asd(?) - what can I do to help while we wait?

[RoleyMo64]

Hi

We're just going down the diagnosis route with my son (11) who seems to have a whole raft of complicated problems.

EP said he had specific learning difficulties including visual processing problems, and social communication problems. Thanks to this board he is now seeing a behavioural optometrist and the vision therapy seems to helping with that.

But we've now been told that although school referred him to the autism team, the referral didn't get through. So we now have to re-send, and another six-month wait.

What can I do to help him in the meantime?

The biggest problem is probably the language difficulties (gets frustrated when can't express himself, which is often), and just his difficulty in reading social situations when means he is so often angry/upset with other people.

Any advice?

Thanks

[IndigoBell]

The quickest thing to start with are:

• Multivitamins - Try Omega, Zinc, Magnesium, Vit B6, Vit D.
  
  
• Diet - either gluten free / dairy free, or high protien, low sugar.
  
  
• Epsom salt baths
  
  If he doesn't make good eye contact, then he will have difficulty reading social situations.
  
  There is a lot you can do, and vision therapy is a good start, but they all take lots of time, money and patience.
  
  The absolute best therapy I've done is Tinsley House - but I've done a lot of others which also helped.

[RoleyMo64]

thanks for that.

We're on multivitamins, largely because he is an extremely fussy eater and I don't think he gets enough of anything.

We're all veggie and going gf/df would cut the list of foods he eats down to just fruit.

Is it possible to get advice re fussy eating & going gf/df? Would an NHS dietician do it if I got a referral through the GP or would I try to find a private one?

Epsom salt baths sound worth trying.

Thanks again

[IndigoBell]

Being an extremely fussy eater (particularly only eating carbs or only eating white carbs) is a common symptom of ASD.

It's related to everything else :)

I don't think a dietician will be able to tell you anything you don't know. You know his diet is wrong - you just don't know how to change it.

Which Omega supplement do you give him?

He almost certainly needs more protein than he's getting.

I think trying to improve his diet is a battle worth fighting. (And I always 'pick my battles')

[andisa]

Invite friends over and support their play. Be close by and observe and give positive feedback when you can - after the event maybe.

Tell him specifically what he gets right. Eg: witha much younger son I'd say: "good walking on the stairs". "Well done for sharing your lego with your sister"

They have to be taught (or my son did) and try to praise good understanding/behaviour as a way of teaching. This way criticsm of what they get wrong is easier to take. Confidence boosing helps them want to learn social skills and get them right.

It is hard work but we have reaped the benefits.

[IndigoBell]

Epsom Bath Salts - should help with sleep problems. (But there have been threads on here when it's done the opposite :( )

Not sure about the eczema, but I've used it when my kids have had normal cuts and grazes with no problem.

It's very dilute :) One cupful to a whole bath.

And it's a salt not a oil, so you really don't notice it once it's dissolved at all.

[Lambskin]

I don't know if this will be relevant to you if your ds has problems with vision but we have found that emotion cards that SALT gave us have helped ds to express himself better. We're trying to increase his emotional vocab which is sorely needed. At the moment we have angry and happy and nothing in between!

[IndigoBell]

Imogen - I didn't buy Epsom bath salts from the chemist. I buy it from here

If you already give your DS a magnesium supplement you shouldn't need Epsom Salts as well.

A hot bath is always a good idea :) Also I've used lavender oil on pillow.

(I know you've been unable to get Melatonin from your paed)

[EmmaCH23]

my son is waiting to see a paediatrician (isn't one yet 1yr wait) he's 4 and is behind with education. struggles to communicate which can lead to lashing out at friends and school staff. he has to be woken up in the morning for toilet or he does make it. we took him off gluten he got better but the blood test says he hasn't a problem with gluten. he sees his dad but his dad won't communicate effectively with me. I am talking to my children center worker, school and hv. he's such a loving child and can be so bright when he puts some effort in. has anyone got any advice? school suggested speech therapist I'm definitely considering it.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Hi emma and welcome to the board. You have replied on a really old thread! I think to get good advice and support you might need to start a need thread.

In the meantime speech and language(SALT) is a really good place to start and can open doors to other professionals.

Good luck