Dyspraxia - is there any point in seeing if ds1 11 has it?

[swanriver]

Ds2 9yrs has ASD. Ds1 11 years is at secondary, and just escaped an exclusion for bad behaviour, caused by a misunderstanding/provocation. He is being punished for that by the school today, by having a whole day in Isolation doing work alone. He has difficulty making friends, he's disorganised, gets upset easily, untidy all over the place presentation-wise, sloppy, clumsy at sport, 3 broken limbs in last 2 years. Yet he's perfectly bright in other ways, good at reading spelling chatty, musical. Hopeless at lego construction craft. Likes school, likes structure, desperate to please.

I've always thought he was dyspraxic but his handwriting improved when he was about 9 and I put that out my mind, until all these fractures and the problems with friends and general disorganisation, not to say Ds2's dx made me reconsider.

Although what use would it be to have him diagnosed Dyspraxic and who would do it? GP? Private OT? And how would it help him to have the label? DH thinks I'm being ridiculous to see another label for another child. He is soo different from his ASD brother.

1. If his brother has ASD it makes it more likely that he has dyspraxia (in the same way it makes it more likely that he has ASD IYSWIM)

1. I think a 'label' might help.

1. Go to your GP and ask who diagnoses Dyspraxia. I think an OT does, and your GP can refer you to one. But it might be different where you are.

1. Assume he does have dyspraxia. Research it, and decide if there's anything you want to do about it that the NHS won't provide......

A paediatrician usually dx on the report from OT - and seeing child themselves. As I found out, LA doesn't class OT's say so as medically dx.
From a schools perspective - a dx - whether by OT or paediatrician should at least help to understand root causes if any incidents happen again. But as posts have confirmed before - even statemented children can be excluded.

In my area, GPs don't refer school age children to any developmental service any more. All referrals to OT, SALT, CAMHS etc go via the SENCO or School Nurse. My DD's SENCO ran basic handwriting tests in school as evidence for the referral.

In terms of is it useful, as Indigo says understanding can help, it did for my DD who stopped seeing herself as useless. It can also be used as evidence for support in public exams (eg extra time/scribe) which could make a difference to his future.

But at 11, I would ask your DS what he thinks as well. If he wants to explore whether or not the issues are being caused by dyspraxia, then go for it. If he doesn't then perhaps you first step is to explore why he feels like this. From experience, taking a teenager through diagnosis processes, is difficult as they understand what is going on and can find it very difficult to deal with if they are not in favour.