NEW Tinsley house support thread -part 2!!

[Badvoc]

Hello everyone!
Thought I should start a new thread as we were nearing 1000 posts! :)
Indigo is no longer posting as you all know, but I think it would be such a shame for the support thread to go too.
I know I find reading about all the ups and downs we all experience very helpful and it's so great to hear all the progress :)
So.
We go back to TH next month and can't wait. So interested to see of the tracking programme has worked. I think ds1s reading speed has improved and he is now reading proper chapter books!
He continues to show less anxiety, OCD behaviour and stress.
He is eating better and is generally a much happier chap.
Looking forward to hearing from you all over the next few weeks/months...X

Fantastic ruggles :)
So pleased for you and ds.
Tom is off to play war with his best friend at a local park later on this morning :)
Poor ds2 is still poorly...bad cough. Think I got 3 hours sleep last night...maybe :(

Evening

Beautifulpossum - sorry that your son is underweight - it is such a worry when they don't grow at the same rate as everyone else. I've been thinking about this gluten and dairy free thing a lot over the last few days and am going to keep mulling it over. As Badvocsanta says, the Paleo diet is really helpful for this and has done lots of the thinking etc. Interesting about how you have gone 'light' - I'm sure that must make a big difference

Badvocsanta - thanks for the Paleo tip, it looks brilliant. So glad all went well with Robin - and hello to Tom! I know what you mean about DS / DS etc. I'm too afraid to share as I don't want nursery teachers to know I'm me, if you see what I mean. Probably paranoid... . So exciting to hear that you are on the home straight.

Indigo - School council, debating and rugby too. This is all the kind of stuff that I was so upset about DS and us missing out on.

Shoppingbags - how thoughtful of your DS. Not only can he remember how he maybe felt, but he's empathised too!

You really have inspired us all. Your story, progress and how positive you feel about it all is very uplifting and motivating too. Sometimes you've just got to believe in what you are doing and all of you ladies make me feel certain that we're on the right path, so thank you.

Hi all, sneaking back in quietly (well not tht quietly I have a hundred questions!) have been following the brain food plan and also giving supplements since the summer. We have been to see a dietician and we are about to embark on gluten and dairy free diet. I am so glad to see you back indigobelle!

I have a few q's and I am hoping the fountain of knowledge that is this thread is flowing freely!

Indigo am I right in remembering that you recommend giving probiotics? If so can you tell me which you suggest and maybe point me in the direction of further reading?

Once the gf/dairy free diet is underway I want to turn my attention to possibly getting ds assessed by a behavioural optometrist. Now I confess I have no knowledge in this area and would really appreciate if anyone can direct me towards some info on this?

I know many of you have talked about vision training at tinsley house, is this same as what you would expect from a behavioural optometrist or is it a different thing altogether?

I am open minded about trying tinsley house but had it in mind that I would look into it further down the line (ds is 4) but now that I have started investigating getting him assessed by a behavioural optometrist I'm wondering whether to go straight for tinsley house?

Sorry if I am rambling, hope someone can help x

Wow- such great news about Alex, Tom, little Shopping and Little Ruggles.

Ruggles- So pleased to hear about the tractor party. I am sure your DS will continue to amaze you over the coming weeks/months. This programme is simply amazing!

We went to Robin today- he is really pleased with both children. Stairs are finished for both of them. DS nearly there with the VT now, really think we will get it finished before we go back to TH again. Robin has given him tracking to start when he breaks up from school. DD finished with stairs and teeth, she is continuing with Wheres Wally but will also do Engaging Eyes VT. She loves the fact that it is fun games. So much more child friendly than HTS.

Both children loved seeing Robin and playing on the outside equipment. I just count my lucky stars we have found him.

Cats...robin is a lot better than a behavioural optometrist! :)
So glad to hear from you again and well dine in all your progress so far.

Welcome Cats! My DS is 4 and I'm so pleased that we have started with TH. I feel as if he 'does' everything under one roof and that we have a plan to follow - I LOVE having a plan . Already we are seeing a big improvement - I don't think they are too young, in fact, for us its been a real opportunity before problems become too entrenched at nursery.

Beautifulpossum - you are all doing so well, how brilliant that Robin is really pleased. What is HTS?

Slightly off topic, but still mulling over how to do GF/DF... . Does anyone know whether its possible to make GF bread at home without eggs? Have searched the supermarkets, but most GF bread contains nut or sesame we we can't have. Quite excited about the thought of making my own... TIA.

Thank guys, glad to e back, been a bit overwhelmed with starting school and getting statement sorted but everything is in place and the school are great, so feels like a good time to expand on what we have already been doing.

Rugged I love a good plan too!

I think then we will look at going to TH in the new year. Eek!

Ruggles! Dumb I pad!

Hi Cats!

Further reading about probiotics in The GAPS diet (Gut and Psychology Syndrome)

The probiotics recommended in it are Bio Kult

Def go to Robin before a Behaviour Optometrist. I spent £500 at a BO and he didn't help at all (although I know other MNers have had better experiences)

And Robin's program includes vision therapy. It includes far better vision therapy than most BOs do.

