i MNers..
We had DS pead app today and DH and I have come away with Mixed emotions and feeling a little
little background. DS is 7 at the end of year 2. As soon as he was born i knew something wasnt quite right.
He was induced 4 weeks early, but weighed 6lb 2oz and was healthy. We didnt leave hospital for almost a week due to feeding issues and then was back in 24 hours after being sent home as he had jaundice and was dehydrated and lost more than his 10%.
He had reflux and was on medication untill he was abbout 5 months.
he didnt roll over till her was 9 months, sat finally at just over 10 months and was DX with Nystagmus at 14 months. He doesnt need glasses and seems to have 20/20 vision even without his head tilt.
He has had 3 sets of grommets since he was 2 and also had his addanoids out although the nose bleeds still occur.
I have always been knocked back over concerns about his behaviour etc with teachers, friends and family saying "but hes had a tough start with his eyes and hearing...." even though i know it isnt that.
we moved schools feb 2010, and they have worked wonders with him, his behaviour has improved and he is now on an IEP on SA+ with sensory services visiting regularly and has good intervention regarding his academics.
anyway, back to today......
I have been trying for a DX of AS, partly because he "fits in that box" iygwim, and partly becuase hubbys brother has it and he shows MANY signs the same as he did when younger.
we have had about 3 appointments with this pead and he seems to listen and understand. He went out to visit him at school from the last app and sent out a questionaire to us and school.
Today he started the app off with saying that he doesnt think that DS is behind or different enough to be classed as a dissorder (not a quote, cant remember exact words used). and my heart sank!
I explained that i dont want my son to have AS, but realy believe he does and explained about B-in law and how he stands out from his peers.
I even mentioned that one teacher who doesnt actually teach his class but sees him regularly, thought he had tourettes becuase of the flapping and verbal outbursts (this was difficult to say as his pead had quite bad ticks ). I said that its difficult to guage him in small meetings as he does really well with adults, and that its when you see him over time and in various settings that it becomes very apparent that he is different to his peers
anyway, he then sugested that school bring in the outreach team to which i told him the senco has now done, and he seemed to then do a little U-Turn....he sugested a referal to SALT, even though there is nothing wrong with his speech he wans an assesment of his communication skills. I obviously agreed, as this was something i wanted but thought i would get laughed at for sugesting so im VERY happy with that!
I then asked about an OT referal becuase he is so clumsy and awkward. He did a few basic tests on walking in a line, catching a ball, drawing simple shapes, and agreed on a referal. again YEY happy.
Finally i asked about his sleeping, showed him my sleep diary i have done for the past week, and told him that 12.30am is not unusual, its getting us down, its been going on for over 12 months, getting worse more recently, and he asked how we felt about Melatonin. I said i honestly didnt know, but i would try it.
so we came away from the appointment with a referal for SALT and OT, the backing for outreach and a prescription for Melatonin.
would the pead really have done that if he thought that there wasnt any basis for an AS DX??
sorry for the long post xxx