Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Sensory Processing Difficulties?

[yawningbear]

DD 5 has been really struggling in first year of primary school, particularly with literacy, numeracy. School have said there is a significant block to learning possibly something like dyslexia but too early for formal assessment. Having done some research I think it very likely she has dyslexia but also she shows some features of dyspraxia, eg difficulty pedalling & using scissors.

I have also been reading about sensory processing difficulties and I wonder whether this may also have some relevance, although again she only has certain features and things that have been very difficult for her previously have naturally seemed to lessen as she has got older, eg seams, labels, certain types of fabric, loud noises etc.

Issues I am most concerned about are in respect to the difficulties she is having in accessing the curriculum at school, her short term memory seems non existent at times. She has begun to be aware of the difficulties she is having, talks about how tricky she finds learning and things like 'cutting out' and I am concerned about longer term impact on her self esteem and desire to learn being completely eroded.

I have an appointment to see the Learning support teacher next week, she gets additional support for learning, group and individual support each week. Should I be pushing for some kind of formal assessment and who would do this? Her teacher had previously said that it was too early for any assessment and that this wouldn't happen until P3.

As I understand it, dyspraxia and sensory processing difficulties are closely linked / part of the same set of difficulties. My DS has a dx of sensory processing disorder including sensory-based motor difficulties, difficulties with executive functioning (planning, organisation and impulse control), and hypermobility. He does not have a separate dyspraxia dx although I understand he would probably get one if we pushed. His sensory problems also cause him problems with reading and writing eg left/right reversals.

Our route to dx (as we were looking into an ASD dx - which we later received) was GP - paed - Occupational Therapist. I think though that you can ask a GP for a referral straight to OT (it's the OT who does a detailed sensory assessment).

Thanks Jackster, I think I will speak to the Support For Learning & then maybe get an appt with the GP, I don't want to make a fuss about nothing but equally if there are sensory difficulties that are contributing to the block with literacy/numeracy, she does reverse letters/numbers, then obviously it seems important to get a dx. Has your DS had any additional support as a result of his dx?

Sounds like a good plan. My DS has quite a bit of support, mostly for his emotional/behavioural difficulties, but some sensory stuff (movement breaks, sensory equipment eg wobble cushion, fiddle toys, ear defenders etc; plus short daily 1:1 sessions with PE teacher to work on motor skills, co-ordination). What he doesn't really have is any academic support as he is doing only a bit below averagely (despite having been assessed as extremely bright by various professionals) - so school don't really see a problem there.

Where in the country are you?

Find out the qualifications of the learning support teacher.

We are in Scotland, I had also wondered about the qualifications of the Support for Learning person but a friend who is a primary school teacher locally said that they are always a qualified teacher with specialist knowledge around support for learning.

My friend had also said that the Support for Learning Teacher should be able to do the assessment for dyslexia but I had thought that DD would need to be referred to the Ed Psy for that. If they are able to just do it at school I am not sure why the class teacher said that DD would not be able to be formally assessed until P3 when she would be 7/8. Whereas I have read that the earliest an assessment could be done for dyslexia is 6.

Thanks anyway for all your replies, I appreciate it. I am glad your DS is getting at least some of the support that he needs Jackster.

It's the specialised knowledge around SEN you want to find out about! Not all teachers who work with children with SEN actually have undertaken additional post-graduate qualifications alongside their teaching qualifications.

Scotland is fantastic ... I thoroughly recommend you go and see Ian Jordan in Ayr. He specialises in coloured lens glasses that help with asd/sensory problems and much more. 2 of my dc have them for visual problems and the lenses have sorted the problem completely! Another dc is waiting for her glasses to arrive. It's free testing by him on the NHS. Please give him a try. You'll be amazed.

Frazzledbutcalm - are Ian Jordan's services available on the NHS in England as well? I'd really love to take both my dc's to see him.

anne I'm in England. I travelled to Ian's practice in Ayr and it was all free. It's free because he's in Scotland, it doesn't matter where you live. All I had to pay for were the glasses frames and some of dc coloured lenses. You get the usual NHS voucher price off the frames (as you would at a usual optician), and if the lens has red in it then that's free. But any lens without red you have to pay for. Dd1 frames and lenses cost £149 (1 free lens), Ds2 frames and lenses cost £148 (no free lenses), dd2 frames and lenses cost £60 (2 free lenses). All testing for the 3 of them was free. There's private clinics in England but testing is £250 each!
I would DEFINITELY recommend him to everyone!!

