Our Services

ADHD

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. Children and young people with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating, and may act on impulse.

Many children go through phases where they are restless or inattentive. This does not necessarily mean they have ADHD.

You should discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher, their school’s special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) or a GP if you think their behaviour may be different from most children of their age.

What signs might be seen in my child?

In children and young people there are many signs of ADHD, the most common are:

  • Fidgeting and being restless in school and being continuously told by the teacher to sit down.
  • Being impatient and being asked not to blurt things out.
  • Friendship issues.
  • Regularly losing things and forgetting things.
  • Being easily distracted, leading to difficulties with academic attainment.
  • Continually getting into trouble at school.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • The difficulties can lead to or be associated with low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Academic Challenges at School:

Task completion, organisation, and instruction - following problems in school

Difficulty with Relationships:

Communication and social cues challenges affect relationships.

Difficulty Paying Attention:

Easily distracted, struggles to maintain focus on tasks.

Impulsivity and Potential Outbursts:

Acts impulsively, struggles managing emotions, occasional outbursts.

Hyperactivity:

Fidgety, restlessly active, difficulty remaining still.

Poor Organisational Skills:

Struggles with organisation, time management, maintaining tidy space.

Decision - Making Difficulties:

Trouble deciding, often indecisive or changes mind frequently.

Forgetfulness:

Frequently loses or forgets essential items/tasks.

Concerned about your child ?

Starting Early for a Better Tomorrow

ADHD persists throughout life, but early intervention is pivotal. Addressing ADHD in childhood offers a brighter future. Early treatment not only tackles current challenges but also lays the foundation for academic success and strong friendships.

As part of our services, schedule an initial consultation with our consultants. This will enable us to gain a comprehensive understanding of your child’s unique needs and recommend an assessment plan.

There is no ‘cure’ for ADHD, but treatment is centred on managing the symptoms and minimising the difficulties that can arise as a result of this disorder. The treatment includes talking based therapies, coaching, optimising diet, sleep and exercise, behavioural interventions, and environmental modifications. Treatment for ADHD can be medication (stimulants or non-stimulants); however, medications will work best if given alongside other interventions and strategies.

What does an assessment involve?

According to NICE Guidelines, a diagnosis of ADHD should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician, or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD. Here at The Evolving Mind clinic, we have Consultant Paediatricians who can formally diagnose ADHD, in line with NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines.

At the Evolving Mind, we understand that as a parent you may have been worried about your child for a long time but have had difficulty accessing services or difficulty being listened to. Our team’s priority is to help you identify your child’s needs and to advocate for you to access support for your child at home and at school. This is why the first step is to discuss your concerns as an initial consultation with our Special Educational Needs Consultant. Your concerns will then be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a Consultant Paediatrician, Educational Psychologist, and Speech and Language therapist. The S.E.N consultant will then advise you of the next best steps for your child, for example, if coordination or sensory issues are causing the most difficulty, it may be more helpful to have your child assessed by an occupational therapist in the first instance. If you are worried about your child’s learning a cognitive assessment with an Educational Psychologist may be recommended.

If you and the team agree that an ADHD assessment will be helpful for your child, the assessment is booked with a consultant paediatrician. The assessment process follows NICE  and includes gathering pre-assessment information including questionnaires from parents and from the school (if your child is in school). Information from other sources is always helpful, such as any extracurricular activity. Any contact with a third party is made with your consent.

The second bit of the assessment is an in-person assessment with the parent, child, and the doctor. We will always see the child in person.

Once the assessment process is complete the doctor will arrange a feedback appointment with you which can be done via MS Teams or in person. At this feedback, the doctor will summarise the needs identified, and any diagnosis given, and this will be an opportunity for you to ask further questions.

Following the feedback, a detailed report will be shared with you as a draft. With your consent, a summary with recommendations will be shared with the school and a full report is also shared with the GP.

Our reports can be used to support the EHCP process.

Please do not hesitate to contact our team for further information about the assessment process.

What does an assessment involve?

According to NICE Guidelines a diagnosis of ADHD should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD. Here at The Evolving Mind clinic, we have Consultant Paediatricians who can formally diagnose ADHD, in line with NICE guidelines.

The process of diagnosis at The Evolving Mind Clinic will include:

Need more support? Check out the other services we offer >

What ongoing support we offer

Following an assessment, recommendations will be made about what further support could be offered. This may involve…

Counselling

If you are looking to work through your mental health problems and gain a greater understanding of yourself, in a confidential setting with a qualified and skilled listener.

Educational Psychologist

If there are struggles in school an assessment by an Educational Psychologist would be able to give advice on the support school should be providing.

Educational Consultants

If a child isn’t progressing at school as expected, an Education, Health and Care Plan Assessment might be necessary, though most diagnosed children thrive with existing school resources. If you’re concerned, we’re available to discuss this process.

Speech and Language Therapist

If there are concerns with social communication or speech and language delays.

Occupational Therapist

If there are sensory challenges that need to be addressed.

Parent and Family Mentor

We have a mentoring package that offers a complimentary meet and greet session to discuss your family needs.

Need more support? Check out the other services we offer >

Autism

Autism spectrum disorder also refer to as Autism spectrum condition is an umbrella term that describes how a person communicates with, and relates to other people. It is a spectrum condition and whilst all people with Autism share some difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with Autism can live independent and highly successful lives, where as others may have accompanying learning difficulties and may be a lifetime specialist support.

Some children and young people with Autism have above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding social situations and processing language.

