OK, we have got a date for the follow up paediatrician appt, son with possible Aspergers. What do I need to prepare

[BumptiousandBustly]

Lovely ladies, please help me. I really think DS has ASD (no speech issues, so aspergers).

We now have the date for the follow up paediatrician appointment in three weeks and I am bricking it.

What do I need to prepare/document/think about - so that we are as ready as can be for him. (NB pre-school have already done a report, but they think there is nothing wrong, so that wont' help much).

I don't know,but I'm watching this closely as we are waiting for the very same appointment.
We think it's Aspergers,the HV thinks it is too,but her pre school are having none of it.

Good luck.

Have a written list of all your concerns. Maybe have a look at NAS website for a list of Aspie 'symptoms' and put an example for your DS against as many as possible plus anything else you find concerning. Anything may be relevant. Look at 'symptoms' as well. Don't expect him to tick every box, every child on the spectrum is so different. Maybe don't make it obvious that's what you've done! (Teaching them to suck eggs etc)

Have an idea of what you want to accomplish at the appointment (in writing.) eg, other referrals, OT maybe? What the next stage will be, can they DX themselves, if not what is the pathway, etc.

Not that I followed my own advice very well, but this it what I wish I had done! I get too emotional and forget everything.

Don't know what happened there, was supposed to say 'look at dyspraxia symptoms as well.'

ellenjane - very good idea - think I will try and write out - main symptoms - questions for them, and what I want next.

I am presuming they can't diagnose themselves, but can refer to a team who can.

Also worried about DS starting school, so think a diagnosis before then would be really helpful, but not sure I will get one!

• I too tend to get quite emotional about it all (and then talk too much, and too fast and forget half of what I want to say) Also a very good point about the dyspraxia - which hadn't occurred to me at all.

FriggFRIGG - i think DS's pre-school think he is pretty much the perfect child - they don't see that he holds it all in for them, then shows it at home.

bump I would be interested to know what your concerns about DS's issues are...my DS is the model pupil at school (behaviour-wise), but is very different at home.

I had no idea DS was autistic at his first appt. It was only afterwards when I started reading up about it that I realised he ticked so many boxes. The dyspraxia link only came later. DS hasn't been DX with dyspraxia but some of his difficulties seem to come more under that umbrella than ASD. It's worth a look to give you more things to have on your list but a dyspraxia DX doesn't seem to carry as much weight as ASD, unfortunately, as far as LAs are concerned. Some occupational therapy could be useful, though.

You don't need a DX to get support at school but it does help. Is he on early years action or action plus yet? Have you requested statutory assessment for a statement yet?

My son has his too on 9th March (nervous). He has HFA rather than aspergers though, as he has a definite speech delay.

Asdevil, DS had speech delay. It makes getting a DX easier...

Someone on another thread (sorry can't recall and don't want to go back and check) advised me of a strong link between sensory processing disorder and dyspraxia. My ds has many traits of aspergers / asd. Don't know if that helps at all. My ds is at preschool and has as traits but is very affectionate so don't think is that. But lucky as preschool do acknowledge something wrong and that it's most likely to be something neurological but they have no idea as to what. I think the problem with preschools can be that as long as they can keep up with peers then no problem. Word of warning my hv has not e en heard of dyspraxia, which our paed thinks likely.

I'm awaiting a March appointment for an aspergers diagnosis. I don't therefore feel qualified to advise you.

My son is now 7, but I've been querying his behaviour for five years now. He, up until recently, displayed no worrying aspie traits at pre-school, nursery or school. It is only in the last few months that school have picked up his inability to read social cues. He has always been and still is impeccably behaved at school, saving his behaviour for home.

I've had my head in the sand for so many years as he was my NT child. (His sister has had a lot of issues over the years.

I believe,as a mother, you know your child best (I've always been talked out of it). Now it would be a relief to get a diagnosis, knowing it's not my parenting skills.

All I can say is be persistent. Your child is still very young and I understand that some refuse to accept a diagnosis at a young age. We have adopted strategies and are treating DS as if he is aspergers, save to say this makes a huge difference.

Best of luck.

mrsbaffled He can't cope with change at all, has to be prepared for everything, he is not very physical at all, though we have seen some improvements recently, which are great.
He goes into meltdown a LOT when things don't got the way he expects. We have to prepare him for everything - he can't cope with leaving the house without sufficient notice.
He is narrowing down his food choices as well, and went into meltdown last night, as we weren't having pesto with pasta (the only evening meal he now wants).
He is VERY routine based - and has a night time routine that has to be exact word for word. There is more but those are the key issues we are worrying about.

EllenJane "Is he on early years action or action plus yet? Have you requested statutory assessment for a statement yet?" - I don't know about either of those - what are they, how do I request them? We have had one appt with pead, and are just waiting for the second. That is all. Really appreciate any advice or suggestions on what we should be doing.

spidermanspiderman - interesting point about keeping up with peers - DS can keep up with peers - no speach delay either - and I agree that is mainly what pre-schools look for. Frustratingly they said to me the other day That they could see where I am coming from and that DS has a "very strong will" but this is very recent and I am pretty sure non of that went into the report for the pead.

newlife4us - we have also taken to treating DS as if he has aspergers, the Autism helpine have been brilliant with suggestions on how to manage his behaviour and it has made a huge difference to our lives (It was getting to the point where DS wouldn't leave the house - and now he will happily, as long as he has sufficient preperation).

Bump for anyone else?

Request a copy of the report preschool did for the paed. Everyone has given me a copy of all reports so far and let's you know what your up against.

EllenJane gave some very good advice. I have found that writing down any evidence of traits and taking this with you to any and all appointments is extremely helpful. You do forget. I have forgotten some pretty major stuff simply because your idea of what is normal becomes skewed. I even had to have my ds's lack of eye contact pointed out to me by the EP. I started keeping a diary which helped get down my feelings of frustration aswell as logging factual information about ds's days and nights.

We have another Paed appointment next week to talk about the CASBAT report and feel like we're finally getting somewhere after years of pushing (ds is 7). Good luck

Bumptious, the paed can DX or at least start you off on the process of diagnosis. This is a medical DX. To get educational support at school or nursery, however, you need the Local Authority to be aware of his SEN. Before school age this would mean the nursery or pre-school putting him on Early Years Action (once at school this is School Action) which means they acknowledge his needs and will put targets and actions in place to support him. He may already be on EY Action, depends on how on the ball the Pre-school is. Not very, by the sound of it?

Action plus is when they need outside help, such as SALT, EP, autism advisory teachers/outreach etc. For issues the school needs even more help with, they (or preferably you) request a statutory assessment of his SEN to be carried out with the result of a Statement of SEN being produced, which is a legally enforceable document detailing his SEN and how his needs will be met. Only 2% of DC have a statement and it can be a bit of a slog to get one, but it's very useful.

Have a look at the SEN code of practice which is still current. There are links to summaries of the process to the right of the page on MN useful stuff>>>> somewhere. Have a read and ask more questions.