Assessment overload?

[AlisonJP]

Having just had a private Ed Psych report with an assessment of highly gifted with Dyspraxia, I kind of thought we had the information we needed along with observations from us and the school to get the help we need for our 7 year old DD.

How very naive of me! Apparently the school now want her to be referred to a pediatrician who will then involve Occupational Therapists and their own Ed Psych so that they can all "work together".

Anyone have any views as to whether this is normal and reasonable? I don't really want to put DD through lots more tests and assessments when we have already paid for a detailed report. However, I don't see that I have any choice if we are going to get the help we need.

I didn't think LAs could do their own ed psych report if a privately commissioned report was available due to duplication, I would check this out, I believe this to be the case where I live and I thought it was a national policy. Surely it's a waste of resources to repeat aswell as an infringement on your child's right to privacy to be continually assessed.

Well the OT is needed to actually provide help with her dyspraxia.

What recommendations did the private EP make?

yes I agree other roles such as an OT may be required, perhaps I misunderstood but I thought alison was saying that the LA Ed psych would do their own report in addition but having reread the post I may have misunderstood this. Sorry for not reading the pose more carefully.

that should say post not pose.....fat fingers, sorry

It sounds like they are disputing the dyspraxia - you are the third person that I know of where the school has done this after a dx of dyspraxia. On the other hand, if they are genuinely trying to get the help your child needs then all well and good - even if this means another host of assessments. Did the private EP have any reccomendations?

Thanks everyone. I am not yet sure whether the Ed Psch will want to do their own assessment but will try to avoid that if possible. I have a feeling the SENCO is thinking Autistic spectrum is more likely although I am fairly convinced this is not the case.
The private EP made lots of recommendations but mainly practical ones around extension work and help with handwriting and possibly touch typing. My main concern at the moment is social skills and would really like to get some help with this urgently as she has some real friends issues.

Dyspraxia and ASD often go hand in hand. You say your DD has some social issues - the SENCO may have a point?

To a degree it makes sense if the LEA EP does some sort of assessment of your DD, though I wouldn't expect them to duplicate the testing your private EP did. It makes sense in that the LEA EP service could potentially be involved with your DD longer term than the private EP, therefore beneficial that they are in from the start. Alternatively it could be a means to dismiss your private EP report. I think the stance they take all depends on your LEA, EP and schools.

DS had two private EP reports (age 6 and 9). As a result of one hours worth of testing; DS had a number of tests including WISC, cognitive skills, attainment in reading writing etc.a questionnaire that I completed prior to the meeting, and a short summary interview after testing. The reports I received focussed heavily on the scores, what they meant etc and some recommendations which ran to less than half a page in each report.

The LEA Ed Psych, did minimal testing of DS (15), but lots of talking to me (6hrs in total). He produced a 16 page report, which focussed on DS, his abilities and the areas where he struggles and gave numerous recommendations.

The LEA report was more readable and understandable than the private EP report's.

All three reports and recommendations were ignored by DS's schools. It is only now DS has a statement that the school are attempting to put more interventions in place (with less than two months of school to go).

Hi Alison, when my older son was diagnosed with dyspraxia (13 years ago now) I was told that he may later end up with a diagnosis of aspergers, so I guess this links to what mummyplum has stated.

However, what the LA missed was that he also has severe dyslexia and we went privately to the dyslexia institute to get this sorted (the school wouldn't test although I kept asking them to and when they did they found him at risk of dyslexia and did nothing further, including not telling me they had found this). He was 13 by this time and too much time had been lost. If I knew then what I know now I would never have just gone along with what profesionals were saying.

It may be that as a result of my experiences with the LA where I live I have become cynical and distrusting, I automatically assumed that they were wanting to do a further Ed psych report to dismiss the fndings of the private one but that might be unfair i forget that not all LAs are as manipulative and unhelpful as mine.

I hope you get whatever your daughter needs.

Hi Alison, DS 7 has been assessed by Physio and OT, He has weekly physio at school for gross motor skills. OT did a sensory report. They won't give a possible dx of Dyspraxia until he has ADOS for ASD in case his mtor probs are due to that.

Social problems are also common with Dyspraxia, whereas a dx of ASD needs the full triad of impairments.

The LEA Ed Pysch observed DS in school last month, spoke to him briefly and has compiled a few recommendations. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't more detailed so I am considering a.private EP. It was my understanding that an EP can't actually dx Dyspraxia it would be OT and Paed but I may be wrong.I would consider it normal practice to be referred for further assesment. Good Luck:)

My son had dyspraxia diagnosed by an LEA EP, practice could have changed since then, long time ago. He does have some social problems but these are less evident now he is older.

Charlie - how did the dyslexia institute sort your sons dyslexia? What did they do?

They simply did an assessment and diagnosed severe dyslexia and that he was significantly underachieving.

They didn't really sort it, sorry that was my misuse of language in a previous post, and actually the timing was a bit crap, I became unexpectedly pregnant, finally got LEA to agree to mediation, had first session and the next day was in hospital and my youngest child born the next day six and a half weeks premature. Then came Great Ormond Street and stoke mandeville and two months after discharge I was at tribunal for the older child. I also went back to being self employed and working full time at the same time.

Think I told you all that to justify the enormous guilt I feel that I actually have not done a good job at all at getting services for my older son having prioritised (sub consciously) my youngest child's more complex needs.

I did get some vision therapy for him though (privately of course) and this did help. The best thing we did for our older son was find that he was good at Rugby and actively promote this, being at least as good as his mainstream peers at this boosted his self esteem. Sorry, I've completely gone off track Indigobell so will stop rambling now.

I'm sure you have done and are doing everything you can for both your children.

It's great he's good at rugby. My DD is very good at racing and wins lots of medals from her club and I think that has gone a long way to keep her confidence sky high despite what happens in class.

Yes it really is so very important to find their strengths and they come from unexpected places some times. My youngest loves horse riding, whilst in France we took him and thought he would be frightened and weren't sure at all it was a good idea but he loved it and refused to let me hold onto him even though he has cp and was only two and a half and not yet walking. He goes to riding for the disabled now and his posture is fab so it's enjoyment and therapy at the same time.