18 years old, should I go for a diagnosis?

[oyyouthere]

Hey guys, so I'm an 18 year old guy and today I took my 5th or 6th driving lesson and it's become blindingly obvious that I'm way under-performing. It's like in my head I understand what my instructor is saying but I can't translate it into actions, my spacial awareness is all off I keep driving too close or too far from objects, not noticing hazards.

I frequently put the stick into the wrong gear or don't put the handbrake all the way up or down, my instructor just doesn't understand and neither did I fully, I keep gripping it too lightly or missing it completely and when I'm driving jokes about my eyesight are pretty frequent.

I decided enough was enough I'm certain I have some kind of problem, not just in driving but in everyday life and I've never been certain of what exactly it is.

Anyway, here are some notes I wrote down of symptoms I have.

I have trouble following what should pretty much be basic instructions which has even cost me a job opportunity. I got through the interview process of a store and all I had to do was some simple merchandising the woman explained that I needed to arrange the items on the shelves to look presentable, it was something so simple but I struggled so much. Later on an employer asked me to move a trolley over towards the window, but I seemed to miss what she said and ended up making something so simple so complicated.

I have short term memory problems, I'll frequently forget things I was just thinking of. My thoughts often seem jumbled and disorganised in conversations I'll often start saying something then... "Oh I forgot". In school I was always easily distracted, I'd usually never get an explanation the first time round and would often need things explaining multiple times. Especially in Maths and in science experiments that required me to do multiple things.
I often stutter, mumble and people have to ask me to repeat myself far too often.

My mum once took to to see a gp because she noticed I sometimes walked slightly off, I'd noticed but never thought much about it but she was right I'd often walk off balance and slightly odd seemingly at random, and at school when we had to do sprints my teacher used to often tell me that instead of running straight like everyone else I'd start going in slightly the wrong direction.

I can't kick a ball straight, I can't copy movements well, e.g. dancing, grappling in MMA.

I literally have the worst handwriting, my eight year old sister has neater writing I'm not even lying, and she's left handed, and in primary and secondary school 90% of the time I was the last to finish writing things.

In school exams I always understood the importance of them yet my mind would constantly wonder, it was like I found it impossible to concentrate the same applied to when my teachers were talking and let's not even get me started on trying to revise at home.

I'm not quick witted I'm bad at comebacks, I'm usually quite messy and unorganised I constantly have plans I try to accomplish and try planning out days but it never seems to work, it's like the time just disintegrates.

I didn't learn to tie my shoelaces until around 11 I think? Maybe later, I just remember constantly tucking my shoelaces in and I couldn't tell the time on a watch or a clock very fast until like age 15/16.

Growing up clumsy might as well of been my middle name, I was constantly told how clumsy I am I remember always falling over in the playground, and my parents would constantly tell me about how it wasn't normal the frequency with which I spilt and dropped things, they tried all sorts to get me to stop.

I recall being able to ride a bike fine and I could kinda skate using my left foot to kick, I never learnt and tricks for either though.
I recall going to a school cricket tournament (I don't remember how or why I was picked I think my friends just really wanted me to come along). No matter how hard I tried I couldn't do a proper overarm throw (and to this day still can't), I kept throwing the ball horrendously in front of another school who were just gob smacked by how bad I was. Whenever we played cricket or rounders I basically never managed to hit the ball well.

I read earlier about something called hyperfocus too, I frequently do this with my computer, tv shows and probably the most daydreaming I can literally daydream for hours and lose track of time.

So do you guys think maybe I'm just clumsy and lacking willpower or I should maybe seek out a diagnosis for dyspraxia and possibly ADD?

Edit: Forgot to mention the frequency with which I lose things, me and my mum got into a pretty big argument about this once I have a tendency to lose some VERY valuable things.

[Ram]

I'm not a medical professional but I would put my money on you having dyspraxia and (possibly) ADD from your description.

You want to know whether to get assessed. The major advantage are that it would give you and your immediate family some kind of perspective. It would also help prevent some of your family and friends from giving you a hard time about what they perceive as your failings.

On the downside, I should warn you that getting assessment through the NHS can be difficult. In the end I had to pay several hundred pounds for an educational psychologist to assess me. I should also warn you that support for dyspraxic adults by society is very limited.

One final point is that most professionals (such as educational psychologists) are only able to assess rather than diagnose you. In other words, the report will read "it is likely that you have dyspraxia" rather than "you have dyspraxia." I don't know which professionals are able to make a full diagnosis, but I hope that another user of this website can help you on this matter.

