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Teacher just mentioned autism at parents evening... what next?

111 replies

Puffinsaresmall · 26/04/2012 19:35

Hello

DD is 7 and has always been quite rigid and black and white about things. If you say to her you'll do something later then she takes that as a 'promise' and gets very upset if plans then change. She also gets upset if rules are 'broken' and doesn't seem to understand that people can make mistakes, she can be very pedantic. I assumed this was all par for the course for a 7 year old.

At parents evening her teacher said 'I shouldn't really say this.... but erm... I think she may be on the very edge of the autism spectrum' The other teacher (dd's class has two) didn't seem that happy with her choice of words. I said 'what next, do i need to take her to the GP or ed psych etc' and this teacher was very 'No need for labels, if you want to take her somewhere then do but might grow out of...certainly doesn't need drugs... etc etc'

They went on to say that DD is very bright and the first teacher said 'yes and that's often true of children on the spectrum'.

Anyway - what do I do now? How do you know if your child is autistic? Is there anything I should be doing?

Sorry if this isn't very coherent, just got back and still a bit bemused I think.

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ArthurPewty · 02/06/2012 09:04

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happynessis · 02/06/2012 09:15

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ArthurPewty · 02/06/2012 09:22

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TheLightPassenger · 02/06/2012 11:10

yes, enjoying the child free weekend is not only fine it's a positive order from me, this SN malarkey is more a marathon than a sprint!

IME this is the absolute worst bit emotionally, the very start of it, when it's all very new and scary territory, you feel it's like being a member of a club you never applied to join. Yes, depending on what happens with school/doctors etc you may have a stressful time in that respect further down the line, but this is a massive adjustment period, which some people liken to grieving (have always been a bit unsure about that analogy, but then my experiences were similar to Leonie's, had I had a child who regressed I may well feel differently). However many times we all say - she's the same child, just with a bit of extra added info, as before all these discussions started with school, it will take time for you to FEEL that.

I have got the Hanen talkability book btw (but ahem not read it through properly, as when I first bought it DS's language issues seemed to be the massive issue) so if you want to meet up at some point we could flick through it, so you could see if you thought it would be useful (it's about £40 odd!).

Puffinsaresmall · 11/06/2012 19:50

Hello, back again.

Right, I spoke to the psychologist on the phone, she was lovely. She said that from what I was saying there were plenty of explanations that weren't spectrum related. She suggested an anxiety disorder possibly.

She said that when children get anxious they tend to talk a lot and that could explain some of the behaviour. She's going to observe dd at the school then talk to us/teachers and do a report. Should happen in next two weeks.

In the meantime dd has been getting worse and worse. Well actually thats not true, she wasn't too bad over half term but this morning she had a massive meltdown about going to school.

We managed to get her to go in but I just wanted to keep her here Sad

Then when DH picked her up (at 4pm) she was crying her eyes out and the teacher sad she had been that way since lunchtime Sad Angry

Should they have phoned me? I feel really cross that they had her crying there all afternoon. I have no idea what they did, comforted her maybe? I can't see how as they would have the other 11 children to teach.

My heart wants her to stay at home tomorrow but my head tells me a. shes got to go back at some point, b. i've got to work and c. we've got to get 'this' fixed whatever 'it' is.

Im going to go in with dd in the morning and see the teacher, any thoughts on what i should say? I don't want to go in all guns blazing but i'm pretty unhappy with how this has been handled. DD says that she kept telling them she was ill (when she gets upset her tummy hurts) and to phone me but they wouldnt. Apparently one teacher came in and said she was 'faking' Hmm Angry

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TheLightPassenger · 11/06/2012 21:48

sorry she had a bad day today. Obv it tugs at the heartstrings to see your kid in tears, but I think rather than going in all mummy lion, you need to try and unpick further what it is that has upset her, whether it's the change in routine or whether it's some particular aspects of school, whether she's feels bullied or upset at some unfairness. My gut feeling is that they thought that jollying her along a bit would help most rather than phoning you and looking at her going home early. On one level, yes, the stomach ache is most likely anxiety driven rather than a phyiscal problem but school does need to look a bit more at why she might be so anxious.