Signs and symptoms of Autism

Social Interaction Challenges:

Difficulty interpreting and engaging in social interactions.

Routine Rigidity:

Strong preference for strict, unchanging routines.

Sensory Sensitivities:

Heightened sensitivity or aversion to specific sensory stimuli.

Special Interests:

Intense focus on particular topics or activities.

Nonverbal Communication Difficulty:

Challenges understanding body language cues.

Literal Understanding:

Struggles interpreting non - literal or metaphorical language.

Repetitive Behaviours:

Engages in repetitive, movements or actions.

Masking

Masking is a strategy used by some Autistic people, consciously or unconsciously to appear non Autistic to blend in and be more accepted in society. Masking can result in meltdowns, autistic burnout, mental heath difficulties and low self-esteem.

Concerned about your child ?

Starting Early for a Better Tomorrow

Autism persists throughout life, but early intervention is pivotal. Identifying Autism in childhood offers a brighter future. Early diagnosis not only tackles current challenges but also lays the foundation for improved social connections and personal growth.

Schedule an initial consultation with our consultants. This will enable us to gain a comprehensive understanding of your child’s unique needs.

What does an assessment involve?

According to NICE Guidelines a diagnosis of ASD should be made within certain guidelines and include certain assessments. At The Evolving Mind Clinic this will include the following:

Assesments

Our teams priority is to help you identity your child needs and to advocate for you to access support for your child at home and for your school.

This is why the first step is an initial consultation with our special needs educational consultant. Your concerns are then reviewed by a multi disciplinary team consisting of a consultant paediatrician, educational psychologist and speech and language therapist.

In some cases a developmental history appointment with a specialist is recommended and will cover parent/carer/child concerns and details of experiences of home life, education and social care.

If you and the team agree that an autism assessment will be helpful for your child, the assessment is booked with a consultant paediatrician. The assessment process follows NICE Guidelines (National of institute of clinical excellence) and includes pre-gathering assessment information including questionnaires from parents and from the school (if your child is in school). Information from other professionals involved is also very helpful.

The next part of the assessment is an in person assessment with parents and child. The consultant paediatrician will complete an autism specific interview with parents using a structured assessment tool such as the; ADI-R (autism diagnostic interview – revised) or DISCO. The consultant paediatrician will also see the child and conduct a psychical examination where indicated.

An ADOS (autism diagnostic observation schedule) trained clinician will complete a play base observation with your child.

In some case, an additional school observation may be required.

Treatment of Autism

There is no cure for Autism as it is not an illness, however, the most important thing is to identify needs and implement strategies and interventions in all environments; This may be involve a multi disciplinary team such as, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, educational psychology and specialist teachers.

Need more support? Check out the other services we offer >

What ongoing support we offer

Following an assessment, recommendations will be made about what further support could be offered. This may involve…

Counselling

If you are looking to work through your mental health problems and gain a greater understanding of yourself, in a confidential setting with a qualified and skilled listener.

Educational Psychologist

If there are struggles in school an assessment by an Educational Psychologist would be able to give advice on the support school should be providing.

Educational Consultants

If a child isn’t progressing at school as expected, an Education, Health and Care Plan Assessment might be necessary, though most diagnosed children thrive with existing school resources. If you’re concerned, we’re available to discuss this process.

Speech and Language Therapist

If there are concerns with social communication or speech and language delays.

Occupational Therapist

If there are sensory challenges that need to be addressed.

Need more support? Check out the other services we offer >

What is Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia)?

Understanding Dyslexia: What You Need to Know
Dyslexia is a term used to describe a specific learning difference. It affects the way the brain processes language, making it challenging for individuals to read, write, and spell. Dyslexia is common and can impact both children and adults. With the right support and interventions, individuals with dyslexia can lead successful lives.

Let’s dive into the details of Dyslexia, how it works, and how it can affect your child’s daily life. We’re here to support you or your loved one in finding ways to do well, even when dealing with Dyslexia challenges.

What signs might be seen in my child?

Spotting the Signs of Dyslexia – Dyslexia can show up in different ways, and knowing the common signs is crucial for early detection and management. Although symptoms can differ from child to child, typical symptoms include:

Reading and Writing Challenges:

Difficulty with reading and writing tasks.

Miscommunication in Relationships:

Communication issues and difficulty with social cues.

Attention and Focus Struggles:

Easily distracted and maintaining focus is tough.

Impulsivity and Emotional Management:

Acts impulsively, struggles to manage emotions effectively.

Restlessness or Difficulty Sitting Still:

Restless and has trouble staying still.

Organisational Difficulties:

Struggles with organisation and time management

Decision - Making Challenges:

Trouble making decisions and often indecisive

Forgetfulness with Tasks or Items:

Frequently forgets or misplaces essential items or tasks.

Concerned about your child ?

Starting Early for a Better Tomorrow

Dyslexia persists throughout life, but early intervention is pivotal. Addressing Dyslexia in childhood offers a brighter future. Early diagnosis not only tackles current challenges but also lays the foundation for improved reading skills and enhanced social connections.

Schedule an initial consultation with our consultants. This will enable us to gain a comprehensive understanding of your child’s unique needs and recommend an assessment plan.

What does an assessment involve?

At The Evolving Mind Clinic this will include the following:

Assesments

Gathering some background information.

Examination

A series of tests will be carried out to explore aspects of:

  • Reading, writing and spelling.
  • Handwriting and fine motor skills.
  • Underlying learning skills: phonological awareness, processing speed, working memory and auditory processing.

Need more support? Check out the other services we offer >

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