Anyone have a FC with Aspergers?

[peppapigbutty]

Hello to all you Foster Carers.

I have been fostering for 14 years and have had a number of placements. A month ago a nearly 5 year old was placed with us. She is a very engaging little girl but I find some of her behaviour a bit odd. I have googled and found a great deal of her behaviour mimicks that of a child with Aspergers Syndrome or High Functioning Autism. In the main her behavior in itself is not a problem. However there are aspects which I feel may be dangerous.

I have spoken to her SW about my concerns but she says the Educational Psychologist has a huge workload and will be unlikely to see her.

Would I be allowed to discuss this with her Doctor with a view to the Dr referring her to someone?

I have never been in this postion before.

Hi Peppa - I am a retired sw with 30 yrs experience in fostering. As you are a very experienced carer it is important that your observations are taken on board. I doubt anyway that the Ed Psych is the right person to assess this child. The only other thing available is usually CAMHS (and they usually have a long waiting list and in my expeirence are sometimes limited, it is the old child guidance service) I would have thought that this child should be seen by a clinical psychologist and I would ask your sw if she can refer her to one. Some LAs have one as part of the service, but not all.

I think all a GP could do would be to make a referral to CAMHS but to be honest I would go via the sw and keep plugging away at it. Think it would be a bit unwise to go to GP rather than go via sw.

Hope you get some help for this child.

Thank you NanaNina.

Yes you are right CAHMS have a very heavy workload and I know from experience that the child is unlikely to be seen by them anytime soon. LO is due to start school after easter. Maybe school will pick up on some of her odd behaviour traits. hopefully this will go some way to back up what I am saying.

Our LA refer children to the clinical psychologist at CAMHS.

I guess I will have to be patient.

Hi peppa
I have a birth son with similiar problems and the first port of call is to take lo to your GP and get a referral to the community peads, they will be able to assess and diagniose.

You will have to find out if permission is needed for this and inform sw of your concerns. the other route is via the child's looked after medical where your concerns can be raised and referrals made.

Also be aware that attachment disorder looks very like autism in many ways. My youngest has attachment disorder and is very like my birth child

Hi sumum

Yes this is why I am faltering a bit. After reading up on Aspergers I recognise that some of the signs mimic Attachment Disorder.

BUT something is telling me that this LO is experiencing more than "just" attachment disorder. I am not minimising "Attachment Disorder" in any way, as this is an extremely difficult "condition" for both child and carer. I have experience of children with RAD and there is no doubt that this LO is suffering attachment disorder also. There just seems to be more to her behaviour if you see what I mean?? As lovely as she is.

I think you should follow that 'something' up. These odd feelings we foster carers have are often proved correct.

You wouldn't feel so worried if her behavouir was something you had come across before.

It may not be asd - but as you say something is making you uneasy about her and it may be another condition or issue.

It is always better to get intervention and help as early as possible.