Paed report (asd) - dashes hopes of getting a statement before we've even begun

[BialystockandBloom]

I've been waiting for the paed's dx report for ds before sending off our application for Statutory Assessment, with the foolish thought that it would give us back-up for our request.

It basically says ds is "only just" on the autistic spectrum, and that he will be just fine and dandy with support from nursery/school staff with "advice from Autism Partnership if requested by the school".

FFS. After spending 4 hours with ds (who was on pretty good behaviour that day), seeing virtually nothing of his real tantrums, aggression, rigidity, repetition, and of course nothing of his total lack of interaction with any of his peers at nursery, etc etc etc (you all know the drill), this paed can basically tell us (and the LA) that he will not need any support from outside the school.

Perhaps he would have liked to see it today when ds followed me round the room spitting on me for 15 minutes because I told him he couldn't have a 5th satsuma, then when I had to take myself and DD into the playpen for safety because he was lashing out so badly.

Thank fuck we can afford (for now) to do ABA but where the hell will it leave us in a year's time when ds starts primary school??

I am so gutted and so angry. The application now will basically rest on my statement, and how can I prove it?

Sorry for the rant.

Apply anyway, will nursery support you? Give evidence? Health visitor? Anyone? ...But anyway just do it! Its not about dx its about educational needs. I hope you feel better and get a SA. :)

...could you get a second opinion? Send in a behaviour diary?

Write back to him and ask him to remove any educational advice since that is the remit of the school and education service.

Point out that such a report could stay with ds for a very long time and get in the way of any educational issues arising later if not now.

Mention that 4 hours of observing your ds is nothing like the number of hours you and his teachers will see.

If that doesn't change his report then ask for a second opinion. You are entitled. Then get an Indpended EP to talk SPECIFICALLY about his educational needs.

It isn't the end of the road. Just another bloody annoying hurdle.

And yep. Don't worry TOO much. YOu can argue that the paed isn't qualified to have an opinion on educational aspects, when it comes to it.

Thank you, I do feel a bit better for getting the rant off my chest

And I suppose this is the first of many uphill battles (if experiences on this board are anything to go by) so I mustn't get disheartened at this early stage.

Nursery did provide a report for the dx assessment which is pretty helpful so I'll definitely include that. I was also supposed to have a meeting with them on Friday to discuss the next steps but they've cancelled it

Agree with Star here, this is beyond his remit. He should not be commenting on how much help he needs in school. That is a matter for the SEN pathway - joy that this is!

x-posted Star.

Didn't know you could do that (get the paed to change his report I mean). I'll certainly try, though it took 5 weeks to get this report and I need to get the SA request out asap, so it might delay things even more.

How do you go about getting an EP (I assume this is Ed Psych?)? Is this through the nursery?

Yeah, course you can. I mean, I have no idea whether he will or not, but it certainly isn't unheard of. Many paeds are happy for parents to suggest ammendments and do change their reports if they can do so without questioning their integrety. After all, a 'useful' report is surely what they intend?

You'll have to get an independent EP and do a bit of research. You'll probably need one at some point anyway (all fighters do) so you may as well investigate.

You don't need to include the paed report in the SA. You can just say you have a dx, and give the name of the person who gave it. They will contact the paed directly and he has 6 weeks or so to respond.

It shouldn't hold up the process.

I was in fact thinking that I wouldn't include the dx report. Might be the best thing to do at this point. You're all right, it isn't up to the paed is it? Not sure why I've been getting het up about it.

Sorry for more questions Star but how do you find an independent EP?

I dunno really. I asked on here, and on ABA UK and SOS SEN, and IPSEA for recommendations and then I called a few for their rates.

I was specifically looking for one that understood about ABA AND tribunals (although the two generally go hand in hand)

Don't panic it's not the end of the world.It's all about need, not dx.I would be asking for that comment to be removed.Our paed asked why we were wanting a statement when ds was doing o.k academically! Gave us dx of 'behavioural difficulties' even though various professsionals suspect AS. I wrote disputing his dx and requesting further assessments and sent my letter to LA as part of my parental evidence. Have just been given a statement this week and school,EP,behaviour support etc. all supported my request.

Where did the Paed observe your DS for 4 hours? Was it all in one setting? Do you have a follow up appointment with Paed. Maybe you could ask him to observe your DS at nursery (if he hasn't already done so) in order to get a more accurate picture of him. I would certainly challange the "only just" on the spectrum if you feel it is inaccurate.

Yes, you can get a Paed's report changed. i wrote to ours and asked her to remove a section that I didn't agree with and she did.

Stak's quite right - the Paed is not competent to write about educational issues and should not be doing so. That's teh role of the EP..

For us pre-school recommended that ds had full-time support so for first year, we had 30 hours TA time. Pre-School autism help person - can't remember what her official title was - told me about statementing process and then tried to disuade me from applying but when I said I wanted to, she sent the LA Ed Psych to my house. Ed Psych spent time talking to us and then sent off request for statement. (Have to say last time she was actively supportive). Perhaps you could ask the Nursery to request the LA Ed Psych to come and assess your ds.

Got my private ed psych from asking charities named by Stark.

Thank you all, this is all useful info.

I will certainly be talking to the nursery about getting EP to come, also for their support with statement, and will write to paed about changing report.

What would we do without MN?!

Sorry you're having to deal with this, what a pain in the bum :( I would argue that a paediatrician claiming a child is "only just" on the autistic spectrum possibly doesn't understand the meaning of spectrum in this context

The line doesn't stop with the paediatrician where I live as children here have to be assessed by the lead paediatrician for the whole area. Could you ask to be referred on?

Yes. I agree actually. Tell the paed that your ds either has ASD or he doesn't. And at his age it is unhelpful to try to predict where on the spectrum he is, especially given you haven't yet seen the benefit or outcomes of intervention.

Idiot.

Actually the "only just" was my paraphrasing .

He actually reported the results of the ADOS and ADI tests which were just above and just below (respectively) the ASD cut-off, and says ds's "scores in the the diagnostic tools for this condition are currently quite borderline. However, based on all the information available, in my opinion he is exhibiting sufficient features in all three areas to just a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder."

We're seeing him in 3 months. In the meantime I've now written the letter to him asking for the bit about school support to be changed.