Hi Frazzled, I saw your thread previously and have done some research about Ian, it is definitely something to explore further so thank you for the information. She has been seen by an optician recently who was recommended by Dorothy Crystal who does lots of work with dyslexic children but who was booked up for months.

The optician we saw said that DD's eyes are not working well together and she now has glasses to wear all of the time. She said DD was too young for coloured lenses/ overlays. We have to go back in a few weeks to have another assessment so I can ask her about the coloured lenses again but I will definitely look at taking her to see Ian as well.

DD does have also problems with things like using cutlery, scissors, gluing, catching & also some loud noises and some seams cause her huge distress but others not at all. The more I read the more I think she needs a proper assessment by an OT as well as the possible dyslexia being looked into. I am getting very tired with the endless words/ sounds that keep being sent home to be learnt and DD can barely do any of it.

Thanks again everyone, I do really appreciate it.

yawn .. Ian is free and he says he can assess children who can't/won't communicate. I wouldn't have thought your dd was too young at 5 tbh. In my very short experience with Ian, I have learned through my 3 dc that noise, touch, taste, co-ordination are ALL helped with coloured lenses! It's honestly so bizarre, but so worth it and very beneficial. My dd1 is now 14 and it's just come to light recently that she can't read! All the words move constantly on the page. We assumed dyslexia but she was tested and it was found not to be that. We took her to Ian, he sorted her coloured lenses and ALL words now DO NOT move ... she just sees what we see! FWIW I'd recommend taking your dd to see Ian very soon, but also still pursue the official assessment by OT etc. I've just started the ball rolling that way for my dc.

wow thanks frazzled! That's great news.

My dd (age 4) has all of the issues you mention.

Over Easter she was diagnosed with sensory processing difficulties. I was told that if we lived in the states it would have been noticed as a baby! I gather they also have routine screening of the whole intake in many preschools over there so I don't think your dd's age would be a problem for diagnosis. Also bear in mind that nobody has all the possible features as it's very individual.

Have you read 'The Out-of-Sync Child' by Carol Kranowitz? It can be found on Amazon amongst other places. It has changed my life as her diagnosis is a direct result. An Occupational Therapist with specific training in sensory integration is what you might need for assessment. Also have you read 'Sensational Kids' by Dr Lucy Miller?

Good luck with finding the help needed.

They routinely screen for SPD in America! I'm amazed.

That is totally amazing for your DC's Frazzled, you all must be thrilled. I will contact him and see if we can make an appointment, I have checked the train times already! It isn't as far as I thought and we could probably do it in a day. I can imagine that he is pretty booked up though. I guess I need to check if she would still get another NHS assessment from him though if she has just been seen by another opticians. I definitely look into it though.

Thanks very much for the book recommendations Myst, I have just ordered them both. From what I have read if anyone who had known anything about sensory integration had seen DD as a baby they would have diagnosed her then. She was a very difficult baby, diagnosed with colic as she screamed for long periods of time, could only be comforted by me, needed lots of bouncing, huge difficulty with sleep, hated going in a pram, could only be carried by me in a sling, bright lights, noisy shops all caused her complete distress, and the trouble we had getting her dressed! It was horrendous. Many of those things have lessened though which makes me wary of looking for a label but she does still have some sensory related issues I think. She hates hand dryers and the Hoover, she loves certain fabrics and hates others, she always has something in mouth, sucking or chewing, fidgets with everything and can have a complete melt down if the seam in her socks or tights is in the wrong place.

Did you go via your GP Myst for your DD's dx? Our GP is lovely and I think if I and go and speak to her she will refer DD to the OT's but I don't know that she would then necessarily be seen by one with training in sensory integration, it seems unlikely that it would be that easy! Although I guess they would be able to assess in terms of the possible dyspraxia as well so I will make an appointment to see the GP. Is your DD now getting more support Myst?

So glad I posted here. I had previously posted in primary education but here is where I needed to be. Thank you.

Your DD has similar difficulties to my DS.

I asked my GP for an assesment for him but he refused as DS isn't 'bad' enough. The school tried to refer him to an OT but the waiting list is 12 months. I took him for a private assesment and he does have dyspraxia. He is currently being assessed by am educational psychologist too.

