Aspergers and daphne keen

[hoxtonbabe]

Morning all,

Sorry if this sounds a bit thick as this area is new to me.

DK is seeing my DS in the autum, he shows signs of being aspergers, but I do get confused with aspergers and autism being the same as I have read post with people saying they are rather different.

What I'm trying to establish is if DK is the correct person to go to as I thought she was more for diagnosing autism, or would aspergers still come under that umbrella?!?

Others have recommended Dr Richard Soppit whom appears to have vanished off the face of the earth, but financially I don't think I could afford him anyway.

I'm so confused.

Thanks in advance.

[hoxtonbabe]

Hmmmm...reading a bit more into aspergers and given his language difficulties, he appears to fit the HFA category?!?

Gosh my head hurts :-(

[KOKOagainandagain]

DK diagnosed DS1 with ASD as did MS formally in writing. DS1 had no speech problems - precocious early talker - and MS said informally that he would previously been diagnosed with Asperger's. Some of the issues that he struggles with though are features of both HFA and AS and the label is less useful for understanding an individual child as they are highly unlikely to fit perfectly into any category.

In fact, for five years I talked to another mum at the weekly karate class. One of her DS had been diagnosed with AS but her son was so different to mine that I could not understand why she attempted to educate me as to the importance of getting diagnosis and a statement. I kept thinking 'a diagnosis of what?'. Well, durr - she could 'see' that DS1 had an ASD years before me.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

No-one can be diagnosed with Aspergers now . It has been removed as a dx category.

You can be dx with ASD and then with a list of how the ASD manifests iyswim.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

HFA isn't a category either btw.

Though you might get a report that says ASD with some HF traits iyswim.

[sophj100]

My eldest was diagnosed by Daphne Keen and she seemed very good. She did mention that his ASD was quite high-functioning, so that did give promise of his capabilities being better than others on the spectrum.

My youngest has jus been diagnosed ASD but more likely to be Aspergers but being that he is only 4 years old, this was too early to say.

She (Dr Serena Haywood) is a fantastic Developmental Paediatrician and I felt a great empathy with her. However, it is true that they are steering away from additional labels of HFA (high-functioning) and Aspergers, as this often gives permission for them being denied the correct support, as they are deemed more capable.

ASD comes with it so many variations and is impossible to define as it varies with every child. As their brains develop, they can lose some of the issues that were originally problematic but gain new ones.

It is so important not to provide this additional label and remain bespoke with each child's specific requirements, to enable them to get the correct support. Particularly within the school environment as their world is opened up to them. With my eldest having a Statement, this has an annual review to establish areas where the support is no longer needed but moved to new areas where he requires help. It is an ever shifting process, which requires regular assessment.

I hope this is of some help. x

[sophj100]

PS: Just saw you mentioned cost. Both my assessments were done through GP referral and with added support of the SALT at the Children's Centre in Siward Road. No cost involved but a little waiting time. Jill Gisby, head of the SALT (Speech & Language Therapy) at the centre is fantastic and she even accompanied me to the assessment with Dr Haywood.

[hoxtonbabe]

Right, I think I get it :-) thanks for all your replies folks

Polter, what is ICD and DSM??

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Thanks Polter.

Though I'm sure the DSM will influence future dx of those using the ICD model as ASD is not different from Aspergers. ASD is its parent iyswim.

Though I think if it was an Aspergers dx you wanted, and you fit the criteria under ICD you could argue for it.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Hoxton, DSM5 is the diagnostic criteria used in the US, ICD is used in Europe/UK but we are quite influenced by the DSM in the UK.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Also as your DS has language difficulties he probably wouldn't get/have got an AS DX. AS is high functioning (ie normal to high IQ) ASD with no language delay.

My DS has an ASD DX as his language was delayed and disordered with a lot of echolalia. He has a normal IQ, however.

[WildAndWoolly]

My two were both diagnosed by Daphne Keen as having ASD. Both had their first words at 2 but sentences started around 2/3 months later.

DS1 (on SA+) had his IQ assessed as being somewhere around the top half percent of the population and is one of the most academic in his class (despite being one of the youngest). DS2 has a full statement - pushed for by his school - because he also had selective mutism and dyspraxia and a lot of anxiety which were making it hard for him to access education but is now also well above average academically. Receptive and expressive speech is above average for both.

We were told that they would once have been diagnosed with Aspergers but I'm not sure they do that now. We tell everyone that's what they've got though as technically it is an ASD (along with things like PDA, HFA etc.)

[Ineedmorepatience]

Just to add to the confusion, my Dd3 who presents like aspergers and had no language delay got an Asd diagnosis[Not DK though]. Personally I dont think it really matters so long as you can access some support and help others to understand your child.

Good luck

[MZerbini]

Hi.

My daughter has been diagnosed with High Functioning autism by Serena Haywood. She has now been asked to attend formal assessment at the Children Centre in Siward Rd. This seems to be a similar path sophj100 has also had.

I am now waiting for an appointment at the Siward RD Centre and it's been nearly 2 months since the request was sent.
sophj100 - do you have any advice on how to chase this up? how was your experience at the centre?

Thanks

[Icimoi]

MZerbini, this is an old thread and so far as I can see sophj hasn't posted on MN since 2013. You might do better starting a new thread. Have you phoned the Centre to find out what is happening?