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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

What do I ask the GP to arrange a referral for ?

3 replies

raingoawaytodayagain · 05/10/2021 16:27

DS has had Covid, but it's really prompted me to realise he's struggling with his school work as goes into a dreamworld. It's very hard to explain, one minute he's present, the next he's acting out something, he's off his chair and you can't get his attention. It's his version of playing, all make believe. He doesn't really play with toys and has never been that taken with them. The dream acting involves playing out senerios, and repetitive movements, but this is the only time he stims ( if it is that?)

He does like collecting things, like certain cars. He is really into computer games too, I have no idea how as me & DH are clueless on these.

Speech delay, did say words pre 1 but then didn't speak until 2.5.

Other background had his tonsils & adenoids out due to excess dribbling age 3. Some glue ear issues.

Doesn't seem to have any friends but everyone says hi to him and he's gaining the confidence to answer now.

He's 6 so year 1. Does get anxiety about going into school and being left anywhere. He cries hysterically, but will be happy if I'm there, but not involved.

I'd say he's ok on food, not adventurous, but not too fussy. Won't have milk or milk in cereal. Can be faddy, so for a few months for example has refused Bolognese and now will eat it. So don't think food isnt an issue really.

Work at school- writing and maths behind maybe more like year R level and writes massive, but is only 6, reading is ok.

What do I ask the GP to refer him for? Potential autism? ADHD ? Both? Nothing ? I don't really know what it could be ?

OP posts:
Whenheydontmeanwhattheysay · 05/10/2021 20:50

What do school say, have you spoken to them? It was the school that referred DS for assessment.

raingoawaytodayagain · 06/10/2021 06:11

@Whenheydontmeanwhattheysay they wanted to watch and wait until year 1, to see if that resolved some of the behaviour. I think it was a massive cope out, but there seems a massively high amount of children in DS year that have needed Senco support. Just one of those things, maybe the school has a good reputation for it, or maybe it's just life these days as we are more aware. The Senco was off, then they go a temp one and they went off sick too and you can see how it's gone on. My DS new teacher has also been off, and DS with covid and I don't know it's only been 4 ish weeks since the start of term. The issue is even if he coped at school in year 1, what do I do wait until the end of the year again and find he's really dropped behind?

OP posts:
Toomanyminifigs · 06/10/2021 09:25

I would go to your GP with a list of things you're concerned about. You mention your DS has had glue ear/adenoid issues in the past. I take it your DS has no hearing issues now?

The GP can refer your DS on to either a community paediatrician or to CAMHS.

These people are the 'gatekeepers' and will assess your DS and take his history from you. If they then feel he warrants further investigation, they will put him on the wait list to be seen by a team for an assessment for autism/ADHD.

I have to warn you that in my area, the wait list time is over 2 years (probably longer now due to Covid) so it's worth getting the ball rolling asap. It can't do any harm to try and get him into the system now.

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