Anyway, I hope my advice is of at least some help to you.

[oyyouthere]

I'm not a medical professional but I would put my money on you having dyspraxia and (possibly) ADD from your description.

You want to know whether to get assessed. The major advantage are that it would give you and your immediate family some kind of perspective. It would also help prevent some of your family and friends from giving you a hard time about what they perceive as your failings.

On the downside, I should warn you that getting assessment through the NHS can be difficult. In the end I had to pay several hundred pounds for an educational psychologist to assess me. I should also warn you that support for dyspraxic adults by society is very limited.

One final point is that most professionals (such as educational psychologists) are only able to assess rather than diagnose you. In other words, the report will read "it is likely that you have dyspraxia" rather than "you have dyspraxia." I don't know which professionals are able to make a full diagnosis, but I hope that another user of this website can help you on this matter.

Anyway, I hope my advice is of at least some help to you.

Damn, I doubt I'll be having that kind of money anytime soon. However I think I'm definitely going to attempt to get a some kind of assessment because the more I read the more likely it seems I have both Dyspraxia and ADD and it'd really help if myself and others had some more clarity on why I do/have done the things I do, my mother works as an NHS nurse so I'll have a chat with her and see if that'll be any help. Thanks a lot for the information you helped a lot.

[nickye]

Hi there

I can really relate to a lot of what you say, especially about the driving. It took me nearly three years on and off to pass my test but I did do it in the end although have never liked motorway driving! I'm 46 now and only found out two years or so ago that I have dyspraxia. It has been great to find out, just knowing there are reasons for what I do is a help. I did go privately as NHS neurologist said he didn't think anything wrong, it was more being anxious and depressed. He did t say this nastily, I think there is not enough knowledge about it. But I have found the Dyspraxia Foundation really helpful and they often run local groups.

The worst thing to me about dyspraxia is that I've lost a lot of confidence and spent too much time feeling ashamed I can't do certain things, or at least find them difficult. I find personally that often with things like driving or catching a ball I can do them in the end, but it need a lot of help and explanation to do them. I tend to think in words and tye to learn off in words how to drive when you need to get a feel for it. But sometimes you need someone to explain things which may seem obvious to other people.

It's frustrating when people think you're not trying so it really helps to come on this website and talk wi people who understand. It can give you a lot of patience with other people and determination. You have to be extra determined to do things like driving.

Even if you don't get a formal diagnosis there are things you can do like exercises if you ask at the dyspraxia foundation. I'm forever losing keys and kings and forgetting to take things out with me but have improved over time. It even have a list by the door of things to take.

Also going back to the driving, there are instructors who specialise in teaching people, with dyspraxia and other conditions. If you google dyspraxia driving instructor something may come up in your area. I know it is partly a matter of confidence but I get fed up with people telling me to just think positive. We do learn I a different way and if you can get the right help you can do a lot. Even if there are some things we can't do or they take too long, try not to beat yourself up about it as I'm sure you have other qualities which are good. I have a lot of patience and now work with people with learning disabilities.

Good luck and hope this is helpful.

Nicky

[nickye]

Sorry I hope that didn't sound discouraging, that it took me three years to learn to drive! This was without any specific help for dyspraxia as I didn't know I had it or even what it was then. I think I learn things easier now I'm older because I have more idea how to approach things.

About eighteen months ago on holiday in France my husband had a seizure and I had to drive back when I'd hardly driven on the wrong side of the road before! But I did manage to get us all back in one piece! Luckily he is driving again now but I had to do all the driving for a year and it has really improved my driving on slip roads, parking etc which are what I find hard.

I am fine just driving locally and on non motorway roads really. Although dyspraxia is a genuine difficulty, I think confidence does have some part to play in it.

[Ram]

In my previous post, I said the cost of a private dyspraxia assessment with an educational psychologist is several hundred pounds. Actually, I think about 200 to 300 pounds is more like the going rate. I hope that sounds a bit better.

Anyway, I hope the fact that your mother works in the health service enables you to get a suitable diagnosis for free.

Of course, she may have a lot of questions regarding this condition herself, so there's no reason why she can't join this site to post any queries that she may have.

[screengreen]

Not sure if this would help but the way forward for diagnosis seems to be via college, do you have any plans to go to college? If so my advice would be complete a dyslexia check list tell them you think you may be dyslexic and that will get you through the door for an assessment.....you could try NHS as some paeds services go till 18. The reason assessors generally state likely us that their US a need to rule out medical reasons e.g. cerebral palsy before diagnosing.