Caring Carrot moment (just had one)

[Handywoman]

Ladies, I knew it was coming, this Ed Psych wrote an amazing (and I do mean amazing) report about dd1 (Dyslexic).

I approached her regarding assessment of dd2 (?ASD) which I've been mulling over to get an idea of dd2's actual cognitive strengths and weaknesses as dd2 has an IEP, makes slow progress in literacy and numeracy, can sometimes be exceedingly bright and at other times fail to tackle even the most basic of tasks for school. dd2 finds reading comprehension difficult and needs visual prompts and 'always' (SENCO) needs adult involvement to start her work at school. SENCO very much on board and seeing problems with social interaction, processing, anxiety and attention.

EP is old school and gave the distinct impression a while ago that I was bonkers to even think dd2 may have ASD and because she met dd2 briefly and dd2 was polite and made good eye contact.

FFWD to today's cognitive assessment and subsequent meeting with EP, me and SENCO. EP (despite me saying I was merely interested a profile of cognitive strengths and weaknesses) spent most of it tilting her head and emphasising what wonderful eye contact dd2 made and how socially appropriate she was.

I am sure, however, her report will be useful. EP was actually quite complimentary re dd2's skills, identified mostly in the normal/superior range, just processing issues. Which again leads me to question why the heck does she need all this support at school?

Caring Carrot 1: Handywoman 0

I'm off for one of these

I hope her report will be useful but equally it may be just fit for the garbage. Is this also going to be sent to the LEA as part of a statement application?.

EPs can only make recommendations re educational needs but cannot diagnose ASD if it is present. This would have to be done I believe as part of a multi disciplinary assessment led by someone like a developmental paediatrician.

SENCO sounds good here but truly you are her best - and only - advocate here.

This is not for SA more for impending NHS diagnostic ASD assessment to hopeful get as much info gathered as poss. NHS Dev Paed is heading MDT assessment. I told this EPI was only after cognitive profile but EPwas trying really hard to convince me that dd2's social communication issues have been caused by her glue ear and she has 'hangover/residual' languages issues(previously severely delayed and disordered language). I did go all hot and had to grit my teeth for quite some time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, you'll still be anxious because of the glue ear. Or trying to get benefits/ council house/ an excuse cos a middle-class dc didn't get into prep school/ cover-up your deep maladaptive personal or family issues (delete according to EP's ideological persuasion)

Don't you know that she's probably just a little shy, we can't all be top of the class, you know. Anyway, they all catch up in their own time, and the worst thing you could do is try to label your child, autism is exceptionally rare in girls, and resolved hearing impairment looks much the same.

On the other hand, she might be making a case for auditory processing disorder and have good reason to feel your dd2 merits an assessment.

gah, what's come over me, playing devil's advocate for LA ed psych, also singing the praises of school action plus on a thread today, i must be ill...

Not really following you there !!!!!! I am stoopid

Summary of post: EP report likely to be full of carrots. Or... Just maybe she's right and its all down to the historic glue war causing current auditory processing disorder.

If she's really good on dyslexia, maybe she's good with other specific-languagey-processing-learning-listening things too

Glue Ear not glue war
[bed]