Unusual situation

[jenk1]

I find we have an unusual situation.

The NHS CAMHS psychiatrist would not "label" DS and dx,d with severe anxiety disorder, OCD, sensory problems etc etc.

The LEA Ed PSych has stated that "At the heart of M,s problems is a severe communication disorder" and that he has "developmental immaturity" and "Litte imagination" and "restricted interests" etc etc.

Also, the LEA paed included our psychs,s dx as evidence of an "underlying condition" and also included the CAMHS psychs letter as evidence.

Now we have had our own independant assessment and he said AS.

So, the LEA were refusing to accept our private dx and saying that they needed an NHS one.

3 pieces of evidence have not been sent to us with our proposed statement

1, our psychs recommendations for M,s education
2, the NHS CAMHS letter saying that as M has shown imagination in the ADOS that he is not on the spectrum
3, a letter that is listed as "Further advice obtained by the authority"

Now the only way that we know what the CAMHS psych wrote is cos i wrote to her and asked her to kindly provide us as M,s parents with a letter pertaining to his dx as she had not written us one before.

I have written to the LEA asking for the missing evidence but have had no reply.

Something is going on and im feeling very uneasy.

Oh jen, what a saga you're having with them .

Received this letter this morning from the boss of CAMHS the psychiatrist who wouldnt dx M with ASD.

Dear MR and Mrs XXXXX

Thankyou for your letter dated 7th Dec 06. Iwas asked by the Education Dept to send a report outlining my involvement with M and asking what i would recommend.

I presumed that XXXXX XXXXXXX was sent a similar request and that she would make some recommendations as she has known M for much longer and had carried on seeing him. I let them know that my involvement with M was very limited and so I was not in a position to make any recommendations. LEA Dept has made it clear that a Statement of Special Needs is based on a child,s needs and not on any particular diagnosis.

I am aware that some practitioners do video the ADOS but not everyone does and I did not have the facilities to do this when i saw M. The ADOS is just part of the assessment process and it was the part I was asked to undertake by XXXXX who had done all the other assessments of M.

The Education Dept in its request letter to professionals makes it clear that copies of our reply letters will be sent to parents which is why I do not send out a copy direct to parents.

Perhaps in future, I need to check with parents if they want me to reply to the Education Departments request for information. I would be grateful to hear you views on this.

Right now because i have AS and struggle with hints,sarcasm i cant get in my head what she is basically saying,
Is she throwing it back on the Consultant who has had the most involvement with M, and if so why were we told by the first Consultant that she couldnt dx M with ASD and it had to be this one who had wrote the letter.

Also, i was told by the first consultant that the CAMHS do video the ADOS.

All i want is for the NHS to endorse M,s dx of AS, as we now have our private psychologist saying yes to AS, the Ed PSych saying that at the heart of M,s problems is a profound communication disorder that can make it extremely difficult for M to be understood andfor him to understand other people.

Then the paediatrician says in his advice that:
M has a history of Anxiety, school phobia/refusal for underlying condition please see reports of
Our private psych and also the CAMHS psych.

What can i do now?

Do NHS,s endorse private dx,s when there is sufficient evidence or am i wasting my time?

Thanks

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