Aspergers/ASD support thread

quietheart

Hi Olliebeak
So many things you've said about your grandson remind me of my son. The scary outburts, preferring company of younger children, the playground behaviour, preference for numbers/science over literacy (he told me there's right and wrong to maths so he can 'get' it) and he could tell the time at five with no help whatsoever. He was diagnosed with mild asperger's in December. I would see his gp and ask for a specific ASD referral, can an EdPsych diagnose ASD, ithought it would be a physciatrist? If they don't get anywhere there is an ASD unit at ParkView Clinic in Birmingham that is a nationwide 2nd opinion centre, that's where my son was diagnosed and they are brilliant. My son's also moving to Junior School in September, school have already started a transition book for him including photos of all the new people places (especially toilets etc) that he can look at every day during the school holidays. He will get to spend time with his new teacher during the last term of year 2. Little things like that can help a lot. I do hope things get moving for him. We've found our son's outbursts have been much easier to manage since diagnosis as we're no longer feeding the stress as we understand him better. Let us know how things go.
Snaggles, sorry to hear Ryan is suffering so much. You must feel exhausted. When you got the diagnosis did you have any offer of help or support? I'm attending one of the National Autistic Society's Help programme next Friday, they hold them nationwide, I report back on how it goes. Hope things settle down soon....

Sarahsaver

Well, I have some good news, sort of.
Today i went to see the psychologist re. ds1, for the results of all the test he has done recently. We are getting somewhere AT LAST.
he has them baffled
he has an 'outstanding' I.Q. score when tested on verbal ability.
His organisational ability measures at a below average I.Q. level. It is official. He IS an enigma :eek:
They strongly suspect something on the autistic spectrum.
he likes animals more than people.

blue_monkey_2

What a lovely post Princess sparkles and thank you for sharing, it is nice to get some insight into the future

Ollibeak, you could have been writing about my son. He has recently beendiagnosed with Oppositional dipute Disorder and with ebing on the autistic spectrum. Unfortunately these things will take forever and will drag on - you just have to keep on fighting and not giving up.

I would suggest to do what I did - go to your GP to have him referred (it can only be the GP!!) I was referred in November and thing are only jut starting to happen now so everything is slow. My son has seen ADHD specialist who said he had ODD but if he did not imrpove by age 7 then h would be reffered back for ADHD but everything you have written is the same as how my son is now at age 4.

At the end of the day, it never hurts to ask and be wrong it it be nothing but it would hurt to ignore it thining it is nothing. I would rather be wrong and at least the referral is then done and you have some answers I hope that helps.

blue_monkey_2

Snaggles, sorry to hear you are having a bad time, Ryan got in trouble today as well for hitting a child on the head. Do you think it is something to do with the moon phases!! Would be interesting if they all have 'bad times' at the same time wouldn;t it.

Sarahsaver, at least you are on the road to getting somewhere now, I think CAMHS will be next, or did you see them already.

Got a call myself today as there has been a cancelled appointment at the CDU and so I have taken that - it is for next Wednesday so will see what that brings.

Court date for eviction is looming ever nearer, the new choice based lettings comes out tomorrow from the council so maybe there will be something on the list we can apply for. Fingers crossed. Can't believe I am so nervous over it, LOL.

In the meantime I realised that time was dragging. I've 2 cat going to an animal shelter on Tuesday. I need to find a farm home for Rickie because the cat home won't take her (she is half feral and they won't be ale to rehomeher) Hubby has booked the day off so I can take the cats while the kids in school else they'll be devastated. The 2 left are more tolerant, IF we get hostel accmodation they'll clearly have to go as well, but if we get housed they can tolerate the rough stuff he gives out so can come wih us. The only worry is that they will not be able to go out for the first few weeks and they are not indoor cats, we can deal with that though. It is hard to get the balance just right, isn't it.

quietheart

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Well, I have some good news, sort of.
Today i went to see the psychologist re. ds1, for the results of all the test he has done recently. We are getting somewhere AT LAST.
he has them baffled
he has an 'outstanding' I.Q. score when tested on verbal ability.
His organisational ability measures at a below average I.Q. level. It is official. He IS an enigma :eek:
They strongly suspect something on the autistic spectrum.
he likes animals more than people.

