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

[Beautifulpossum]

Shopping- that is amazing news. Well done to you and your DS.

We are having a terrible time with VT here. Stairs and teeth going so well but VT is a disaster. Hoping to get back on track with it over half term.

[shoppingbagsundereyes]

:)

[Badvoc]

Well half term is over for me! Hurrah! Been a bit rubbish as I have been ill, but hopefully in the mend now...
Ds1 has been invited to a Halloween party on weds...not sure if he will go..he is a bit meh about Halloween generally :)
It's parents evening on Tuesday!!
Will let you know how it goes...

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Dipping my toe in here.

DS2 has just started school. He's a July birthday, has no hearing in his left ear, no balance from his vestibular system and a severe language delay (mainly conceptual language, but some speech issues too.)

While he settled into school well, his behaviour at home has been increasingly tense, aggressive and, well, just miserable. I put it down to increasing tiredness at first but I am worried also that it's general frustration too. While I know there are other avenues to investigate I wondered if Tinsley House, and the diet in particular might be worth a try?

I'm quite low about him at the moment. He used to be such a happy child and I feel totally at sea about what to do next.

[Badvoc]

Yes I think it could.
You could do several things..get robins book "is that my child?" It's a great read and will give you an idea of the TH programme (which is basically a high protein low sugar diet, supplements and neuro developmental exercises)
You could also check out the T H website and phone robin for a chat?
Good luck x

[Badvoc]

So tonight was ds1s parents evening.
It was great :)
They are very happy with him.
He is - wait for it - not only now in the middle group for maths but at the top of that group!! :)
He is, in their words, "flying" :)
Betsey...it is very common for sn/sen kids to cope very well at school and "lose it " at home.
I think it's because they feel safe and know you love them no matter what. That's when the difficult behaviour manifests.
Ds1s teachers just didn't believe me when I told them of our struggles with his obsessions, sleep etc...

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Hey, thanks Badvoc - and hurrah for your DS! You must be thrilled!

I know I shouldn't say this but when DS2 achieves I am waaaay more excited than when it's DS1 (who's NT.) Never would I let on though

I'm definitely going to investigate TH further. I feel as though I'm losing him at the moment; the transition to school was always hard for my eldest but with him it's been so much more anxiety inducing... there are so many more questions over him. The school's not the best or the worst but it's our local and it's where all his friends are. It's large but we've known it for so long it feels very nurturing and right for him.

[Badvoc]

I know what you mean re the worry.
My ds2 is nt and he starts school next sept but its ds1 I am concerned about :( where we limp e it's a middle school system so he goes into year 6 in a new, much larger school.
I am so much more confident than I was though...2 years ago I was seriously considering home ed!
And ds1 is going in a 3/4 day residential trip in may!!
It's amazing :)

[Badvoc]

Yes, I feel that way too wrt my dc.
Up to now ds2 has not struggled at all, met all his milestones etc.
It's a bit strange actually! :)
Ds2 was 4 last month and he already knows all his letter sounds, numbers up to 20 and can write some letter and numbers.
He is just so far ahead of what ds1 could do at that age, I have no idea what I am supposed to do with him! :)

[Badvoc]

....oh and he can read some simple cvc words too.
That properly freaked me out! :)

[neverenoughtimemum]

Wondered if this might be useful for Betsey and anyone else considering Tinsley House. Its a link to a free webinar being held on Monday 19th November betwen 12.00 and 1.30 p.m. Robin is speaking along with 2 others below. I was sent and email from Igenuss who are the Omega 3 supplements Robin recommends.

The potential role of fatty acids in neurodevelopmental disorders - Professor Basant K. Puri
and
Managing developmental disorders through nutrition - Dr Nina Bailey

igennus-hn.us5.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=a71ddcaa56de0ac169a7f3ed6&id=e407cf4c48&e=b599cf6ee3

Brilliant news about DS1 Badvoc, it's inspired me to keep going with the stairs exercise until we see Robin next month.