There are 3 different things BOs prescribe:

1: Prism glasses - like all glasses they only work when you wear them, don't correct the underlying problem and need to get stronger over time

2: Manual vision therapy - this is what most BOs do because they can charge you to come back every week for more therapy. The problem with the exercises is that you rely on the child to tell you the truth (ie do they see double etc) and they won't cause they want the therapy to finish as soon as possible. Also it's normally only temporary - like going to the gym. Works while you're there, but when you stop your biceps go down again.

3: Computerised vision therapy. This is what Robin prescribes and what a very very few BOs also do. These programs are impossible to cheat on, and have long term results because they make your eyes get to a certain point from which they won't regress.

Thanks for the links indigo and the info on BO. I don't want to be driven by cost but it is a factor and if I plough hundreds into a BO next year and it doesn't work it will be a while before we can consider TH. So I'm trying to get a big picture before I make my next move.

Will probably spend next couple of months getting the gf/dairy free bit down to a fine art and then I can focus on the next bit.

I do already feel that just the improved diet from the brain food plan and the supplements have made a difference. His reception teachers have been so so pleased with how well he has settled in and his echolalia is reducing too.

Thanks to all on this thread it is only through your knowledge we are able to explore new avenues

Cats - are you doing the stairs exercise with him? That's free, and takes months to complete, so you might as well start it.

If he's too young for the stairs (ie finds it too hard) do the spinning chair exercise instead.

Best to do the stairs / chair before vision therapy.

We tried stairs a little over the summer but he just didn't get it and he was getting agitated so we put it on hold but I am thinking that it might be time to try again, his language and understanding are much improved over the past few months.

Maybe we could focus on those and once they are mastered make plans to go to TH

Yes, or if the stairs is still too hard for him try the spinning chair exercise, cause he is still quite young.

Hello everyone,
I have read the first thread about Tinsley House and bought the book.
I have a DD who is just 4. We do not have a diagnosis for her, but essentially she has a developmental delay/disorder.

She has:
Speech delay, but the SALT thinks she has pragmatic language difficulties.
She is hypermobile and has low muscle tone.
Has problems with gross and fine motor skills. Cannot draw anything that is recognisable. Does nothing with 'care'. Does that make sense? She does everything clumsily, but if she concentrated she could do things, but she has not concept of how to be gentle.
Has problems with motor planning.
Is unpredictable with her behaviour. Can be very on edge a lot of the time. Will fly off the handle about things, although they are not tantrums and do not last long. But will scream and screech a lot. Will lie down and kick as opposed to trying to communicate with us.
Lots of other little things that mark her out from her peers.

She is doing developing though. 6 months ago she was saying 2 words and now she is asking why, what.
She is GF/CF and we do fish oil and supplements.

I have a meeting tomorrow with the child development team. Where there will be a peadiatrician, SALT and the SENCO from school. I am feeling nervous about it and think they are going to talk ASD again.

I have thought a lot about TH, but am nervous to take the plunge. What if it doesn't work?

I just feel so sad at the moment and lost, and feel like my little girl is just out of reach. It is like she is behind a fog and if we could just try and clear that fog we could get somewhere.

Does anyone know what I mean?

If TH doesn't work? Then you'll try something else. And something else. And something else.

There are loads and loads and loads of things that work. And you may have to do more than one of them.

Your child is only 4. You have loads of time.

But TH will work. It will improve her. I can't say how much - but I can say it will improve her.

thank you.

I am feeling very teary tonight. DH gone away and I have to go to CDT tomorrow and try and remember all I want to ask and talk about.

I will maybe try and call TH tomorrow. That's the first step right?

That's right. Ring Robin and talk to him.

Your girl is there just behind the fog - and you will clear that fog.

You will.

Absolutely princess and its a first step we have all has to take.
Good luck x

Thank you both.
Have had a good cry on the phone to DH. So now feel a bit better :)

It is just so sad seeing the potential our kids have and yet not seeing them reach that potential.

But she is only 4.

I would happily cut my arms off to lift that fog.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Hi prince I remember feeling the way you did nearly two years ago, we haven't been to TH yet but we've done a lot in the last two years, SALT, diet, supplements, getting a diagnosis and putting a statement in place. All of these things together have made differences. You don't see the changes immediately and sometimes it's only when you look back to the beginning you realise how much progress you have made.

Your little girl will make progress and there are lots of avenues to explore, but don't panic about not exploring them all at once.

Make yourself a detailed list before your meeting. That will help you if you feel teary in the meeting. I used to list ds' difficulties in categories so his were: control issues, concentration problems and impulsivity problems ( more specifically he whacked kids all the time). Nothing the school's Sen team did made the blind bit of difference with any of the three areas. Robin's methods have made dramatic improvements in all three areas for us.

Have you got the right fish oil? You will see quicker improvements with the right balance.

Your dd will make progress.
Because she has you as a mother.
X

Those of your using Vegepa how much are you giving? We use the chewable ones and up until now ds has been having four a day. The pack says two - four a day. It's been over three months since we started them should we drop to two a day or is it fine to stick at four?