Autistic diagnosis: one step forward, 2 steps back!

Dumbell_Diva

Hey everybody! Thought I would update you on Isaac! He was observed on Tuesday in the classsroom by the autistic spectrum team. This wasnt to diagnose him, this was the team who provide help. One thing that I am annoyed about was that his teacher placed him on a different table with the special needs one to one teacher and a young boy with aspergers for that day that he was observed, so his behaviour was obviously very different on that day!! Anyway.....Basically, it was felt that Isaac's behaviour issues stem from his speech problems, and that at school there arent many problems with his behaviour or work and that at home his actions are "probably" caused by his frustration with not being understood.

The teacher and I filled in paperwork for speech therapy and she said he wouldnt be observed again until after he has speech therapy! Im quite shocked as that still doesnt explain his lack of affection and various sensory issues. Also, the last time he had speech therapy the whole process took about a year or so...so Im just worried as I dont want to be in this situation for the next 12 months whilst we wait to see if his behaviour improves.

Yesterday he attacked my daughter's friend who came over to play, he physically pushed her across the room and told her she was banned from coming in the house, also this week he has bashed himself into the wall and blamed it on his brother. He seems quite aggresive at times, lashing out, yet other times he is sensitive. So as you can see, Im not convinced theyve got it right, as far as Im concerned, he is like a pressure valve that goes off as soon as he gets out of school and saves up all his behaviour issues and anger and anxiousness until he gets home!! Im a little out of my depth with it all to be honest, hard to know how to handle it all! The Educational Psychologist came to school last month to observe him, but Ive not had a report. Im booking him into the doctor as his sleeplessness is getting worse and he has spells of depression. I never realised it would be such a fight to get help for my son!! Its like climbing a mountain, one step forward and one step backwards!

Thank you for reading this, Helen x

cressievargo

You need to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist, not the school, and I personally would recommend one that is NOT under the employ of the school district.

My son's observation session with the school district said he was low functioning, low IQ, speech issues and autistic.

He has an exceptional vocabulary, his IQ was retested by an independent psychiatrist and was THIRTY points higher than what they said and he in fact has ADHD and anxiety issues.

From what you have said, it doesn't sound like they did a quality assessment on your son. Classroom / peer interaction and observation is only ONE part of the equation. There are many other tests that they should have done with him one on one.

Good luck and don't back down if you don't feel that they are meeting your son's needs. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!!

cressievargo

PS Some of your son's symptoms sound similar to my son's. The end of the day thing is mostly just stress related...and he feels "safe" and "comfortable" at home, so he relaxes and all the stress lets loose. My suggestion is to find positive ways to channel that. We have found that physical exercise works WONDERS for helping my son get calmed down. Honestly - we were out and a bout a few weeks ago and he was at melt down / defiant stage. We were at a park that had a hill that was kind of steep (but not super tall) and we had him run up and down it like 10 times. By the time he was done he was behaving completely different. I have many friends who also report that for whatever reason, it works for their kids as well. We also have a mini trampoline for him to jump on.

Google sensory diet and you will find some ways to help "reset" your child w/ sensory issues. School in itself is a huge sensory overload - WAY too much stimulation...noises, activities, papers on the wall, my son can even hear the lights buzzing.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions. I've been in your shoes.

alumpoflard

It is so tough. You describe it exacty right when you say one step forward, two steps back. Try ringing the educational psychcologist and asking for a copy of their report. I know we have to ring to get copies of anything. When you take him back to the doctors ask if he / you could have some sort of counselling.

We are now having to go to tribunal to try to get our son in the right school. The local authority want him in a school for severe and complex needs and say his cognitive skills (IQ) are poor, and he is low functioning. His paediatrician says he has good cognitive skills and is bordering on high functioning ( his speech lets him down) . His report counts for nothing as he is not in the education dept. he wouldn't cooperate for a cognitive test ( they tried over a year ago when he was only 3, and haven't bothered again) so we are left with the dilemma of whether to get a private test done. He has limited speech therapy at school, which doesn't help.

I hope your doctor can help with the sleeplessness, I have heard that weighted duvets help with sensory issues that can stop kids sleeping. You could try putting a blanket over a sheet to weigh him down a little? If you can get enough sleep you can cope with so much more!

Good luck, keep fighting xx

primrosehill

I second all the things said already! TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. He may or may not be autistic, but he certainly has issues that need addressing. There is no reaon at all to delay further assessment until after speech therapy - you could be waiting an age. One thing I and my friend (both mothers of Aspergers boys) have learnt over the years is don't go through the bureaucracy, go to the source. The times I've ring up secretaries/LEA case workers etc I've got nowhere; when I've phoned the community paediatric team directly and put my concerns to them they've come through pretty quickly. Tell them exactly what he's like at home. And, yes, his speech problems are no doubt causing frustration, but they don't cause sensory issues. Try and get a referral to Occupational Therapy - they can diagnose sensory issues and any conditions like dsypraxia, but - and here's where diagnosis delay can sometimes be a good thing - in our area (Essex, UK), they categorically refuse to see anyone with an autism diagnosis (so helpful!).

Good luck. Let us know how you get on. And good luck with the weight loss/maintenance (not sure what phase you're in)

x

Dumbell_Diva

Thank you for all your lovely messages. Ive decided to take Isaac back to the doctor. Last week he ran out in front of a car, we told him off, then he was talking about hurting himself. At times he really is a danger to himself. Apart from that, we've had a good week with no anxiousness about going into school. Isaac has hardly eaten a thing at school all week and is getting fussier with his foods. Cressievargo, energy burning at the park sounds great, when he is really happy he runs up and down and does headstands and thats kind of a release for him. Ive found the best thing to help him with his anxiousness is spending time with our pets. If he is in a black mood and refusing to get out of bed for school, I just put the cat in his room for 5 minutes, it calms him down and cheers him up! Im exploring horse riding (although that might be dangerous at the moment but maybe when hes a bit older) .Primrosehill, I rang paediatrician last week although still waiting for a call back, think I need to keep chasing these people! Lumpoflard, wow tribunal sounds a nightmare for you all. Thanks for the tip about the duvets, I will look into that!! Thanks again, will keep you all posted! x