Do you have to have both poor expressive and receptive speech & Language . .

[littlelegsmum]

Hi all,

To be dx with aspergers, do you have to have BOTH expressive & receptive speech & language difficulties. . To be honest, i'm even confused what they are and mean but was just wondering :)

from what i've seen on here no.... i think it seem more common for expressive language (the actual speech) to be average to above average and receptive (understanding) to be lower

my "quirky" ds has poor expressive but average receptive

expressive language is how much you can say, and receptive language is how much you understand.

You don't need problems with either of them for a dx of Aspergers.

Broadly ASD includes language problems, Asperger's is ASD without language problems. There is of course a hell of a lot more to it than that, but that's how I remember it although I believe the dx criteria are due to change.

Thank you all for your replies.

DD has recently had a SALT assessment and these are the results. I'm desperately trying to work them out. She is also on waiting list for Aspergers assessment so i'm wondering if this could be 'part' of it or nothing to do with it and a completely different problem.

Does this come under the 'reasons' to be classed as having an SEN?

Apparently, for her 'average' scores, she was given time to look, think and respond. The SALT will be making a note on the report, so i'm not sure what it is but will find out next week.

Receptive language
Concepts and Directions - SS = 4 (mean = 10)
Word Classes - SS = 3 (mean = 10)
Semantic Relationships - SS = 7 (mean = 10)

Expressive Language
Formulated Sentences - SS = 5 (mean = 10)
Recalling sentences - SS = 6 (mean = 10)
Sentence Assembly - SS = 7 (mean = 10)

Receptive Language Standard Score = 70 (mean = 100)
Expressive Language Standard Score = 78 (mean = 100)
Total Language Score = 73 (mean = 100) normal limits for

Does it feel to you like she has problems with both understanding what you say, and saying things to you?

Most children on 'the spectrum' have symptoms of a range of problems. She might well have symptoms of Aspergers, ADHD, Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia.

Concentrate on what her symptoms/problems are, and what you can do to help resolve those problems, rather than what label she eventually gets.

Cause labels can be very arbitrary.

She should be on the SEN register if she needs any kind of extra help at school. (Academic, behaviour, social......) It doesn't matter what, if any, label she has. It matters what help she needs to succeed at school.

I'm just getting nowhere with school as it's so obvious to me she should be on it. It is Year 6 and they are only focussing on SATS anyway, so it's like talking to a brick wall . . How to I insist on her going on it, thats if I can even ask them to put her on it.

Yes, we believe she desperately struggles and even DD gets frustrated/anxious etc because she knows she struggles. The only people denying it are the school. I've told them she doesn't ask for help yet noone has spoke to her, they are just letting her get on with it......I feel so helpless and wish I could take her out of there but it's just not possible :(

We spoke on a previous thread.

I really think you need to leave it now, and concentrate on getting her the help she needs next year in secondary school.

This school ain't going to do anything for her in the remaining 10 weeks of primary. They won't do any work at all for the rest of the year once SATs are over (in 3 weeks).

Also, being on the SEN register doesn't actually mean anything. There is nothing a school has to do because a child is on the register. It doesn't equate to money. It doesn't mean they're entitled to 1:1 or anything else.

If this school put her on the SEN register, they still wouldn't help her.

Oh we have yes :)

I guess i'm still desperate to help her because of the things she's saying she'd rather do, than go to school.

I have an appointment at the High School next week, so i'll go armed with all my information.

I thought that once they'd see she needed help (by going on SEN) she would get at least some help. I didn't realise (or it hadn't sunk in) that she still may not get any help.

Do you think it may help if I asked for a statutory assessment with the LA, that way it's not linked to junior school?

There are so many things to learn...... :)

Being on the SEN register is a paperwork exercise.

It normally happens the other way. They decide she needs help, then they put her on the SEN register.......

Or sometimes they're already giving her help, and then they decide to formalise it by putting her on the register.....

Put lots of energy into High School. Make an appointment with the SENCO there, and tell her all of your concerns.

My 3 kids have Aspergers, dyspraxia and dyslexia (between them). And I've found school can't help them - but I can.

ie, no matter how willing and helpful a school is, there's still very little they can do for those conditions.

I've done loads and loads and loads of 'alternative' therapies, and had great success with them. My DS1 now has no problems at all at school. I'm currently fighting to get him off the SEN register :)

Anyway, what I really recommend you do is start to research therapies that will help her symptoms.

Thanks for that :)

Looks like ALOT of research will be happening in my house :) . . To be honest, I like to know every little detail I can about these things. Once I realise there is a need.

Thanks again. I will focus my energy on that from now on.