Report from Initial Paed appointment

[littlelegsmum]

I've had 2 reports back this morning, and once i've gathered my thoughts i'd love someone 'in the know' to help with my 'next steps' Here is what it says:

Dd is 11 and possible ASD

DD is demonstrating obsessive traits - then goes on to list the things myself & dd told her

DD only has 1 friend who tends to put up with her behaviour

She is beind with her school work but not receiving help at school, at the moment. SATS results show below national level for her age.

Mum suffered hyperemesis (really bad sickness) in the first trimester of pregnancy.

DD has a history of glue ear and 2 lots of grommets. Also tonsils and adenoids have been removed. Although early development was satisfactory she had delayed speech and was under speech therapy for 2.6 yrs.

DD was unable to hold a conversation and answer my questions, and tended to say 'I don't know' often.

Conclusion: DD has emotional, social and communication difficulties. She also has some learning disabilities, and is immature . .

Is the conclusion drawn from what I told her, what she'd seen herself or a mixture of both?

Thank you for reading ;)

A mixture of both. All the time you were talking, the Paed would have been subtley observing your DD. Was the conclusion as you expected? What next steps have been suggested?

Thank you Lougle,

Yes, it's exactly what I was expecting and i'm relieved that other people are starting to see the things that we do. . It's bittersweet but it's all towards helping to support her.

She will be sending a questionnaire to her extremely useless and in denial ex junior school and one to the high school to complete, once she's been there for about 6 weeks.

She is being put on the 'pathway' which seems a normal thing in our area.

We have had a follow-up appointment through for february. I'm presuming this is normal.

I will speak to the high school again, to clarify the things we've already agreed on and to make sure they have a copy of this report.

Do you think theres anythin else I need to do?

"Pathway" could be a lot of hot air with nothing ultimately achieved. Are they talking about something like School Action Plus?.

Did you tell this lady you write of that her previous junior school were useless and were in denial of DDs difficulties?. Cannot see the point of sending a questionnaire to such an establishment.

How are things currently with secondary school?.

I would apply personally to the LEA now for a statement of special needs re her schooling and do not accept no for an answer from them. IPSEA's website is helpful when it comes to such issues www.ipsea.org.uk.

You are ultimately your DDs best - and only - advocate here.

pathway?

Wtf is a pathway? Road to nowhere more like...........

Sorry, didn't mean to be so negative.

Did she write 'possible ASD'? Have you information on the paeds credentials?

Who are you being referred to and when? (Find out name and date and put it in writing yourself to send back to referrer for 'clarification'.) Also request information about what this person will do. Perhaps write to them yourself to ask them.

Hi Attila, The PPS have also mentioned Pathway in the past - It sounds like it's just another work for waiting list. I do know it's a multi-panel diagnosis - maybe it's that?

I did say that her ex Junior School were useless, so i'm not sure what could be achieved there.

High School have told me they're more than used to ASD children and didn't appear phased at all. We discussed her, with PPS, and it seems like a great plan of action - as long as they do what they say. She will immediately go on SA+ but they are not aware of the paed & camhs report as yet (I had the meeting with school, before the appointments)

I am willing to do whatever it takes for DD, however we don't have any money for tribunal, appeals etc, so this has put me off. Also in the Council we're under, they have less than 100 statemented children as they just don't seem to use them

Hi Starlight, when the appointment was almost over she asked me what I thought 'could' be the issue with DD - I said I believed it could be ASD and she nodded her head and said that's the way we'd be going. She told me there would be various people who would see DD and they'd all come to a conclusion. She did say it's a long wait, obviously . . This is what i'm thinking is this 'pathway'

It was a locum Community Paed, due to sickness and she told me it may not be her we see at the next apointment!

It sounds like a call to the Paed's secretary may be a good idea - just to clarify some things

A long wait!?

Ask her how long. Ask her to specify the estimated month in writing. Otherwise you are in danger of keep being pushed back in order to meet the demands of the others that HAVE asked in writing iyswim.

Okay, thank you. I will get onto that this afternoon. I hate having to question authority but will be doing it - do they usually give this info anyway or am I oing to be classed as a pushy mum

littlelegs, I'm afraid you have no choice!

Look at it like this. They are professionals paid to help your child, but YOU are the one charged BY LAW to be responsible for him. And with that duty it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that you know what is going on, who is doing what, when, how, in order for you to do YOUR job properly and make decisions about what is worth persuing or whether to explore other 'pathways'!

sorry, I meant 'her'

I'm going to type your last comment out Starlight - It will remind me that i'm doing this as it's MY JOB. Thank you :)

Hi Littlelegs,

What Starlight wrote earlier too in its entireity.

Re your comments:-
"She will immediately go on SA+ but they are not aware of the paed & camhs report as yet (I had the meeting with school, before the appointments)

I am willing to do whatever it takes for DD, however we don't have any money for tribunal, appeals etc, so this has put me off. Also in the Council we're under, they have less than 100 statemented children as they just don't seem to use them".

You have no choice but to now become the best and hard nosed advocate you can be for your child.

SA plus may not be enough to meet her needs at secondary school; infact she should have already been on this long before now. Her needs are clearly not being met and the problem as well with SA plus apart from it not being legally binding is that the support for it can be patchy and also withdrawn.

I would apply for a statement now and ignore the naysayers who may suggest otherwise.

Re your second paragraph IPSEA can and do represent people at Tribunals if it comes to that. Statements are still being issued by councils even though your LEA may not want to due to cost; how do you know that there are less than 100 statemented children in your LEA?. This particular piece of information you have come across may not be accurate. Do not be put off by stats; they can be used to misinform and put parents off from applying.

You are your child's best - and only - advocate here. No-one else is better placed than you than to fight for her educational rights; this is also because no-one else will (you've already seen that at first hand with regards to her poor junior school)

Applying NOW for a statement tells the authorities that you are a parent who CARES, sometimes that's all that's needed as so many are wimpy, and apathetic or in blatent denial. It also means that her needs have to be looked at properly within 6 months by statute instead of whenever the hell they feel like getting round to it .

Sorry, I've had a couple of awful days with the children :( . . Today, I made it my duty to call all their 'experts' and make follow-up calls to everyone they see . . DONE :) And 1 very tired mum later all is going well with their referrals, assessments etc. [wipes brow]

Do you know, I think I was looking at the wrong info regarding statements BUT if I find it again, i'll post the link here.

Anyway, I called Paed's Secretary, who confirms that I will hear of the 'Pathway' people numerous times as they will need various info.

Another call I made was to the 'Pathway' people (once I tracked their number down!!) and they confirm DD was already accepted on there list on 18/6/12 ( must of been from school referral - still can't hurt for the Paed to refer too:) ). . She explained the full process in detail and I won't go into all the boring bits, however the 'Pathway' is the process in my area which leads (or not) to diagnosis of Autism - ie SALT, EP, Paed, Camhs etc - They said IF it's a clear cut, obvious signs case then once all the pro's have seen dc and agreed, then it's straightforward. However, once you've seen all pro's and if they can't agree, then thats what makes the wait longer, as you then have to wait for the ADOS - In total she said from acceptance to their service it's generally 1 year to dx (which includes ADOS), which is alot sooner than I was expecting.

I feel less thrown-to-one-side, now I actually know whats going on. Although the EP (who met with DD for about 30 minutes) words are ringing in my ears "I see no obvious issues, therefore I would be prepared for her not to be dx'd" I hope she's not on the bloomin' panel!!

Oh and I AM going to gather all reports, details etc and apply for Statutory Assessment :)