Sat. Nov 2nd, 2024
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A family’s struggle to get an ADHD diagnosis and treatment for their son has left them feeling frustrated and powerless.

“We feel we are failing him even though we are doing everything we can,” Juliana Pires said.

Ms Pires’s son, Milton Pires Fearman, is eight years old. Two years ago a teacher raised concerns that he was struggling to focus in class.

“We noticed before Milton started school that he was a little bit more on the side of creativity and he likes to be in his own world a lot,” Ms Pires said.

“He doesn’t have the hyperactive element … so he’s not jumping around and causing a lot of chaos in the classroom … he’s off on his own thoughts a lot and very engaged in that,” Milton’s dad, Oliver Fearman said.

After an assessment by a psychologist, Milton was given a pre-diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

The family was advised to get a formal diagnosis with a specialist.

Milton’s parents felt like they were failing him, even though they were doing everything possible. ()

Ms Pires called every paediatrician in her home state of Tasmania but none were taking on new patients.

“They said, ‘Sorry it’s been really challenging, many people call but we can’t take new patients,'” she said. 

“[There are] no waiting lists, just no options in Tasmania. We were gutted.”

The family eventually managed to get an appointment with a paediatrician in New South Wales who diagnosed Milton with ADHD.

Milton was prescribed Ritalin and Ms Pires was advised it would be clear fairly quickly whether the medication helped with his symptoms or not.

But back in Tasmania the family was told the prescription could not be filled.

The family could not find a single paediatrician who was taking new patients.()

“I cried, I was shaking I was really upset because until that point it has been so hard,” Ms Pires said.

Different states have different regulations around ADHD medications and because the prescribing specialist was in NSW, the medication could not be dispensed in Tasmania.

“We’d need to be doing a trip to Sydney every month to [have Milton’s prescription filled]. That definitely takes it out of the budget, that’s not really workable,” Mr Fearman said.

The family is now working with their GP to get approval from Tasmania’s Health Department to have the prescription filled.

“The drugs are very serious and we want to respect that but … let’s respect the professional that’s interstate who says this is going to help the kid,” Mr Fearman said.

In the meantime, the family is concerned Milton is not getting the timely help he needs.

“He came to me at the second week of school and asked, ‘Mama, when are you going to give me the pill that will help me pay attention because I am really struggling.’

“I didn’t know what to tell him,” Ms Pires said.

Mr Fearman said even though getting a diagnosis in NSW came at a cost, he is conscious that not everyone can afford to travel interstate for a diagnosis.

“Milton is not the only kid at his school, and definitely not the only one in the state with the issue.”

He said there would be benefits if GPs were trained to diagnose and treat ADHD.

National shortage of clinicians able to diagnose ADHD

 Milton told his parents he needed help to focus because he was “really struggling”. ()

Children with symptoms of ADHD can only be diagnosed by a trained paediatrician, psychiatrist, or psychologist.

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