Patient: Jayden (pseudonym)
Age: 11 years old
Diagnosis: ADHD and ASD
Custody Case: Jayden, an 11-year-old Primary 5 student, initially performed well in lower primary but began experiencing academic challenges in upper primary. His parents and teachers observed that he had a short attention span, was easily distracted and tended to avoid tasks requiring sustained effort or multiple steps. Jayden also struggled with planning and organization. Social issues, which were present since preschool, became more pronounced in primary school, where he struggled to form friendships and interact with peers, despite being compliant and quick to grasp concepts. He often kept to himself and had no close friends.
Promises Services: Jayden’s parents were recommended to Promises for a psycho-educational assessment. During the initial consultation, the psychologist discussed their concerns and explained the assessment process, covering cognitive, achievement, social-emotional, and behavioural evaluations, as well as session details and expectations. Feedback was gathered from parents, teachers, and Jayden himself, ensuring a comprehensive and reliable evaluation of his challenges for a well-rounded understanding of his needs.
Patient Response: Through the comprehensive psycho-educational assessment, it was found that Jayden met the diagnostic criteria for having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (predominantly inattentive subtype) and Autism Spectrum Disorder, level 1. The psychologist reviewed the findings with Jayden and his parents, helping them understand his strengths and challenges. Together, they discussed effective home strategies and school-based interventions to support Jayden’s needs. He continued therapy sessions with the psychologist, focused on improving social skills and executive functioning. Additionally, he was referred to see a Promises psychologist to explore the benefits of psychopharmacology for him. Through a multi-disciplinary team approach, both the psychologist and the psychiatrist worked closely to provide coordinated comprehensive care for Jayden and his family.
Support Extended: The psychologist worked closely with Jayden’s teachers and key school personnel to develop tailored support strategies. With approved access arrangements for examinations and strong home-school collaboration, Jayden made significant academic and social progress. Now in secondary school, he is thriving, showing continued improvement with psychiatric and psychological support, and appears happy and well-adjusted.
