DLA claim first-timer/ Aspergers

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

gingerbread45 wrote: »

Are you saying that children with autism can just switch it off? It has certainly not been my experience with my child and autism. And I have yet to see a child be diagnosed where the same symptoms and difficulties have not been seen within school.

My 14 year old son is a complete nightmare at home but his school think he is perfect & he has never been in trouble once. :eek:

I think he uses up all of his concentration & energy trying to fit in at school that he is emotionally exhausted when he gets home so reverts back to his challenging behaviour. :cool:

karmacookie

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

My 14 year old son is a complete nightmare at home but his school think he is perfect & he has never been in trouble once. :eek:

I think he uses up all of his concentration & energy trying to fit in at school that he is emotionally exhausted when he gets home so reverts back to his challenging behaviour. :cool:

Yeah, my son is exactly the same. Of course some behaviour is seen in school but the majority of it happens at home when he does not have to pretend to be 'normal' anymore and he knows he is safe!

starnight_2

And my DS is the same, school see some signs but most of his problems show at home where he feels able to let go.

karmacookie

School doesn't always put 2 +2 together.

Some comments from parents night -

School: 'He's very pedantic, isn't he?'
'doesn't he take everything very literally?'
'his knowledge and understanding of maths is brilliant but he seems to find it hard to apply this to new situations!'

Me: 'no sh*t sherlock!'

Savvy_Sue

gingerbread45 wrote: »

Are you saying that children with autism can just switch it off? It has certainly not been my experience with my child and autism. And I have yet to see a child be diagnosed where the same symptoms and difficulties have not been seen within school.

It's not so much that they switch it off as that they have different strategies / reactions in different places.

I once picked DS1 up with his best friend's younger sibling in tow: there was an assembly at the end of the day which we went to. When it was over we were told we could take our children with us straight away. DS1 saw me and little friend with me, and went wild with happiness and excitement, rushing round the hall like a steam train. Teacher watched in astonishment, as she had NEVER seen him make so much noise, go so fast, or behave other than in a completely 'controlled' way. She asked if he was always like that at home, and I said that while that was fairly extreme for him, he WAS usually very 'excitable' and quite loud after school. I suggested to her that he'd spent the whole day behaving appropriately for school, and that took quite a bit of effort, so he was likely to 'explode' at the end of the day.

No-one at that stage had suggested a diagnosis for my son, but I knew that he had different behaviours for different settings, and in very few places was he what I'd call 'normal'!

Maybeanotherday

Thankyou for all your responses!! x

dealchaser

skellett wrote: »

Hello just wondering if anyone can help?Long story sorry!
I was advised by a vouluntary group to apply for DLA for my undiagnoised daughter suspected learning difficulties/ autistic features (september).
Anyway I wasn't sure I did work full time but had to drop to part time due to lack of sleep and not coping well with her.
I did fill the forms in eventually by october, something which I found very difficult as one) is highlighted how much I go throw each and everyday and two) I still wasn't sure as I didnt have an official "label" for her...
I've sent them back and recieved the 8 week wait letter in october, I've been told by many people that the first submission is usually refused is this right???

Also since these forms were sent off we have recieved a "private" diagnosis as I couldn't cope with the uncertinty anymore (had to borrow the cash) and she has been diagnosis with Aspergers and dyspraxia with sensory problems...
She has also moved schools as she got kicked out of the last school...the new school say they are not having any problems and she no longer requires the school action plus or an IEP? Im really confused and feel that these issues my effect the claim and also any advice about any of the above would be greatly recieved as I don't know what to do about any of it:(

My 8 year old son was diagnosed in May this year with Aspergers and our claim was accepted first time. He was awarded HRC and LRM. I did send off the diagnoses with the the claim and also attached a letter entitled "A Typical Day" which outlined what we had to do both at home and outside the home.

My son is good as gold at school although he does not mix well but it is a totally different story at home and out and about.

I think the more information you can send with the claim the better. I got some very good advice from benefitsandwork.co.uk. They do charge a membership fee of about £15 but they have lots of good advice of how to fill the forms in and how to phrase things in the correct way.

Good luck.

dealchaser

skellett wrote: »

Thank you everyone, I will try my best to tackle all the comments left, I went down the private route as for years I knew something was wrong but dismissed it, then when she started school the quirks were picked up and a peditrition was allocated since then we have had speech therapists, play therapists, psychologists etc etc etc ALL NHS, the peditrition warned me that our area "services" were particulary poor at diagnosing children with "high functioning" disorders...The psychologist went to school and concluded (after waiting 18mths for her) that my daughter definatly wasn't to be screened in for the autistic assessment as she had good eye contact? (wel this depends, if you are telling her something she will look at you but if your waiting for her repsponse she cannot look at you and moves around when answering you, she explains this is so she can concentrate).

So basically I felt I needed to know what was going on, especially as her behaviour recently resulting in her physically assulting me (same story every 6 weeks summer term).
I admit school probably don't get as much of her behaviour as I do but this is as she is reactive to things out of my control, such as people "popping" in to visit without warning, household noises etc etc

The melotonin is the standard capsule she's only on 2mg.

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I had a meet with my son's Psychologist this week and she told me it is more common than not that a child with aspergers will behave well at school but bottle up all the bad things that happen and then when they get home explode. This is exactly what my son does. I can see the look of disbelief in his teacher's eyes when I explain to her what he is like at home. The Psychologist will be visiting the school soon and she tells me that one of the most common things they have to get across to the school is that although they do not see these behaviours it does not mean they do not happen.

starnight_2

dealchaser - my DS psychologist visited his school and it was one of the best things to happen, the teacher couldn't believe all the things she was told, but CAMHS really helped them understand and he now has an IEP and the teacher is more understanding. I hope the meeting goes well for you and your son.

Maybeanotherday

dealchaser wrote: »

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I had a meet with my son's Psychologist this week and she told me it is more common than not that a child with aspergers will behave well at school but bottle up all the bad things that happen and then when they get home explode. This is exactly what my son does. I can see the look of disbelief in his teacher's eyes when I explain to her what he is like at home. The Psychologist will be visiting the school soon and she tells me that one of the most common things they have to get across to the school is that although they do not see these behaviours it does not mean they do not happen.

Thankyou I appreciate it, problem is though people think your mad and you can't cope with simple behaviour untill they see it don't they!!!