Just started the road towards dyspraxia diagnosis...

[BertramBertram]

Saw GP yesterday regarding concerns with DS. She agreed that he was showing a lot of dyspraxic tendencies and has agreed to refer him. GP said she will refer him to a childrens centre which has all the experts to treat him as a 'whole child' in terms of his needs. She said that we were unlikely to get an appointment this side of Christmas but it shouldn't be too much longer after that!

I was so relieved that she didn't just ignore my concerns/write me off, that I forgot to ask what the assessment involves and what the road we have started actually entails. She did mention that the best expert in our area works out of there so we will be in good hands.

Anyone have any experience of these centres and what we can expect?

[mrslaughan]

Thats wonderful.....be interested to know who the expert in the field is! Can you share when you find out who it is?

[auntevil]

For a dx of dyspraxia, it is common for a paediatrician to rule out other conditions that could be causing similar dyspraxic type symptoms. Once this has been done, and armed with information from OT/Physio (different PCTs do it slightly differently) and possibly SALT, the paed should be able to make a dx.
What happens if and when a dx is made can be quite random, not only based on what your PCT provides, but also as specific as to what paed you get!
My DS has had a dx of dyspraxia for 6 years. I can honestly say that the only help I have been offered has come from the school. Without me asking, they offered fine motor skills OT daily.
From the NHS I have been offered nothing and have had to fight for every little last drop of help. Researching what therapies are available and what others get has been invaluable in letting me know what could have been offered.
Best advice is to keep asking on here as there are some that have been there and can suggest what has been of benefit to them. Have a research and think and decide what your DS needs to support him individually.

[BertramBertram]

Thanks Auntevil. It sounds like we are only at the start of a long journey...

I think I was just pleased that my GP took me seriously. I've downloaded a couple of books on dyspraxia and will keep asking on here. From reading some of the other threads I know the diagnosis stage is only the first battle in a potentially long war but its a war I need to win for DS!!

It was thanks to Mumsnet that I even looked at dyspraxia. All the little things in isolation didn't really add up to anything but put together...

[Paribus]

GP probably meant Nuffield centre- this is the main centre for dyspraxia in the UK. Google them, I think they have some useful info on their website. Dyspraxia foundation has a lot of information online as well- sorry, can't do links, but they are also easily google- able ;).
Good luck!

[BertramBertram]

We don't ave a Nuffield centre in Cardiff but I'm hoping its something similar! Can't find anything on google that fits for Cardiff so I guess I will have to wait and see. Will be spending the weekend reading up on dyspraxia and encouraging DS to do tasks he CAN do to help with his confidence (will also be a bit more considerate when he struggles with hs socks!!)

[LargeLatte]

Hi Bertram.

My ds2 is 5 and has a dx of dyspraxia. We have just got back from an appointment with the Visual and Multi Sensory Team at our local hospital and ds2 is making great progress.

When you are going your reading, do look into Retained Primitive Reflexes and Sensory Processing Disorder. I found the Out of Sync Child book really useful. It may be that those things don't apply to your ds, but I am really glad I read it all as it explains almost all of ds's dyspraxic symptoms.

Yell or inbox me if you ever need a shoulder.

[mrslaughan]

Also sensational kids and how to understand and support children with dyspraxia by Lois addy