Help - advice needed re: SCD

[Bomper]

My youngest dd is 8, she has always been a special girl and I kind of knew for a long time she wasn't the same as the rest of the children in her class. She has no proper friends, is never invited to parties and really struggles at break times at school despite the fact she is a lovely, happy, confident child she just does not seem able to make and maintain friendships.

I asked the school if she could be assessed by the SENCO and just yesterday I was told she had SCD. It all kind of makes sense to me now, but I feel so sad for her. How will this affect her through the rest of her school years and into adulthood? I also feel so guilty that I have left it so long before getting anything done about it but I just thought it was just her 'funny ways' and that she would grow out of it.

If anyone has any experience/advice on this matter I would really appreciate it.

sorry - what is SCD?

It's Social Communication Disorder - sorry should have been more clear.

Who actually diagnosed your dd? Is she under a NHS professional?

Hi is SCD another term for ASD or is it different?

She works for the council - helping children with special needs in schools. SCD falls under Autistic Spectrum Disorders I think. I haven't been given any information or help with this. Just told that the school will put in place a social development group where they will talk about how to make and keep friends using roleplay etc, and that they will get her to sit in front of a mirror and make different expressions so that she can recognise them in other people.

The SENCO cannot diagnose - she needs to see a peadiatrition

Sorry I know it is spelt wrong!

I am amazed SENCO has told you this. I think you need to get some professional information to be sure of the dx. Hope you feel ok it's always upsetting to hear anyone say something like this but I just think you need to make sure its right.

This is not right. A SENCO or Autism Outreach teacher cannot diagnose any ASD. I would get any paperwork that she has and see your GP and ask for a referral to a Developmental Paediatrician who will be able to conduct a full assssment (often with occupational therapy and speech and language therapists involved). I'm sorry that you have been let down and left in a position where you are worrying for her future.

You also must not feel guilty. While there are some children who get a diagnosis of ASD early, other children do not get diagnosed until later - often those who have less obvious ASD behaviours. My DS has just got his dx and he is 7 next month.

However this is not a formal diagnosis yet. They are not qualified to give this diagnosis.

My son got a diagnosis of "social communication disorder" to start with, now it's officially "social communication disorder with autistic traits".

Social communication disorder means the child has diffiiculties in the following areas:-

1/ processing & retaining verbal info (this could also be auditory processing disorder if the items under no2 aren't issues)

2/ understanding the nuances of language
- sarcasm
- uses language literally (I no longer tell my lad I'll kill him if he doesn't do summat!)
-nonverbal e.g body language, facial expression, gesture
- jokes
- social use of language

The above isn't the text book definition as per DMV (which is being updated next year btw so will add clarity), just my interpretation in layman's terms iykwim.

Who did the assessment? To count as an official diagnosis it must have been a SALT and/or a neuropead. An Ed pysch isn't qualified to diagnose thoough of course will have an opinion, neither is a teacher.

I'm asking because especially in a young child only a trained professional can distinguish accurately between a range of communication disorders from autism to mild speech delay and an accompanying range of auditory disorders from hearing loss to processing issues. Long term as you can imagine the appropriate support and therapies may vary considerably depending on the final diagnosis. Aspbergers seems to be constantly overlooked in girls, (cos they don't chair throw as often as boys)and in your shoes this is one I'd want swift confirmation be it positive or negative about iykwim.

If your child hasn't already seen a neuro-pead for a proper developmental assessment and an audiologist I'd ask my GP to arrange this asap. No point in getting stressed out if it turns out to be a bit of glue ear or summat equally trivial/daft in the long term. However do not let yourself be fobbed off as if there is a real problem the faster you know the faster you can get the correct help.

Thanks everyone - yes I think I need to get this formally diagnosed, but I do not know where to turn. When I went to the Doctors about this they were very unhelpful and I was basically told that it was not something they dealt with and it had to come from the school!

whereabouts do you live Bomper - just the general area is fine

I live in Bexley, Kent.

Gp sent us for referral as school can Dx ( got a DX of Aspergers though), so I'm surprised your GP was not more helpful.

it's helpful to know because some PCTs/LAs go about assessments and dx in very different ways - but to echo the PPs upthread, this certainly ain't one of them.

Forgot to say this:-

Autism diagnosis requires you to clearly have 3 aspects of the triad of impairments like a 3 legged stool. Social Imagination, social relationships and social communication.

Social communication disorder is when it seen that under clinical criteria ony the social communication leg of the stool is an issue for the child.

I did a thread a while back entitled "can a kid wth ASD have friends or summat similar" that might shed more light for you. Be careful as I've found DS needs many of the same educational interventions (eg very visual learning materials in the classroom, SALT etc ) as a child on the full ASD spectrum, that I've had to fight every inch of the way to obtain them for him.

Could you manage to see a SALT or psychiatrist privately? That's what I was advised by GP because, even though it's wrong, so many cuts have left big holes and v long waiting lists of years in dx nhs. Make sure the person you see specialises in ASD and also works NHS so they can give you a credible report. Also always get proper written quote.

Bexley are an evil PCT/Lea for special needs. Go back to the doctors and don't leave until you get the following referrals
1/ SALT
2/Neuro or deveopmental pead
3/Audiologist.

Be prepared to kick up a stink to get what you need, sadly it's the only way.

You may find it a lot less stress to go private - in which case The London's Children's centre, next to Riverston school in Lee Green would be a very good place to start. I was VERY impressed by Jackie Harland the SALT there when we were prepping for Tribunal.

can i just chip in here about going to private practitioners..it's not always needed!

i know the OP says her GP hasn't been supportive so far, but ours has been fab - referred us for SALT and to CAMHS, it's always worth a try.

Hi Bomper

Agreed Unchartered We were referred for assessment no problem by our GP and got an NHS paed dx. It took time but will be taken seriously by school etc whereas our private dyspraxia one never was.

2 failed school placements and a behavioral unit later, meant that by the NHS looked at my DS, a LOT of damage had already been done. DS was picked up by his first school as having issues within a month of starting reception, yet the NHS sat on their arses.

If the GP is being a tardy mare and you can afford to - going private (to someone who has a good rep within Tribunal circles/the NHS) may save untold grief down the line.

I was also told by the doctors 'Do I really want to 'label' my daughter?' Well, yes frankly, if it means she gets the specialist helps she needs and doesn't have to struggle through school feeling unhappy and unpopular!!!!

i'd be finding another GP tbh, that's disgusting!