Boy, do I need some advice.

[MagicMountain]

I have had some fabulous help with speech and dyslexia issues on here and I would be really grateful if anyone can help me again.

DS2 (6.6) has just been referred for a CAHMS appointment at the suggestion of his teacher.

He has had SALT intervention over a period of 2 years to deal with his somewhat quirky speech (Initial Consonant Deletion). This ended about 6 months ago and worked wonderfully.

We then found out that it wasn't just speech that was a problem but also processing language. We arranged for a specialist SALT to see him--he doesn't have dyslexia but problems that seem to overlap with dyslexia and we were recommended a dyslexia tutor who seems to be really helping.

The teacher who suggested a CAHMS appointment is very concerned about his anxiety levels. He can get very stressed/distressed at school about little things and can be inconsolable when this happens (he retreats, won't talk about whatever has triggered his upset and so on). Usually it is to do with order/disorder (losing something), the teacher playing a game and pretending she was confused about something basic, or sometimes because he has thought of something bad or scary and can't get it out of his head.

The other concern is his anxiety when it comes to other children, making friends, talking to them (I put this down to the effects of his past speech problems but now I am wondering if that is the whole story).

His teacher and the SALT have both used the term literal to describe him (again, I thought that was related to language processing). He can be quite particular about routines, about his toys and he seems to zone out sometimes and not hear me (can't entirely blame him for that!). Has had his eyesight and hearing tested and no problems there.

I'm sorry this is long but I would so appreciate your input. I have read lots of the posts on mumsnet and followed through the various links (triads and so on).

Do you think this sounds like it might be in any way ASD related? Are there particular things I should ask the CAHMS persons (we are seeing a specialist mental health nurse, apparently). I am a bit befuddled--I don't know whether I have lost the plot and am seeing things that aren't there or even if the teacher has seen it herself and that is why she suggested the referral.

Thank you.

Do you, Indigo? I'm worried that I'm not seeing straight!

Either way I need to think about how to help with the anxiety, he gets distraught sometimes.

There is so much you can do.

But first you have to get over the 'I'm going crazy' feeling. :)

Then when you're ready, come back (or search old threads) and we can tell you all the things we've done to reduce anxiety.

Thank you, Indigo.

I did read through hundreds and hundreds of old threads on ASD (maybe too many!) which is probably why I feel like my brain has short-circuited (temporary, I hope).

Ha, might also need some advice on how to reduce my own anxiety!

Either that, or a kick up the backside!

Simplest thing you can do to start with is multivitamins.

Give him Omega (one with a high EPA content), Zinc & Magnesium & a multivitamin.

Not too expensive, and might help. :)

DS (3yrs) struggles with anxiety in a similar way to how you describe and we've been refered to Camhs as well as having an assessment for autism. They've confirmed he doesn't have autism (I knew this) but they think he might have some difficulty around processing information. DS has some Aspergers type traits but is quite socially adept, can share, is kind, gets irony (I think).

I do not have very high expectations of Cahms and I'm assuming it will take forever, just like everything else.

I've become increasingly convinced that the thing that helps children with difficulties of this kind is more one on one attention from engaged adults. If a formal dx is going to help fund this, pursue it.

oh yes, and read lots about autism because I've found that technques that work with autistic children work with my son, even though he is not autistic (or at least not classically so).

conventional beahvioural techniques, naughty step, reward charts etc. do not work with DS.

don't be afraid of ASD, it will teach you a lot.

Okay, vitamins, first stop.
Carol Gray and social stories.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help.

The point you make about making misakes is interesting, Lenin. One of the things that triggers DS is if he gets minded to do/not do something at school. He's very, very well behaved but if a teacher gives any kind of guidance, 'Don't do it that way, you'll cut yourself. Turn the knife around!' or 'Try not to be so rough with so and so', he'll just be overcome. The head says he goes rigid when she passes him by (!), poor woman.

Do you think this sounds like ASD? I can't figure it out.

Off to google vits!

DS has a problem with making mistkes as well. sort of freezes and does not respond normally. or gets hysterical. I'm hoping he can be desensitized to it.

He avoids doing some things because of a fear of making a mistake (drawing)

I'm a little wary of vits because it can feel a bit like clutching at straws.!

But I have been giving DS Omega 3 and I do think it has been helping.

I work by the principle that it is worth a go!

Absolutely. Hope and Anchor.

Isabel - there's nothing 'clutching at straws' about giving your child vits.

If your child is deficient then they will help, if not they won't.

The easiest and cheapest way to find out if your child is deficient is to give them vits and see if they help!

Odds are they are deficient in Omega, Zinc and Magnesium.

Indigo, are these supplements you can get in the High Street or Health shop?

The best Omega one is this one: Vegepa (from amazon)

As well as that I get Osteocare for zinc and magnesium (from boots)

And then any mutlivitamin. (from boots) :)

But there are loads and loads of others. Depends if your DS likes chewable ones, or swallowing tables, or the oil ones you swallow.

Only thing I'd say is don't get a chewable Omega one like Bassets from boots, because they don't contain enough omega in them.

Behaviour Balance is also a good one for zinc and magnesium.

believe me, I'm very happy to clutch at straws and I'm very grateful for you sharing your experiences on here.

but I'm a bit world-weary as I've seen other family members go down the vitamin pill route and its pretty ineffectual in the face of full blown mental illness.

but i think there is some promising work around omega 3 and parkinsons/alzeihmers showing there may be a protective effect.

yes and I hope correcting any deficiencies early will keep the brain well oiled for the future.

A quick google will show you there's lots and lots of studies being done on these vitamins and ASD / ADHD / Dyslexia...

www.drkaslow.com/html/zinc.html

Zinc deficiency can result in irritability, anger episodes, impaired immune function, acne, stunting of growth, poor taste and smell sensitivity, and impaired wound healing. There is a high incidence of zinc deficiency in people labeled with ADD, autism, depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders and bipolar disorders.

www.naturalnews.com/026782_magnesium_child_children.html

One crucial step in naturally treating ADD and ADHD is to make sure your child is getting enough magnesium.

tinsleyhouseclinic.co.uk/diet/

A Polish study of children with ADHD found that almost all of them (95%) were deficient in magnesium and that the greater the deficiency the more severe the symptoms. When some of the children were given magnesium supplements to restore the deficiency their symptoms improved, while those in the trial who did not receive the supplements continued to deteriorate.

etc.

impressed!

Also impressed and will save these links for later.

Isabel, DS can be like that with mistakes too but he is getting better.

Lenin, that's interesting--I couldn't figure out why he over reacts to this in particular. A fragile ego makes sense.

I think this is something the teacher's find disconcerting because they don't know how he'll react, how firm to be and so on.