Having a diagnosis of Dyspraxia with some Spd means that I know he has difficulties for a reason but hasn't really helped in any other way. If I want him to have OT I need to pay privately. I suppose when we meet with the EdPysch in a couple of weeks she may suggest what the school can do to help. You can probably tell I am feeling disillusioned by the process of getting DS the help he needs to access the ciriculum.

yawn .. we drove there from Newcastle Upon Tyne. Did it there and back in a day. His bookings are usually only 1.5 - 2 weeks away. 2 of mine had had an NHS opticians appointment 3 months previously. Mr Jordan said we might have to pay for the test (£37) ... but because he found problems we didn't have to pay, still free!
orange .. I feel for you. We had to do a self referral for dd as school wouldn't and GP wouldn't. I spoke to school nurse, she came to my house and filled out the paperwork. Because of dd problems (poss asd) the self referral could go ahead. It is a long slow process though and that is SOOOO wrong.

Yawningbear- you are describing my dd as a baby. Horrendous is indeed the word!

I didn't go via the gp in the end as everyone (including dh) said oh she's just1/2/3/4, just being difficult, just being stubborn, just being lazy, just being a crybaby etc etc. Then I read The Out of Sync Child and went aha! I got her tested privately by an ot who specialises purely in sensory processing disorder in babies/children as I reckoned that if he also said she was just whatever then I would accept that and not need to explain myself to anyone who already thought I was fussing over nothing.

Using that report however I have swiftly been referred to the local community consult paed (via the local health visitor) who I am seeing next week to discuss what OT support can be offered on the NHS. I have already been told that there is no longer the budget for sensory OT on the NHS in this area unless an adult or at a special school. However the paed suggested I could pay privately for the sensory side of OT and then she might (or might not) be able to arrange 'standard' OT to help with fine/gross motor skills. I have also spoken to her school who says that I should have a meeting later this week with the SENCO to discuss the report (which recommended 10-15 minutes a day with an SLA to do games/activities as recommended by the sensory OT). So in answer to your question as to what support watch this space!

Ps did you know that they make special seam free socks and underwear for kids for exactly that reason? I can give you the website if you are interested.

Orangepudding- There is probably some stuff you can do at home to help. Ask your OT (or whoever did the assessment) which of the 7 senses (ie Inc vestibular and proprioceptive) are affected and in which way (ie under responsive/over responsive/sensation seeking) if you don't already know and then look at something like The Out of Sync Child Has Fun by Carol Kranowitz to see which games/activities might help. I know it's not much but at least it might be a start?

myst ... I'd be interested in the seam free socks etc website ...

Yes me too Myst, although it has got an awful lot better, there was one winter (and it's cold up here) when she virtually refused to wear tights or socks only leggings and furry boots. I have looked for them in the past but never managed to find anything that I thought looked suitable and that she would wear. Very interesting that our DD's were such similar babies, I think I would love to speak to someone who really understands sensory integration even if only to validate those very early baby experiences when she was just so distressed. Whether she still has issues now that are impacting on her ability to access the curriculum I am less sure about, but there certainly is some fairly significant issue going on.

I am interested in how much the private assessment with the OT costs Myst & Orange? And how would I go about finding the right one? First port of call with be the GP, but although I had been confident she would refer if I asked, your situation Orange has made me think again. DD's issues regarding co-ordination aren't all encompassing, her balance seems Ok for example and sometimes she can catch a ball and DP said he saw her pedalling a few metres at the weekend. She definitely does have issues with using cutlery, cutting out and organisational/short term memory.

I really hope your meeting with the Ed Psy leads to some more support for your DS Orange, I can imagine how frustrating it all must be.

Frazzled, I emailed Ian and looks like I would have to pay for the assessment as she has been seen really recently by a local opticians but from the figures you give it doesn't seem too much, then there would be the cost of the glasses obviously as well if she was prescribed anything but it has to be worth trying. DP is very sceptical about the whole thing but I am going to take her, I will wait and see the Learning Support Teacher first and then make an appointment.

I have used this website and they are good (but expensive) - don't know if others will have other recommendations for sensory-friendly clothing.

My DS was also incredibly high maintenance as a baby (we were told "colic"which seems to be a euphemism for "we have no idea"!). We took him for cranial osteopathy which didn't seem to do much.

We had DS assessed by a private OT. It was around £300, which included observing him at both home and school, various tests, questionnaires and chatting to us, detailed report setting out his difficulties, sensory diet (tailor-made schedule for sensory integration therapy) and meeting with school senco to explain his difficulties and make recommendations for what school should be doing. I know it's a lot of money but tbh really worth every penny IMO as it's made a huge difference.

You can find a register of OTs if you google, and can contact ones local to you to see if they are trained in sensory integration.