Before we adjust anything — let’s work this out together. This takes about 10 minutes. Your answers give Dr Flett the information needed to understand what is really happening and where to look next. There are no right or wrong answers — be as honest as you can.
The time of day when problems are worst tells me more about what’s causing them than almost anything else.
Before concluding the medication has failed, let’s work through the most common reasons things aren’t working.
Tearfulness or anxiety in the first 1–2 hours after medication can mean the dose is too high, or that underlying anxiety is now being unmasked. Please mention this specifically to Dr Flett.
Medication repairs the signal. It doesn’t fill the gaps left by years of poor signal.
Behaviour improving while marks stay flat is very common. It usually means there are learning gaps from years of missed signal, or a specific learning difficulty sitting underneath the ADHD. This needs investigating at your next appointment.
Without school accommodations, even a well-medicated child will continue to struggle in a system not designed for their brain. Getting accommodations in place is one of the highest-impact steps you can take right now. Dr Flett can provide a supporting letter if needed.
Emotional control is the part of ADHD most resistant to medication alone. Let’s look at what else might be driving what you’re seeing.
The four legs of the table — medication, home support, school accommodations, and therapeutic interventions. Let’s see which ones are in place.
