another trip to CAMHS

[sbm78]

Hi Guys, we've moved areas and have to start the process with CAMHS again apparently because we never actually got a diagnosis. GGRRRR. The 1st and 2nd time I took this to CAMHS I was quite naive and wanted them to tell me how they could help, they suggested behaviour support at school etc which was ok. He is now 8. Anyway... this time I am pushing for my son to be tested for autism/aspergers etc, the reasons for this are I'm fed up with him being angry alot, resulting in his sister taking the brunt and me constantly feeling stressed and upset, I want him to have a happy childhood ..... I will be going in to the initial appointment head strong, with a list of behaviours, videos that I've been taking of his melt downs :( Anyway I've started to put together the list and just wondered what you guys think? Whether you think that my son might be autistic. I know the spectrum is long and all children are different but what do you think:

*Delayed language skills
*Auditory processing disorder
*Sensory Issues - low pain threshold. A graze can result in DS becoming very upset and difficult to calm down
*Struggles to make friends
*becomes obsessive with other children
*Takes peoples speaking literally, metaphors and figures of speech
*Doesn't like being told to do something ("in a minute, not yet") he has no idea how long a minute
*Not happy when things do not go his way - everyone "winds him up" He lashes out.

*Playing with objects. DS is always picking things up off the ground, anything he can get to play with/throw/kick
*DS LOVES/obsessed with lorries, tractors, trains
*Lining up cars, building huge symmetrical towers with plastic cups.
*DS has an over-active imagination.
*Not happy with anyone else touching or playing with "his" toys
*Doesn't tend to show remorse - although I have seen a slight improvement in this area

Anyone with an opinion please comment, I'm interested to read what you think.

With my non-expert hat on looks very possible to me too BUT having said that don't hold out too much hope for CAMHS having a magic answer. What you really need is to develop strategies to help and you can do that right now by doing as much reading as you can about ASD - Tony Attwood is a good place to start. I would also recommend pushing for support at school if you haven't already as this should depend on need rather than diagnosis anyway. |For ds1 and ds2 the anger is related very much to anxiety so anything you can do to reduce this is a good place to start.

Thank you both, I'm glad you are both thinking along the same lines as me, gives me confidence going forward.

We have just moved schools as relocated, I've already had a meeting with the SENCO and given her his history and which levels he's working at (still on level 1 for reading/writing and 2c for maths - yr4) so he's going to need a lot of support.

I need to read up about autism some more.

Thank you guys x

Good luck Greener2....

Yes I've already had experience of the blame game. The 1st time I took him, he was 5 at the time, they blamed mine and my husbands break up and put me on a parenting course. I knew as I know now that this had nothing to do with his behaviours. He's always been this way!

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