Ed psych referral: What to expect?

[Vagndidit]

Let me start by saying DS has always, in my opinion, been a little different. It's been a mother's instinct since he was very young that developmentally he was not progressing as he should. He was flagged for investigation for dyspraxia in reception by the school but after 2 years of tests and follow ups he was discharged from the dev pediatrician without any diagnosis and told any related problems would be firmly in the hands of the school to accommodate. To make a long story short, they didn't. I would ask every year if teachers felt there was something worth testing. They kept insisting he was "fine," just lazy. H agreed with them and I was constantly made to feel like I was over anxious and looking for a label that didn't exist.
He was finally flagged up for learning difficulties in Y6 in the run up to SATS. I had him privately screened for dyslexia at the conclusion of Y6 (school didn't think he was and wouldn't test him), and sure enough, he was diagnosed with dyslexia.

Roll on this year Y7, new secondary school, new challenges and DS is really struggling, mostly academically, although a few blips socially along the way. He cannot keep up with the pace of lessons, struggles to write, stay organized, and often dissolves into tears due to the sheer stress of it all.
SENCo has just arranged to bring in an educational psychologist for, what she says, is a full "work up." She suspects the problem goes well beyond dyslexia but won't say more than that. Part of me feels relieved that someone else suspects all is not well, and the other part of me is so angry and sad that it has taken so long to get his issues taken seriously.
What sorts of things could an Ed psych evaluation flag up? Are we looking at ASD, attention disorders, mental health concerns?

Not sure if an Ed Psych would diagnose ASD, but they might. My dd already had her diagnosis before she got in front of one, so it's hard to say. The organisation and writing issues ring lots of bells with me though. Ed Psych will look at the full range of issues including mental health, as those do have educational impacts. You're lucky having the test this far ahead of GCSEs though, you should have whatever support in place well before that, even with the evillest LA (and there are several doozies out there!).

H agreed with them and I was constantly made to feel like I was over anxious and looking for a label that didn't exist.

I've been there! I feel your pain!

Yes, I'm feeling really lucky that DS has been offered help so early in the game. In the SENCo's words she wanted to get some interventions in place now before things start to snowball out of control. Crossing fingers we'll get some answers and, for me, validation