Attachment disorder

[NoPinkPlease]

Hi
DS (5) possibly has an attachment disorder from a difficult premature start and fluctuating hearing loss - a new theory from the EdPsych that makes more sense to us than ASD. What's difficult now is working out what to do next. We'll get the EdPsych report and recommendations but I want to inform myself on the condition and possible treatment / support and whereas with ASD there's loads of info, there's very little on this.

So, I was hoping someone might have some knowledge of this or where I could get more info from? We're mid-statement assessment if that's useful info.

Thanks

How long has the hearing been sorted?

Attachment disorder is very real, and can come from difficulties at the beginning interfering with the bond with parents but it doesn't necessarily remain a problem after the interfering things have disappeared iyswim.

We've been confident (ish) that he could hear much better from about July this year. But of course, cos of the glue ear, it may come and go a bit too - we're pretty sure he can hear us most of the time these days and one grommet was still in last time he was checked.

The EdPsych said he felt like ds needed to unlearn his behaviours and learn to be a hearing person. The description and his assessment of ds rang the most bells of anything so far, but it was a brief session with me after the assessment so haven't had the "so what do we do about it" conversation and that's what I'm trying to find without much luck!

CAMHS could refer your DS for some play therapy for attachment disorder. However, their resources for this are limited, with children in care often needing this therapy.

Might be worth having a chat with your GP or the Ed Psych about the possibility of a referral for this?

DS is 6 and we've just been round the same attachment/ASD cycle, fetching up with attachment.

It isn't as well known a diagnosis as ASD and I think you will find it tends to be thought of in relation to children who have had early trauma or poor care - so usually looked after or adopted. I can see how prem birth could get you there though.

Ask about Theraplay - we have had a year of this with DS and it is certainly a lovely experience which will do you no harm and may produce much progress.

Re school read Louise Bomber, what about me? It has some excellent strategies for supporting kids although you will have to ignore the context of trauma.

Ditto dan Hughes and Kim Golding for home strategies.

Hope that helps?

It's helpful to me (and maybe to you?) to think that it's not necessarily about the quality of the relationship with the parent as it is now. More about the fact that we learn how to be social and to regulate our emotions from the very first relationship with a caregiver - and if that is seriously disrupted they think that all the brain wiring around social development is built on shaky foundations, as it were.

Don't google attachment disorder. There is a very serious diagnosis of 'reactive attachment disorder' which is usually applied to kids who have had severe trauma and perhaps struggle to form an attachment with anyone. Your DS sounds, like mine, in the realms of attachment 'difficulties' ie the ability to form attachments is there, but disrupted.

So had the follow up to the autistic assessment with the Salt and she wasn't happy that the Edpsych had suggested attachment issues as she felt it's still likely to be ASD. I think we can safely say we're all on a bit of a rollercoaster. In some ways it doesn't matter as his needs aren't different depending on the label really but it would be nice just so i could get my head round it all a bit. Argh.

I know of a DC who did have a really rough start to life and is now adopted. This DC has previously been DXed with attachment disorder and has recently been re DXed with ASD/PDA. I think the DC's adoptive parents were keen to have an ASD DX as it seems to be so much better recognised and brings much more resources (eg autism outreach) at school. There has been a lot of discussion about whether it matters which DX the DC has and the school have come to the conclusion that their strategies would be the same either way, so the DX with the most weight is preferable. HTH

NoPink I am interested that the Ed Psych thinks your young child has to 'learn to be a hearing person'? Personally am dubious about this, especially as his hearing loss had been intermittent. Young children are incredibly adaptive and IME tend to just 'be what they are'. Not saying that hearing loss doesn't have a big effect (my dd2 has had fluctuating hearing loss for about 3 years and it does affect her behaviour quite markedly) but generally if hearing improves so do the effects IYSWIM. I think the SALT has a fair point being sceptical about this. Plus would commenting on his emotional adjustment not be outwith his remit? Do please feel free to ignore if you think the Ed Psych is onto something, it just doesn't seem to sit quite right with me..... Is there more to his very early life than just the prematurity (don't feel you have to share if you don't want to)?

Handywoman xxxxx