[Beautifulpossum]

Betsey-My DS loved nursery and Reception but year 1 was a complete disaster. He was so anxious and stressed and saying he wanted to die, his brain was upside down....I was so so worried about him and like you felt Iwas losing him. He has dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADD and just couldn't cope. He started at TH at the very end of July and so we are now 13 weeks into the programme. The good news is that he is coping so much better in Year 2, in part due to a kind teacher but in the main due to TH. I thoroughly recommend Robin- he is great with children and covers everything so you won't need to take your DS to anyone else. We are making small gains on an almost daily basis and I am confident that within the next year my DS will be on track to achieving his full potential.

[Badvoc]

Yes.
This is something you will hear a lot.
It's not until year 1 - that is until the start of formal education- that a lot f our kids issues become more obvious/worse.
That's certainly the case for ds1 and also for 95% of the sen/sn kids I know.
Great idea re the webinar...will check that out myself! :)

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Thanks guys - the webinar sounds good. We have a big Devt. Paed appointment around then too so a few things might come into focus around then.

I never enjoy hearing the distress our children endure but there is comfort in knowing you're not alone. The EYFS is becoming increasingly like KS1 in our school - DS2 came home the other day and told me he was in 'circles' group. After I'd calmed down from being so happy he'd actually told me something about school that made sense, I realised that they're already putting them into ability groups for numeracy and literacy!!! My DS1 does the exact same thing and he's in Y1. DS2 is unaware of this of course but I was and .

[Badvoc]

The worst thing betsey is when the kids come in and tell anyone who will listen..."oh my mummy says circles is the thick group"
Happened to my ds1.
Awful.
:(
Thankfully in year 5 my son isn't steamed for anything, the kids sit where they want and are just given ability appropriate work.
I am very proud of ds1 and his huge progress to the middle ability table, but I would never, ever discuss it with any other parent or child.
(Except you guys of course! )
:)

[willyoulistentome]

Hi folks - hi Badvoc- thanks for pointing me in this direction. I have almost finished the "Is this my child" book and I am pretty certain I am going to try to get DS onto the TH program. I have googled it as well as reading on MN, and found one journalist who was very sceptical - making out Robin Pauc was some sort of fraudster claiming to be a doctor when he is only qualified as a chiropractor. The rest seems pretty positive. TH looks fairly expensive, but if it helps DS (and the rest of us who are living through the issues with him) I think it is worth risking the money.

I was thinking about writing down all my thoughts, worries, observations about DS history and symptoms, and sending an email to TH to open the conversation. If I just chat to them, I know I will forget some things.

How did you all start the ball rolling?

[Badvoc]

Ha! Yes. That's Ben goldacre. You will find he is not well thought of in the MNSN boards! :)
I read his book bad science and it absolutely infuriated me.
The whole issue he has with robin is something robin had no control over...a newspaper called him a medical dr without his consent. That's it.
I e mailed robin first as you suggest with details if ds1s development and problems and then phoned him.
He put my mind at rest straight away.
He is the only person in 8 years who was able to tell me why ds1 tip toe walked. Not what it was a symptom of, but why. He also thinks ds1s anxiety is due to a higher than usual level of cortisol in his brain.
Why does no one else know this? :(
I think another thing that really bugs me is at some people think that robins programme is soooo alternative.
But it really isn't.
Trials of omega oils have been going on for years. There have been countless studies where it has been shown to help kids with sen/sn. I saw an episode of "the food hospital" a few weeks ago and it was a boy with ADHD and - surprise surprise - they recommended omega 3 oils!
Made a real difference to him and his family.
They also advised cutting out sugar and junk food.
Which is what robin advises.
There are lots of computer programmes (mainly from the states) to help with convergence and tracking.
They are not new either.
I really don't think I am doing anything alternative wrt TH tbh.
It's just common sense for us :)

[Badvoc]

I would recommend the brain food plan too willyou.
It's a really accessible read.
X

[shoppingbagsundereyes]

