social skills issues

[ABatInBunkFive]

Hi all, it's been quite a while since i was last here, anyway we have no diagnosis, nor will we for quite some time, last i heard it was a 5 or 6 year waiting list for CAMHS who do the diagnosing here.

So i had a progress meeting at the school today except they had no way of monitoring any progress and acted like i was of the planet for asking if there were any aims or targets. oh and they had no idea what i wanted, so if i could tell them what i want them to do that would be great.

Problem is i've no idea what they can/should/could be doing to help him.

Just now someone is using the book socially speaking by Alison Schroeder to help with his social skills in a 40minute group session, with him being the main aim IYKWIM

Also the teacher is using games or something in the gym hall to help with social skills.

So i guess my question is this - How should the school be dealing with this issue, what should they be doing to make sure that they are actually helping him, cause at the moment i'm just waiting for one of them to pop out saying whoo we cured him now f off.

Hi ABatInBunkFive

I have just found the description for the book "Socially Speaking: Pragmatic Social Skills Programme for Pupils with Mild to Moderate Learning Disabilities" by Alison Schroeder on Amazon

"Effective social interaction does not come naturally to many children with learning disabilities and yet is vital for developing and maintaining relationships and for independent living outside the school context. This social skills programme for pupils with mild to moderate learning disabilities, physical and/or medical disabilities and for those with special needs in mainstream education is divided into three units: let's communicate; let's be friends and let's practice. It aims to increase self-esteem and improve listening skills and expressive language abilities. Teacher's notes, photocopiable illustrated pupil worksheets and assessment and evaluation forms are included."

The real problem here would be a lack of real understanding of medical issues that can cause listen problems, which can prevent children and adults from be able to improve their listening skills, or any of the other issues they have listed. The whole concept of this approach is wrong because it has the misconception that these are behavioural issues and not real clinical medical problems some of which have no cure.

For instance having listening problems is a clinically diagnosable condition Auditory Processing Disorder, which can also be an underlying contributory cause of many behaviourally diagnosed problems.
Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD): A Key Factor in Developmental Disorders

Hi ABatInBunkFive

I forgot to include my Communication and Language research paper collection online at PubMed.
Some of information could be useful.

Hi thanks for the info.