APD, am I right in thinking the only clinic available to help with this is at GOSH?

[Chocamochalatte]

DS was diagnosed by Ed Psych nearly a year ago but I would like to try and get him more help than he is currently receiving, our GP seems to know little about it but has said I am welcome to take him information about clinics available and he is writing to our local hospital...

We are trying to get DS statemented to get extra help this way but want to do as much as I can. DS is 12 in yr 7...

You need a refferal to an audiologist, and a speech and language assessment and an educational psychologist assessment. Your audiologist with that information will be then able to refer if they feel appropriate to a clinic which does APD assessments. GOSH as you know does them also Manchester Royal Infirmary. There is a consultant also in Preston who has a good knowledge of APD but you have to be in this area to be accepted to see them.

We have a speech and language assesment which was done at around the same time, so if I give both of these to my GP he should be able to refer us to an audiologist?

Are you aware that GOSH do not actually offer any treatment as such for APD? They are able to test and diagnose it but they will basically make recommendations for school such as small classes, elimination of background noise and a personal FM system so that the child can focus in on the teacher talking in class. Certainly their reports could be very useful for statementing and the help you should be asking for but beyond this sadly they don't have anything to offer. We were there for a follow up for DDs APD yesterday and the brief consultation ended with him wishing her luck and apologising that they have nothing more to offer her from here.

Choc - maybe your paediatrician is the one who you need to refer?

Your GP can't refer to GOSH as the referral has to come from a hosptial doctor (tertiary referral). GOSH don't treat and also I have found that teachers don't get it. The report is very useful for SA though. Visit the APDUK website - especially ideas for writing an IEP.

So Paed to Audiologist to GOSH/Manchester Infirmiry with associated EP/SLT and if you have one OT report. GP can refer to Paed or whichever multidisciplinary team that these refferals goto in your area if you haven't already got a Paed or similar.