To wonder why it is deemed acceptable to call a diagnosis "labelling"?

[JakeBullet]

This is about a post in another thread (not a thread about a thread) where a poster wrote...

"I also believe that very few children have actual SN and think there's far too much labelling, and some children are just little shits".

As the parent of child who has been "labelled" (with autism, dyspraixa, dyslexia and ADHD) I find this all too prevalent attitude appalling.

My child is not "labelled", he has complex difficulties and challenges which he has to cope with every single day of his life. Just because they are not immediately visible does not mean they are not there.

His difficulties are not made any easier by those who doubt these diagnoses....from relatives to other parents to strangers in the street. None of whom have any medical training you understand....they just "know" it is "labelling" and that these conditions "don't really exist"

"ADHD means naughty child" (for example) just as "dyslexia" means "can't read", autism means "can't talk" and dyspraxia (if they have ever heard of it means "a bit clumsy".

My DS is thriving, he is thriving because in school they DO believe in his diagnoses and they support him.

He is thriving because a paediatrician prescribed medication when he was 8 years old because she was concerned he was not achieving his potential. Three months after starting medication he could finally read.

He is thriving because I meet his needs for sensory issues and support him.

He is thriving because there are still thankfully many who DON'T believe all the crap they read about children being "labelled" and DO understand.

For those of you who DON'T get this ....shame on you. You have much still to learn. Perhaps start with the National Autistic Society and then move outwards to the surrounding conditions.

It is something I feel strongly about. Why would I post it in SN? That would be like preaching to the converted.

You dont care much about it Theo because you don't have to live with it. I hope you never will either.

There's always one! Jesus wept! MrsDeVere

It isn't always hard to get a diagnosis, my DS was diagnosed with AS aged 7 after two visits to one paediatrician. She may have consulted his OT and SALT but they did not do any actual assessment as part of the process.

I had people asking if I was worried about him being labelled and it has niggled at me because of not wanting him to be discriminated against. Two year later and I am glad we had the diagnosis, but not sure how much difference it has actually made to the help he receives, but it does make it easier to explain why he is like he is. I am applying for statutory assessment now and feel a lot more confident about it than I would have done without the diagnosis, time will tell on that one.

As for the original AIBU, I really don't think there's too much labelling, diagnosis, whatever, the diagnoses are not handed out willy-nilly. Self diagnosis by parents might be one thing, I do know some parents who are fairly sure their DC is on the spectrum, dyspraxic etc, but never found anyone using it as an excuse for bad behaviour. Deep down, many of us find it really hard when our DC is finally diagnosed even though we know it is for the best and have known ourselves for a long time that there are SNs, I just can't imagine doing it for attention seeking etc reasons.

I have no idea what specific thread this one is apparently about. We often have people marching into the SN boards telling us about the evils of "labelling". You could say this is a thread about an awful lot of threads.

YANBU. My dd's primary teachers wouldn't get her assessed because they 'didn't want to label her'. But some did call her lazy and careless. Thankfully a senco finally listened, sent her to an OT and she confirmed dyspraxia which I had known all along. Since she had the report it has made a huge difference to her support in school, and her secondary school are excellent.

Labelling is important if you look at it like a medical diagnosis which is what it is. Diagnosis is not only a key to unlock help and support but can also make a huge difference to the child's self identity. Since her dx dd has blossomed, knowing why she is like she is, finding others she identifies with to talk to and having access to the help she needs to do her best at school.

As for those who say children are over labelled and just little shits etc, I have no time whatsoever for such delightful people.

In my experience, once the professionals in our local authority (SALT and EP) decided for themselves that DD was autistic, they stopped offering us speech therapy and any other kind of support, diagnostic hearing tests and checks on her tonsils and adenoids, and started concentrating on getting us to 'accept her limitations'. Funnily enough, we declined their kind offer to get a formal diagnosis for DD's difficulties and continued to push for hearing tests and speech therapy. The EP actually said to me 'even if she does have a hearing loss, it won't be the whole story' when trying to persuade me not to bother with tests. DD is basically deaf on one side and has very variable hearing on the other thanks to horrific glue ear. No, it's not the entire story with her, but should we just leave her deaf and unable to hear us half the time because she may be autistic?

That's what 'labelling' means to me. Giving up on DD. It's not a way to access help or treatment, it's a way for them to give up on her.

I have an official diagnosis of dyspraxia. Getting that diagnosis has made a huge difference to me. It finally got me the educational help that I needed and more importantly it made me realise that actually I'm just as clever as my sister . DS2 and DS4 don't have proper diagnoses, just a long list of difficulties. I spend so much time fighting to get the help that they need because I've experienced first hand the difference it makes when the right support is given.

The term special needs causes a lot of confusion with special educational needs as well. it really isn't a great description.

That is shit, MummyToMog,

The language changes every few years.
The daily reality of what's covered by whatever phrase doesn't.
The idiots don't.

I can't stand when people bang on about finding subjects dull just because it doesn't affect their own lives.

Am therefore glad Theodorous has gone and hidden the thread.

Which is actually an interesting debate. To some.

I can't stand when people bang on about finding subjects dull just because it doesn't affect their own lives.

Am therefore glad Theodorous has gone and hidden the thread.

Which is actually an interesting debate. To some.

I can't stand when people bang on about finding subjects dull just because it doesn't affect their own lives.

Am therefore glad Theodorous has gone and hidden the thread.

Which is actually an interesting debate. To some.

Oops sorry

Said with emphasis, Fanjo

You know what I find hilarious?
When people actually think that there is lots of help "out there" for kids with sn/sen!
I had it said to me more than once when we were trying to help our ds...
"Oh, well there is so much help out here is isn't there?"
Erm....no :(

I know that with posts like these special needs seems to equate only to ASD related disabilities, but there are many disabilities where there is no diagnosis, or a collection of different diagnoses.

My son is disabled, he has special needs, he has lots of 'labels' - non verbal, globally delayed, sensory processing difficulties, social communication difficulties, a heart defect, gross hyptonia etc.

Each one of these labels helps us find the right support for him. A diagnosis would be like being handed a torch in a dark room. Accessing support without a diagnosis is more difficult (whatever the disability).

For me (and DS) his dx is a convenient shorthand. It doesn't change his capabilities or his disability one iota; it does mean that people have a bit of an understanding of the type of difficulties he faces.

And entirely agree with Polter that his disability means he has additional needs. Incidentally I'm in the process of applying for DLA for him. If he awarded it, does that mean he has a proper disability rather than just a label?

So many constructive and interesting points on this thread. I'm glad I didn't read the original :)

CailinDana it's refreshing to hear the social definition of disability put so insightfully.

When I first became disabled I read a paper on the idea of disability as a social construct. I remember my intense feeling of 'no!' that's belittling my physical condition, the only thing fettering my life is this disease I have. I was still identified as a 'normal' person who was ill at that point.

I particularly remember that, as after three years of experiencing firsthand the social side of disability and I only wish I didn't know how disabling other people are. The illness is not the wrong label.

Being 'disabled' is definitely a bad label to have for me, as for most/ many/ the vocal people, disabled as a label excludes competence, independence, privacy and sexuality.

Unfortunately, I have to allow myself to be labelled as disabled in order to access funding, care and appropriate job adjustments. It's an unpleasant double bind which leaves me yearning for the days when my illness was the main problem.

Ouryve

"a fair amount of Chronic Ostrich Syndrome"

Ahh, COS is a sadly under diagnosed condition :)