camhs multi-disciplinary team

[feelinchirpier]

I know that if I just made a simple phone call that I would prob get the answers I want BUT I don't want to keep mithering the professionals and end up looking like a incompetant, over anxious mother iyswim.

Will the team be able to test hearing (only tests DS 7 has had was in hospital when he was born, and in school which covered 25db and it was fine but he is sensitive to load noises), check for any fine motor skill probs (while I have been tackling school etc he has mentioned wrist hurting when he writes etc), underpining eyesight probs which normal eye checks don't seem to pick up (have a list of things which I have jotted down while he has been reading at home now that he finally gets new reading books every other day and he WANTS to read rather than seeing it as he HAS to read).

The reason I am asking you very helpful mnetters is because if they don't I would like to address all of the above before they go ahead with the assessment(which they said will be towards the end of this year)...just incase...I have read sooo many things as you can imagine and would really like to rule all of the obove out before he has a poss dx of asd.

I did ask the ep if she tested him for dyslexia but she said the school had no concerns about this yet my list has several symptoms which I have read about. Now that the school side is covered I need to collect all the extra info my DS has told me and check this out too.

I doubt very much that CAMHS multi-disciplinary team would be able to advise on any of the above. At most they would make a referral to audiology, opthamologist or OT if they suspected that any of the issues you mention were a factor in your ds' difficulties. I think the multi-disciplinary team in a CAMHS context refers to social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, play therapist working together. I would have thought a paediatric referral from your gp would be best starting point for exploring/ruling out the physical issues.

Thank god someone answered...was beginning to see tumbleweed! :)

Thanks pink I have already booked an appointment with the gp, unfortunatly the gp who knows the ins and outs about ds can't see us until mid july but I would rather it be him so I don't have to explain everything again. Just wanted to be sure before I went wasting his time .

Hi Feelin
If you are concerned about hearing then a mid-July appointment to see a GP who would then make the referral sounds a bit longwinded to me.
It might be more effective to phone the GP or write a letter and ask him to refer your child to Children's Audiology for a hearing test. That should cut the length of the process by 3 weeks.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Thanks summer, When I ring to make appointment the receptionist always feels the need to ask what the appointment is for (so they can put notes for the gp)...so I mentioned very briefly why and she said the gp would have to see ds before he could refer on??

I agree.

He needs to be seen by an OT for starters. Either private or on the NHS.

Audiology is more complicated. He probably has hyper sensitive hearing, which the NHS aren't concerned about - but which all of the listening therapies help with. So you really need to get onto that privately (possibly through your OT if you go private with that)

And the vision stuff I also think the NHS won't be interested in, and you'll need to go privately to a behaviour optometrist. However the standard if them vary greatly. Some are brilliant and some aren't.....

Dear feelinchirpier,
As a fellow mmnetter with a DD * (next week is her 8th birthday), I had no joy going through the GP. but it might turn out differently in your case, so hang in there, girl, and keep making those notes that you do, about your concerns, observations, hurdles DS faces etc. Remember, no one knows a child as well as the parent, and you have a RIGHT to get him all the help/support/ correct Dx you think he needs. I would also speak to school Family Wrokers, TAs or headteacher, SENCO and make notes or request if you can get minutes of a meeting with all of them. Has your DS gota STATEMENT of SEN??! In that case, things will get more easy to organize. Best of luck. I'd go with the others and say do it sooner rather than later as the holidays will leave you in charge, to face things alone as a family...

We finally go to CAMHS this week for ADOS it has only taken two years......however in the meantime the paed did refer to Physio and OT for some of the problems you mention in your post.

Thanks indigo and falling :)

crappy is the 2 yrs from the moment concerns were first brought up or how long you have been on the waiting list for the ADOS?, concerns were first brought up about DS by the school when he was 4! he is now 7 and camhs only got involved in Dec after I approached the Gp because Ds's anxiety levels were sky high and from what we could see it was school related. We have just been in a downward spiral since it was first brought to my attention....yep someone outside the family had to point it out so i think we may of missed a few vital professionals along the way .

Two years since first proff referral, School -SALT-Paed-Physio/OT - Ed Pysch- CAMHS. Ed Pysch and Paed referred to CAMHS 15 mths ago.

feelin, Thank you! I'll tey CAMHS as DD1 (8y.o ) is very anxious and kicks off about school on an almost daily basis... she has been screaming, shouting and rowing with me a lot, as she doesn't like me tellnig her what to do. DD@ simply smiles, "ok, mummy" adn helps me a lot. She is 6. crappypatty should I approach CAMHS through school family team, before the holsas it is a major dread of mine!!?? She is due to start at a special school in september...

Dear feelin did not mean to ijack your thread, honey!! Apologies!