I got so fed up of health professionals calling my son an enigma! His symptoms weren't 'classic' so therefore he's an enigma...... He also was tested and came out with high IQ and terrible sequencing of a 3 yr old (he's 7). Very ASD.
Hope you get some good advice now, getting a dx has helped our family loads. Good luck.

AnnieH

I had my 2nd appointment with the vary nice lady at the child and family therapy centre today. She still hasn't me DD1 - we're just talking about her at this time.

I came out feeling absolutely drained. She was asking really direct questions that really hit me hard - she obviously knew what she was talking about. I feel glad that she understands where I'm coming from and she gives me the impression (without actually saying it) that DD1 sounds as though she has AS/ASD.

The question that hit me the most (and made me cry) was "Do you grieve for the fact that she is not the same as everybody else?"

Olliebeak

Thank you snaggles, rover and bluemonkey.

We've just been going along with what the school are doing/suggesting and thought that was THE way to go forward. Didn't even give the GP a second thought!

I'll put it to my daughter and see if I can talk her into taking dgs1 to see him. I've actually met their GP through my employment/clients - so may be an opportunity to sound him out about our concerns.

At least it's another avenue to explore.

shazrobo

not posted for a while, but felt i needed to get things off my chest, daniel has had such a bad time at school today, started with other kids hitting and kicking him, of course he got angry, and had major meltdown, staff who can usually restrain him, had no chance today, he was just wild, so the police were informed, daniel has been arrested and charged with assault, feel like a bad mum tonight, both sons 12 and already both have a criminal record, so scared for what the future holds, adhd and oppositional defiant disorder are not taken into account when charging someone
#

Sue-UU

I was so sad to read that shazrobo, both for you and for Daniel. Kids can be so darned cruel at times and it's bad enough for any children, but to be like it to Daniel it's no wonder he flipped. Then the staff not being able to calm him - call the police?!!! That seems so wicked to me mind. Is there NO other person 'body' they can go to before resorting to the police ? Thoughts of your young lads having criminal records through no real fault of their own is downright appalling and wicked!!! Don't feel that you're to blame or are a 'bad mum' though as it's an awful system that let's police charge them with assault. I honestly find it hard to take in so I can only think I can imagine a little of what you're feeling and you must be devastated. Little wonder you felt you needed to get it all off you chest.

All best wishes and plentiful hugs, Sue.

sarah1975uk

Sorry havent been about for a while. Things have been horrendous! Son has now been excluded again was due to go back to school Tuesday but today was called into the school to be given a letter saying being extended. The school cant deal with him and feel hes being pushed aside and discriminated against because of his special needs. Ed Psych has already told them although diagnosis is on its way. She has confirmed that he is definitely on ASD and is strongly pointing towards Autism/Aspergers. Other diagnosis’s are also forthcoming too. So has also confirmed the school can and should have things in place to cope with him. He up to this point of exclusion been on part time schooling of 3 hours a day. The part time job I had secured I am supposed to start Monday and now cannot because of the exclusion. Social services have appointed worker for us but has cancelled twice in the same week due to double booking with someone else! Ive been totally messed about and its doing my head in. Son is now on medication which is making him more tired but aggression seems to be worse. He tried to stab me 2 weeks ago at school in front of teachers and has battered his sister the other day. Ive had to get the police out to him too. I know he cant help what hes doing but the “System” is letting us and him down big time and he is not getting the help he deserves and needs. I feel so helpless and peed off its unbelievable. The statement of SEN should be thru soon advice is all due in on Monday, so we shall see what comes out of that. Nobody in this whole situation seems to have a clue about what they are doing and I the mean time me and the kids are just merely struggling day to day. Was given today a copy of the school’s advice for the statement and its just total crap from beginning to end and full of many contradictions, they just have not got a clue about his special needs/disabilities or how to handle them and it seems that all professional input toward the school re; my son has gone over their head completely. Thank god the statement advice isn’t solely reliant on the school advice.