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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

May I come in? I'm concerned about possible SID or Dyspraxia

18 replies

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 16/07/2007 11:38

I have always have some concerns about DS's development which his recent pre-school report confirmed. I understand that SID, Dyspraxia, Apergers and Autism share some of the symptoms between them, which furthers my confusions. I would be grateful if somebody could please give me a hint of where to start. Unfortunately, our experience of the NHS regarding his allergy problems has mostly thought us that we can not expect them to take prompt action (testing for peanut allergy after a reaction took 18m to materialise!). So, although I will speak to my GP, I would like to know if I can start doing something at home to help DS, who is 4.5 yrs old, a bit while we get professional help.

It would take hours to tell DS med history so, will try to sumarise:

  • He was so distressed about certain textures that he wouldn't place his hands on his food, it took him a year to hold a piece of toast, therefore he learned to eat with a spoon from quite an early age, but now, 4 years later, he finds it very tricky, he is eating almost everything with his hands now (even spaguetti!). He was also very distressed about his feet getting near to sand (but OK now), etc. But OK with clothes.

  • A massive history of food allergies, it has been suggested to us that he has a leaky gut.

  • He went into cruising without preceding crawling. But after a few months forgot about the cruising and then spent months crawling. He was a late walker. At 2.5 he had the movements of a 1.5 yr old.

  • After removing milk from his diet being nearly 3 yrs old, he become very active, he has done a lot of catch up in terms of mobility but still has plenty of problems with balance, jumping, running, etc. He's so prone to accidents I'm even getting a bit concerned about some one calling SS . However, we have also seen that since removing milk his attention span has deteriorated GREATLY.

  • He became very aggresive in the first days of removing wheat, then was fine. We have re introduced soya and fish recently, perhaps it is unrelated, but he seems to have more difficulty to focus, is restless and has become very very challenging.

  • He finds it very difficult to warm up to children, although he's fine with adults. He certainly doesn't realise when he is being bullied (it's all a game in his eyes ) but it is quite good at identifying when some one is sad, worried or angry.

  • He gets paralised at new situations.

  • Won't join in music, dancing, exercise and other activities in school. But he keeps singing and dancing, all the things he didn't some hours earlier, when he is at home or thinks nobody is around.

  • And finally... we have a family history of allergies, autism, and possibly aspergers and dyspraxia (undiagnosed but most of the immediate family seem to fit the bill for either one...which brings the point, it may be a family's characteristic but if I could do something to avoid DS some of the bad time we had during our childhood, I will

Many thanks for reading all this. Any comments are greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 16/07/2007 11:39

Perhaps I should have asked how dyspraxia and SID are different.

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emandjules · 16/07/2007 12:01

My dd is 4.5 yrs and has spd confirmed, but not dyspraxia. She is under ped, child development unit and school action plus due to her speech delay, aggressive impulsive behaviour and lack of socialisation skills with other children. Some feel she may be asd but she does not fit bill. She has many of the symptoms you listed but not mobility ones you mention. The NHS round here does not have OT specialising in SPD/SID so we are having private OT for 2 hrs once for week for the minute. We have noticed a difference already afetr one month. There are a number of good groups on yahoo for sid and some good books. If you have any questions let me know.

Blu · 16/07/2007 12:06

A poster caled Aloha has been through a recent experience of having her DS dxd first with a dyspraxia-related condition, and then as he grew older , Asperger's -but she has just gone on hol for a week. Also Gess is very well versed in leaky-gut/allergies/ASD relationships - but she is taking a MN sabvbatical to finish some work. Except when she posp back....but there are lots of other experienced MN-ers, too!

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 16/07/2007 12:26

EmandJules, may I ask what SPD stands for?

I have just ordered the book on Developmental Dyspraxia by M Portwood after seeing it recommeded repeatedly in MN threads. And was wondering if I should order the Out-of-Sync Child too.

I thought that although we are not sure what is the problem, doing some of the exercises in the books won't hurt him and may help. I have also thought about the OT. In order for a referal, should I speak to the GP or the HV could refer? Someway the HV seems a bit receptive to DS's needs than the GP...

OP posts:
IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 16/07/2007 12:27

I'm sorry, my mind is racing a bit...

Thank you very much for your replies

OP posts:
emandjules · 16/07/2007 17:03

sorry spd stands for sensory processing disorder and is the same as sid. ( also called dsi) Go to GP or hv to have a word. I think both can refer onwards i believe. Problem with SID diagnosis is that it is not accepted by a lot of people, however I would think dyspraxia is taken seriously as it is a well known condition.

Out of sync is a good book as is "Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder" by Lucy Jane miller.

To be honest I was so convinced that dd had sid rather than anything else i took matters into my own hands as although health professionals were receptive to idea of sid, they do not have much experience or knowledge of it.

Whereabouts do you live, hopefully the nhs is more forward thinking down your area.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 16/07/2007 21:13

How do you go onto "taking matters in your own hands"?

I have not much hope in the NHS paying much attention. I'm sure there should be more severe cases waiting in the queu, and DS's doesn't seem very urgent TBH. But it seems to me a bit unacceptable to just sit and wait for an appointment while he is becoming very self concious. There should be something, even if minimal and general, I could do to help him in the mean time, although I feel I may be talking rubish because, after all, I don't know what I'm dealing with.

OP posts:
emandjules · 16/07/2007 21:19

I knew OT was the answer so I contacted the nearest one specialising in SID and arranged for an assessment. IT is v. pricey but i have a feeling it is going to be worth it in the end.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 16/07/2007 21:27

Is there any association, web site, etc where I could find if there is one in my area?

OP posts:
emandjules · 16/07/2007 21:36

Go to OTIP.co.uk. Which area do you live.

emandjules · 16/07/2007 21:55

Also it may be worth considering applying for dla. We got middle rate without a diagnosis. Will help pay for any OT you may think about getting.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 16/07/2007 21:56

York

Thank you for taking the time to help me EmandJules. I will have a look at the website right now.

OP posts:
emandjules · 16/07/2007 22:14

have messaged you!!!

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 18/07/2007 11:53

Emandjules, thanks for your message, I have sent a reply

OP posts:
emandjules · 18/07/2007 19:37

HI, i never got an email today. Did you send it to my email address or via mumsnet. Hope you get sorted.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 19/07/2007 16:23

hmm, I have kept a copy, will resend it straight away!

OP posts:
emandjules · 19/07/2007 16:42

are you sending it to my btinternet address? just i think it must be on the blink. if you want try my hotmail address, it is the same prefix as btinternet address but hotmail.com after

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 19/07/2007 17:00

I have just resend it, for some reason it was not going through but I think my Hotmail is to blame!

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