sensory processing disorder

[user1456005966]

My daughter who's 11 was dx with spd. I'm sure she has an underlying dx to be made and I'm fighting for it atm.
She has every symptom of ADD also with symptoms of Aspergers, ASD, dyspraxia and dyslexia. She is a nightmare to get to sleep at night, she can't use cutlery, can't tie laces, struggles with dressing properly. Her attention span is short, daydreams, handwriting is and has always been a major issue for her. Organisation is poor. She hates running as she says her legs don't want to go as fast as she does.

Wondering for thoughts advice etc? Please.
She's about to sit her sats and I'm worried she won't have enough time to process the questions. School refused a ed psych as she's the most well behaved child at school, tho at home she has meltdowns, gets physically aggressive, doesn't follow instruction.
Any advice please

Forgot to say she has panic attacks, nightmares etc too

If your immediate concern is for exams you could have an access arrangements assessment privately, which would cost 100 to 125 pounds.

The school is not obliged to use it, as exam concessions are a SENCO decision within the school. But if significant concessions are recommended it may provide a reason for the school to take your other concerns more seriously.

That being said, you say nothing about her school performance or attendance in your post. Is she progressing well, and are there any concerns raised by the school?

She loves school and wishes there was a weekend school, it's currently half term and we've had angry outbursts etc because she wants to go to school....routine I guess?
Academically she has always done very well apart from hand writing, concentration and organisation. Until recently, where she has not been attaining as she has done. She's scoring low in her weekly tests and practice sats papers. Teachers have wrote in her books if Jess was to take time and concentrate she could hugely improve her work.

How do I go about having an access arrangement done please ? Who do I contact please?

You mention that SPD has been formally diagnosed, when was the assessment carried out? If it was within the last 26months you may be able to ask that assessor to complete the forms for you, assuming certain tests were carried out and that the school will accept the forms once complete.

General guidance on KS2 access arrangements can be found here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/key-stage-2-tests-how-to-use-access-arrangements

I do not know where to find a register of Ed Psychs, your school may do.

Specialist Teachers holding an APC are also qualified to carry out these assessments (as well as diagnostic assessments for certain SpLDs). You can find a register of these on the websites of Patoss, BDA or Dyslexia Action .

You can verify that a person's APC is current by going to www.sasc.org.uk/Assessors.aspx

Thank you for that wealth of information, very helpful and will look over it shortly. DD was diagnosed with SPD in April 14, we have since moved. However school nurse has put in a referral for DD to be seen by the sensory OT in our area we live now.

I'm glad others could help you find who to contact, it must be stressful dealing with what sound like a mostly uncooperative school that isn't helping.

Advice on the SPD (from an Autistic adult with SPD among others with Autistic kids...), I recommend looking into what's been dubbed Sensory Diet. Google has tons on it - this is one of my favourite sites on it even though the video on it is dead. In a nutshell, it's discussing with your DD different types of sensory input and such and finding out through discussion and observation [some keep a journal to see better] what kind of sensory activities helps her focus vs which ones are distracting, which ones are comforting, which ones help her release extra energy and which help her gain energy when she's flat/tired (for Autism and ADD those last two can make a huge), and then particularly with kids, working to find a way she regularly gets what she needs. Some things can do both release excess energy while giving 'better' energy if that makes sense [like people discuss running or trampolining helping them think better and feel more energetic afterwards even though initially it uses energy] and some things that are hard for others to notice can be a drain or set things off.

I find it helpful in my family and I know many other families that find it a good first step, especially when waiting for a referral to give more specialist help.

Thank you will have a look tomorrow. Currently waiting for DD to go to sleep....she can't switch off, is afraid to go to sleep but doesn't know why. I don't know how to help her! We do all the usual ...bedtime routine, no eating after 7, calm lights music etc just really losing the will at the moment

Have you heard of 'retained reflexes' or 'retained primitive reflexes'?
I work with a few children who have had this therapy and have found they improved markedly. Google it.

Our Ed Psych evaluation was upwards of £500 but included more than just assessment requirements.

She sounds very much like DS2. We've got our first OT session on Thu.

Hi
My sons Ed Psyc report was £400 but very thorough and has finally answered a lot of questions we had.
It's always useful to get an OT report alongside this which was £250.
Together I have now finally grasped what was happening when a lot of teachers missed the whole picture over many years of struggling and can now help my son age 12 tremendously going forwards. He will now be able to use his laptop at school to stop him getting tired( JHS) and no contact sports which were dangerous for him with this condition. Plus regarding the slow processing / short term memory issues , he will be afforded extra time in exams.
This was one of the best decisions I made to go ahead privately with the reports.