Is this still GDD/moderate learning disability or dyspraxia or something else?

[elliejjtiny]

Ds4 is 10. Diagnosed with GDD aged a few months old, changed to mild learning disability aged 4 and then moderate learning disability aged 7. Since then he has managed to achieve age related expectations in maths and reading. But his writing is completely unreadable. It's like a series of squiggles with the occasional recognisable letter, no punctuation and only occasionally spaces between words. It's similar to how a child starts writing in reception but ds writing is smaller and fits on the lines in his school books, which are the usual books they use in juniors, not the ones with the extra wide lines.

The ed psych when he was 7 said he could be dyspraxic but it's hard to tell with all of his other delays. His brothers are all really good at reading and maths so I'm wondering if he just has moderate learning disability but has the genes to be amazing at maths and reading so he has managed to reach age related expectations in those subjects. Also although he has reached age related expectations in reading, he only became a free reader in year 5, at the same time as his cousin who is 3 years younger than him. So I'm assuming the range of abilities in age related expectations is huge.

I know it sounds a bit odd but has he had his eyesight checked recently? Just wondering with the small writing. My DM has very small writing and she is long sighted.

It certainly sounds like further assessment would be helpful, whether that is to diagnosis DCD or better understand DS’s spikes profile.

Has DS ever had an OT assessment? I presume DS has an EHCP? Does it include ongoing OT work? Has anyone thought about typing/assistive technology or using a scribe? Other than writing, what are his other fine and gross motor skills like?

Thank you. @SiouxsieSiouxStiletto he gets his eyesight checked regularly. His writing is about average/slightly big for his age, it's only small compared to the writing that reception age children do.

@Relaxinghammock he saw OT from when he was a few months old up until he was 4, then he was discharged. He has an ehcp but no OT work in it. He does this thing called sensory circuits at school every day and then handwriting practice with a TA in the nurture room. He sometimes has a scribe or uses the computer and he will have a scribe for SATS. His gross motor skills aren't great. He started walking aged 2.5 and he always finishes a long way behind the others in sports day. Fine motor skills are better. He can do Lego models for his age group with help.

Sounds like you need an early review of the EHCP or potentially a reassessment of needs. Ongoing OT support is needed and increasing the use of assistive technology/laptop &/or scribe should be looked at.

Thank you. He is due a review soon anyway. Do I ask for an OT assessment during the meeting or should I bring it up before? We normally talk about his needs/strengths and then his targets at the ehcp review, they don't mention his provision/section f at all.

I would mention it before. You can raise provision in F.