD

While your child awaits a neurodevelopmental assessment

If you child is awaiting a neurodevelopmental assessment then you may find the information and links here helpful.

Neurodevelopmental assessment

Useful resources and support services for children and young people

Autism

Information on the national NHS website

National Autistic Society

Advice and guidance

More information about observational assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Observational Assessment For ASD

Nursery play based assessment

Nursery Observation Information Sheet