CELF results and dx of ADD - my boys keeping me on my toes

[starfish71]

Know I haven't posted for ages but am/ have been struggling.

DS1 14 (ASD) at PRU since sept, we have just come back from appt at CAMHS and he is looking very likely to be dx with ADD. He is happy, much happier with this dx than he has ever been with the Aspergers dx . I am feeling really stunned to be honest and it means he has even more to overcome.

This morning have been clearing my father in laws house, he has recently gone into a nursing home which has been difficult and come home to a SALT report for DS2 9 (ASD) which took place last week and the school never even mentioned it in the home school book! And I was up the school two days after it was done.

Will post specific questions on how to help both boys but just an idea of what you think if possible of his latest scores -

TALC - subtest concepts and following directions

Raw score 41. Scaled score 5 5th percentile.

CELF 4

Expressive language skills
Subtest

Recalling sentences raw score 39

Scaled score 4. 2nd percentile.

Formulating sentences

Raw score 18. Scaled score 1. 0.1st percentile.

Any help please? It's going to be chips for tea tonight and a bit of a think which may include me holding a glass of wine.

Sorry, I can't be of any help but do remember you from a while back. How is the PRU going for ds1?

As for your ds2, no idea but my sympathies that this report came out of the blue

Hopefully more practical advice will be forthcoming soon.

That's a tough day. Did you get any feedback about the SALT report? I suppose you need to be able to unpick how much of the results is his actual ability and how much is the (possible) lack of focus due to the ADD? Also, does this result tie in with your experience of him? Is his functional use of sentences as behind as the report suggests?

Thanks handy and lougle.

The report does say that his teacher had no major concerns regarding his functional understanding of language. He was observed to follow all classroom instructions appropriately, displaying good situational understanding.

It says he has difficulties recalling sentences accurately and formulating sentences in context using specific words. Oh and lots of other stuff. States he continues to have ongoing receptive and expressive language difficulties as well as social communication difficulties associated with his autism.

He did all the assessment in an American accent .

Will ring the salt tomorrow, am bit disappointed in school not to be told this had been done, bit like getting the IEP sent home all filled in.

I really need to know what is best to focus on with him, it says at the end to work on his understanding of concepts before and after. Answered my own questions there!

DS2 is in an ASD unit attached to a mainstream, they are great with him but reports tell you how it is don't they?

Sorry lougle it's DS1 who is getting the additional ADD dx, and DS2 with the surprise SALT assessment.

Sorry to confuse.

DS1: Aspergers-brain seems to evolve into ADD-brain in some teenagers (just my observation, not sure if anyone's done research on it). Practically speaking, it might mean that at some point in life meds might be worth a try to see if they help him at all.

Ds2: language disorder, innit? (till they say 'it's just his autism' ) The teacher is probably wrong in saying he understands everything in class... a bright child will usually learn the expected routines and/ or pick a linguistically gifted classmate to copy.

"language disorder, innit?"

Thank you, just reading that made me feel less alone! The wine isn't helping tonight!

Yes I think you are right about his teacher, she is lovely but think DS is as you say bright enough to follow the rules, most of the time.

Am worried sick about both of them and really feel am not up to the job.

DS1 is in the PRU and have been told this week he doesn't get to pick options like mainstream peers, now has ADD, prob needs meds and DS2 is struggling more than I thought and he only has 2 years left before secondary.

thanks for replies all, will come back when feeling less emotional x