Benefits of getting a diagnosis

[islandholiday]

I'm struggling a bit with DD (8) at the moment, she probably has dyslexia and we're getting that looked into with the support of the school.

But I think she has a lot of other issues as well, and I'm just debating with myself whether I should pursue my worries any further.

She has sensory issues with clothes and food.
She really needs plans communicated very clearly to her, then if one element varies she'll have a meltdown. Eg if we're in town and the plan is to go to a cafe to meet friends, if we go to a different cafe to the one we normally do it would cause her massive stress. Once I tried to cross the road a little earlier from the usual place and she screamed and cried (she was a lot younger then).

It's getting hard for me as a single parent. But I also don't know what I'd be looking for with a diagnosis. With dyslexia I'm keen to get her needs pinpointed leading to greater support from the school. With her other issues I don't know what a diagnosis of any sort would do, other than have us all understand her better I suppose.

I'd be interested to hear other people's experiences about this?

Sounds as if your daughter may be in need of another diagnosis. It could open the door to her getting some help and funding. In our school where a child has autism of some kind the school is right on top of it and tries to adapt the environment for their needs. For examples, loads of visuals to help them organise themselves through the day and a safe place to go if having a meltdown, but there are masses of other ways they would help, not least in that the class teacher would have researched the issues and managed classroom situations, trips etc, in order to avoid your daughter getting stressed. Even if they've got used to her trigger points by now, every new school year she'll make the transition easier to a new teacher if the school is aware and preps the teacher accordingly. Schools have a statutory obligation to make accommodation for any special needs but those needs would have to be identified.

You may also find that as she gets older you need a diagnosis in order to help her plan her secondary education and other elements of her future life, even if you don't need or can't get an EHCP. Find out what is in your Local Offer as well, as this can be helpful. Speak to the SENCo at your school about your concerns.

Agree with everytihgn Muttley has said.

Don't forget that her needs may become far more pronounced once puberty kicks in too, so to have a diagnosis in place before that would be very helpful.