13 external teacher suggested Austim : what are the steps we need to take to explore this

[FabulousFebruary]

As above silly question maybe but could it be docs ? Elsewhere

@Needlenardlenoo what do you mean .

She has an ok diet ,she will try new things but at a push
It's not texture etc .
Her diet is ok. Could be better.

There is barely any support for high functioing diagnosed autistic and adhd children. The biggest support comes from the parent / child learning about themselves and learning ways to help themselves

Some adjustments can be made at school and work ect, but it's not life changing like people expect, it's for the parents mostly to do the work to help their child

To the contrary, it boils my blood how many SENCOs that I speak to on a daily basis where their level of knowledge is far below what their pupils deserve and I have to remind them of their legal responsibilities daily.

I am beyond shocked that students are coming into practice without the basic understanding of an EHCP and their responsibilities under Section F.

Yep, I totally get where you're coming from and don't think you should feel obliged to do anything you don't want to or don't think is necessary based on the opinion of one person. If your DD is happy and thriving that's the main thing, there can definitely be a downside to diagnosis.

You may find that as hormones change through the teenage years, that situation also changes though so do be prepared for that.

Just knowing neurodivergence is part of who you are can also be helpful. On a personal level I was diagnosed with ADHD just over a year ago at 49. Obviously no one knew what it was when I was growing up, much less than it affected girls. I've not gone down the medication route as I have a physical issue that means I can't take stimulants and the other medication options are too faffy for me to contemplate.

What the diagnosis has done is explain to me why I've never felt I really fitted in, and that the way I've done things throughout my entire life has been different/wrong. I don't try to force myself to do things the 'right' (neurotypical) way anymore which has been really liberating!

I've also realised, through the course I'm studying as well as my work, that there were so many indicators for me throughout my childhood and teenage years that either went unnoticed, or I was too scared to tell people about (I now know I had raging OCD from the age of about 8, for instance).

I absolutely wouldn't suggest rushing down the diagnostic path, but do be aware that things change and your daughter may be doing a better job of masking than your realise.

Communication is the best thing and making any decisions about diagnosis together, if and when you are both comfortable to do so. You can also get pre-diagnosis counselling to help you both make the decision if that's the tight thing for your DD.

If she's managing ok, maybe you dont need to do anything.
Maybe just let it lie for a while.
The autistic girls network has good resources/ reading.

As a mum of an ASD 12yo I can often spot it in girls very quickly. Which I guess is what happened with this person. I hope they were sensitive in how they saud it to you though.

I'm not happy about it either so I do what I can both in my teaching role, on here, and lobbying.

That's all any of us can do really.

There is the drawback tthat it would be on her medical records and she would have to reveal it if asked eg travel insurance or it would be invalid.

The advantages are more about having her needs documented so she can understand herself better, as can anyone who knows about it, like yourself and school, college if she chooses to tell people.

You don't know how she will get on say at uni. The diagnosis can bring extra support.

But often it's more useful for younger children getting ech plans, dla etc.

@Sockskeepmyfeetwarm what I don't like is how her form teacher speaks about her. She has nickname for her which I dislike and feel it embeds this mask she puts on.
Fortunately she also dislikes it and we have spoken anout her saying this at some point.

Id like to try her to be more flexible and try things but I don't know what suppprt we can get for that and to be less self conscious

@FcukBreastCancer

As an example when she has a ballet show she found it agonising having to go into a huge hall with lots of girls from different classes she doesn't know. It was really hard to get her in .
Very stressful nearly let the show dows the second time her friend happened to he going on the same time and she was absolutely fine and was desperate to go back and through her friends met more.

So you haven't actually had any concerns that your daughter may be ND and she is not struggling, but because one teacher (of what?) has been very unprofessional and said that they she may be autistic, you are questioning what you should do, whilst also saying she doesn't need any support, so why seek a diagnosis? Why do you particularly trust this person's opinion, when no previous concerns have been raised by yourself, or previous teachers/schools?

No professional, unless they are qualified to diagnose, should suggest to a parent that their child seems to have a condition, especially not just based on a couple of other children with similar behaviour that they know.

@Namechangwbillionthtime I missed you message about extreme shyness and inattentive adhd