Accidents when teenager struggles to communicate

[elliejjtiny]

Ds2 is nearly 17, being assessed for autism this week after a very long wait. Today he fell over at park run and couldn't speak or move as often happens when he is upset. His grandad was there, but not running, he was waiting at the start. The park run organisers and runners were very kind and called an ambulance and fetched his grandad. His heart rate and blood pressure was really high for someone his age, heart rate was 120 and blood pressure was 140/83. Because he couldn't speak, the paramedics didn't know if he had tripped over or collapsed.

Ds2 is academically able and doing a levels at mainstream college. He wants to be going out with his friends like everyone else his age but he has these moments when he gets stressed and can't talk. Some of his friends have my phone number for if it happens when he is out with them. He won't wear a lanyard, he can't nod or shake his head, put his thumb up/down or give someone a card.

I've asked him what he thinks he should do and he believes every shut down episode is a one off and will never happen again.

I don't know what to do to help him and I'm worried about letting him out on his own after this.

He was No doubt mortified op
it sounds like others completely over reacted

Rather than a lanyard, would DS wear a bracelet, wristband or necklace? Or have a keyring on him?

Even if DS wouldn’t be able to hand a card to anyone, would he carry a card or piece of paper or have an emergency alert on his phone? When people can’t speak HCPs would look in the person’s pockets/possessions.

For HCPs, does DS have a hospital passport? You could also ask about having an alert added to DS’s records.

Have you looked at selective mutism? Does DS have SALT input?

I disagree with the pp, someone who ends up on the floor unable to speak or move of course needs medical attention. For all the organisers knew, DS had fallen, hit his head and got a serious head injury. It would be negligent of them not to act.

Thank you. I've just found out that the people who called the ambulance were drs. The paramedics wanted to take him into hospital but I was concerned that being there would cause his heart rate and blood pressure to go higher and he would end up in there for ages getting more and more stressed. I was also fairly certain that if I could get him home and calmed down I would be able to get him to tell me if he'd fainted or just tripped. I would have taken him to a and e if he had fainted but at home he told me he had tripped over and that all the attention from the other park runners made him shut down.

I think a card in his pocket and something on his phone is the way to go. He wouldn't give the card to anyone but it would be there if an hcp looked through his pockets. Good idea for the hospital passport. I'm pretty sure he has selective mutism but don't know how to get a formal diagnosis, I was going to ask at his appointment next week. He doesn't have any salt or any interventions at college. He had an assessment with camhs but he didn't speak to them and just got more and more stressed so they discharged him. I raised concerns about autism when he was 1 but we have been fobbed off for years and then there was the 2.5 year waiting list when we finally got listened to. So we have been winging it for a very long time, attending support groups when we've been allowed to go (some wouldn't let us with no diagnosis) and talking to other parents.

Definitely mention it at the ASD assessment. DS needs a referral to SALT and back to CAMHS (rather than discharge, they need to change their approach of DS can’t engage). If they won’t refer following the ASD assessment, in some areas you can self refer. If you can’t, the GP or college will be able to.

Also, speak to the college. I would consider requesting an EHCNA too. DS clearly needs far more support, including therapies, than he is receiving.