Desperate for diagnosis and advice!!

dk67

Ok I will warn you all at the start that this will be a long post!!:D

I have been reading the thread about Dummie and her son and this made me decide to try and get others advice on what we are experiencing...

Our middle son has displayed symtoms since a very early age that I feel may be on the autism spectrum -

• very poor eye contact
  not allowing cuddles
  speaking in 'stilted/broken up' words
  screaming fits
  tantrums
  no imaginative play
  

As he has got older, these symptoms have developed and he has poor concentration, low self esteem, poor conversation skills, rituals around food and clothes etc. and so many other things

He has had an assessment at aged ?9 and we were told he has a lot of unexplained anger.

These issues have dogged his school years and last week at age 15, he was finally permanently excluded from his upper school.

There are lots of other symptoms but the local professionals believe this is learned behaviour. My husband and I feel we are being blamed or that we have caused this.

None of our other children have any similar symptoms whatsoever.

We are desperate for advice. Please if anybody can help or just offer info we would be so grateful

Js_Other_Half

Have you been in touch with the national autistic society?http://www.nas.org.uk/

They have a diagnosis page: http://www.autism.org.uk/diagnosisinfo

I have worked with a number of young people with various disabilities, including autism, and if I were you, I would use the NAS to help acquire a more up to date assessment. Whilst a lot of what you describe in isolation does not seem particularly unusual, when put together it does seem to warrant more investigation.
Good luck with it all.

dmg24

Hi dk,

Though I do not have personal experience in this area, I did read a book called 'Loving Olivia: My Life With My Autistic Daughter' by Liz Astor.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Loving-Olivia-Life-Autistic-Daughter/dp/140508815X

Liz struggled for years to get a definitive diagnosis for her daughter, and then to find suitable therapies.

As well as being an informative read in itself, the book also has lots details of further information.

Best of luck x

me_and_me_monkeys

Hi. My oldest was diagnosed with aspergers at the age of 7 last july. I had be telling everyone he had it since he was 18months (it seems to run in both mine and OH family).

In desparation I paid £500 to see a private peaditrition (sp) in london and another £500 for a psycological assessment. Not moneysaving but I did eventually find it was covered on OH work medical insurance. If you would like their names and numbers (I found them via the National Autistic Society) pm me.

good luck and i'm thinking of you

snowmaid

I agree with me and me monkeys. Aspergers is 'family' of autism and the symptoms can appear the same.

It makes me mad that children slip through unhelped like this. :mad: It is easier to say there is nothing wrong. In the meantime, while it won't solve the problem, perhaps try supplementing his diet with omega oils as it is recognised that fish oils help with concentration and behaviour.

Good luck.

dk67

Thankyou all so much - its great to hear from you all.

me and me monkeys - i have pm'd you for the details.

we have a hearing at school regarding the exclusion next week and i wish i had something concrete to say about our son's issues...

does anybody know of a diagnostic test or something?

i tried the online Connors test for ADHD and we scored over 40 - over 20 is a sure diagnosis!

yet neither us as parents or school have ever been asked to complete one!

Js_Other_Half

dk67 have you been in touch with the Independent Panel for Special Educational Advice? http://www.ipsea.org.uk/

If you look on the site you'll find details of what to do in the event of an exclusion:
http://www.ipsea.org.uk/exclusion-support-sheets.htm
hth

dk67

Js-other-half , thats excellent advice - i will be glued to the site all evening now -

thanks again!

Js_Other_Half

You are very welcome- I'm glad to have been some help.

nats3006

hiya just to say hope everything gets sorted out and good luck x