Lancelottie · 12/06/2012 11:36

I don't know if this will help at all, or indeed be coherent. just wanted to share some experiences.

First, I was very like your DD at primary school. By, ooh, about halfway through secondary, I'd started to twig why people were hurt by being told unflattering 'facts' about themselves, why it wasn't the done thing to ASK people why you were unpopular, etc., etc.

I think I pass as relatively normal these days. maybe a bit shy, not too good at organising big events, but normal enough. School is a tough time if you aren't a herd animal.

DS1 has Aspergers and OCD (do you have this severely, as I know you mentioned it? They are 'frequent co-morbids', in the medical-ese term). he has a full time statement and 1-to-1 help available at his (mainstream) secondary, but these days the TAs tell me they only see him when he need help sorting out some homework muddle or when he wants sympathy and biscuits.

He used to be screamingly anxious about school. These days, he's almost too relaxed for my liking (GCSE year, eek) and leaves it to me to worry about lost homework, exam dates and the like.

Socially, things are mixed. If we can make the contacts for him first and set up 'dates', he's fine -- good company, funny, warm, energetic, basically 'likeable'. He still can't organise his own social life at all, though, and it's harder now that no one else's mum rings up to arrange things for them.

DS2, though a bit unusual, would never get a diagnosis. However, when he was very stressed at a school that didn't suit him, and suffering some bullying, he certainly came across as 'autistic' to the staff there (we had some weird parents' eves where they'd say 'Well, as he's on the spectrum...' or 'Of course, autistic children can be challenging...' and we'd say 'Actually I think you'll find that's his brother, not DS2'). One year down the line at a new school, there's been no hint of anything other than ordinary teen stroppiness.

DD is/was a bit like your daughter, but took a leap forward last year by reading up some very girly manual (think it was the Glorious Book for Girls) and very seriously applying what she'd learnt to her school friendships. She doesn't seem to detect instinctively what the other girls do to 'bond', but was bright enough to work out why she stood out. Frankly, I suspect she's another Aspie in hiding.

All three are a mix of loving, puzzled by other kids, unintentionally hurtful at times, deliberately kind at others -- ot the stereotype I'd had of autism at all. (They are also all catastrophically untidy, but I think that's my fault!)

Lancelottie · 12/06/2012 14:28

p.s. just found our slightly broken dining chair has a note on it from DS1:

'This facility is Out of Order. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Please use an alternative chair if available.'

Grin
Puffinsaresmall · 12/06/2012 16:58

TLP - I went in softly today Grin they said they will 'look after her' at break and lunch so we'll see how she is when she gets back tonight (fingers crossed). Haven't seen you on facebook for ages, come say hello Smile

Saw dr today to get referral to psychologist signed off (otherwise insurance won't cover it) so at least that's all sorted now.

Lottie - That's very helpful thank you for sharing. It is good to hear of other people's experiences and how they might or might not fit the 'stereotype'. I'm still in two minds re spectrum vs anxiety or a mixure of both.

I have quite bad OCD yes. DD shouldn't have ever seen it as it is based around obsessional thoughts not compulsions so is all 'in my head' if you see what I mean. My Gran definitely has OCD too and her and my mum are both anxious especially socially (as am I). Could definitely be this with DD.

Will have a look at the book you mentioned. I've also ordered lots around 'anxiety in children' to read through and work through the exercises, Amazon love me at the moment! Grin

This is hilarious, sorry:

"(we had some weird parents' eves where they'd say 'Well, as he's on the spectrum...' or 'Of course, autistic children can be challenging...' and we'd say 'Actually I think you'll find that's his brother, not DS2')".

Grin probably wasn't funny at the time though Blush

Had a similar experience today explaining to my boss about DD and why I might need time off. He said 'Oh well its not the same as it used to be, they won't just leave her in the corner and let her rot, they'll try to help her catch up with the other children even if she gets very far behind' Hmm Grin I tried to explain she was probably top of her class academically but gave up Grin

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Puffinsaresmall · 12/06/2012 17:00

That note is genius!!! Grin That's something dd would do, she walked around Toys R Us the other day saying 'Its the shop that just keeps on giving mummy!'

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Lancelottie · 12/06/2012 19:57
Grin
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