I've found the Food hospital really interesting too. The lad who had Tourettes a couple of weeks ago was significantly helped by increasing fatty acids and removing 'junk' from his diet. Makes sense that what you put in would affect the behaviour that comes out.
We've got ds' parents eve next Tuesday and for the first time I'm actually looking forward to it. I think we will hear what ds is good at rather than what he is refusing to do or struggling with. Tinsley house has literally changed his life (and mine too. When I think about my anxiety levels every day he was at school last year it makes me feel queasy)

[willyoulistentome]

I read the chapter on food last night and got a bit 'E-number' blind. Fortunately DS1 is a fairly good eater. He will try/eat pretty much anything and I would say it will be pretty easy to keep meals on track. I think DS1 will be hapy to snack on fruit, cheese, humous etc It will be the snacks for DS2 that will be tricky especially on the day that my mother has them after school. I have asked her continually for YEARS not to give them sweets , but she gets all hurt and claims it's a Grannies job to give treats. She drives me mad. I will have to revisit the issue! Wish me luck!


Both boys seem to eat pretty much from the moment they come in from school till they go to bed. I'll give them a snack and a drink and then they will pester me for food all the while I am preparing supper. I practically have to fend them off the cupboards while I am stirring something. Half an hour after supper, I will get the 'What can I eat' questions starting and it will continue till bedtime. They are both as lean as whippets, so I just let them nibble.

As the bulk of their diet (main meals) is what I consider to be pretty healthy, I have not been too concerned that they do eat biscuits and crisps. To be honest , to eliminate this stuff from DS1's diet, I will have to stop buying it altogether, as DS1 will just help himself. Funnily enough, my food troubles are going to be with DS2, who is my 'easy' child, in most ways. He does like his biscuits and is not going to take kindly to humous or whatever.
I hope the book you recommend can give me some ideas that DS2 will eat.

It sounds like the whole family wil benefit from the diet anyway. I could do withlosing a stone or two

[Badvoc]

Dh and I have both lost over a stone just by cutting down on carbs! :)
If you are really interested in diet then I would recommend escape the diet trap by dr John briffa. Shocking reading.
Shopping...let us know he you get on! It was so funny last nit at my sons parents evening...we all just sat around smiling and laughing. It was lovely.
Ds1 will have been at this school for 2 years next month.
And it will be a year in jan that we started TH.
Best thing we ever did :)
(Although I do rate ait and rrt too)

[Badvoc]

Hi all.
Just to clarify my earlier posts re the computer software...
The tracking programme is available at:
Www.visionexercises.co.uk
The convergence programme is available at:
Www.engagingeyes.com

[Badvoc]

Hi everyone.
Hope you are all ok and survived half term :)
Not much to report here which is how I like it!
Ds1s new half term project is about space and he wants to make a space rocket (weeps)
I have only just recovered from him making the Greek trireme! :)
Ds1 is currently doing hemi p and hemi t programme and doing ok.
We were at a bonfire party at mils in Saturday and he spent most of the time poking the fire with a big stick :) and wafting his sparkler about.
Ds2 loved it too once he had his noise cancelling headphones on! :)
Got our next (skype) appt with robin in 5th dec.
Am hoping to listen to the webinar on 19th nov too.

[shoppingbagsundereyes]

Hi Badvoc and everyone else. We are on week two of eye tracking and it's going well- far far less stressful than vision therapy. Ds' parents' evening tomorrow night and we are hoping to hear good things. Did I already boast that he got full marks on last week's spelling test? I had no idea if he could spell until September as he refused to write much at all. He spelled 'doubt' right first time last week!
Badvoc are you now working on the frontal bits of the brain? Will be interested to see if the exercises targetting the ASD bits of the brain are as effective as the others we've done so far. Ds' autistic traits are reducing just from working on the cerebellum so I imagine directing targetting the frontal bits will be amazing.

[Badvoc]

I think it's more to do with making both sides of the brain work together?
Great news re tracking...told you it was easier! :)
Let us know how parents evening goes....