Gaming addiction

[Mummyof2asd]

Hi
my 8 year old hasn’t been school since Christmas he has ASD and was not coping in mainstream school, had meltdowns, was suspended a few times. He has been having a tutor for an hour a day which has been pointless as he refuses to come out his room or does then runs back up stairs he can’t read or write and refuses to do any learning. My son has no friends doesn’t ever want to go out all he wants to do is play on his Nintendo, I feel like he is using it as an escape from life but I think his addicted it’s my fault as I have let him go on it alot more than I should for an easy life but I have actually made life a lot harder his little sister has ASD as well so it’s quite a hectic life. He doesn’t want to go out and when we do force him out and go out as a family he just moans the whole time refuses to do anything and loans that he just wants his game. I think being out of school has made him depressed anyway and the game has made him much worse it’s all he talks about, it’s his special interest, his life is his game atm and I feel really guilty because I let it happen. When I do take it off him he screams for hours . Do I just get rid of the game completely ? He finally starts a SEN school next week I’m preying that he likes it . I just feel like I have lost my little boy and I have let him down .

Have you thought about looking at something like Mindjam? Using DS’s interest in gaming to support his SEN.

What support, including therapies, is in his EHCP? Is there a transition plan in place?

Thank you I will look into this and in his EHCP it says to give 5 minute warnings before transitioning to another activity and he does do Lego therapy but I think it needs looking at again as his got a lot worse since it was written. Me and Senco tried to get him seen by CAHMS for his crippling anxiety and anger issues but they said we don’t meet the requirements as he hasn’t tried to take his life , I just think why wait for it to get that bad as my worst fear if things don’t improve who’s to say he won’t , he finds life so so hard. He thinks his stupid because he can’t read and write, refuses learning now completey no matter how hard we try. I’m hoping this SEN school will build his confidence and he can make a friend . His really hard work atm and it’s hard because I can’t just let him get away with everthing because his autistic, for example he speaks to me horrible calls me a idiot and “shut up mummy” “I hate you” funny thing is when his round my sisters house his good as gold and behaves when she takes him out with her kids just don’t understand why does he act so bad with us, makes me feel a shitty parent .

You aren’t a shitty parent. You get the brunt of it because you are DS’s safe person. He experiences the coke bottle effect.

I meant what support is in place for transition to starting at the special school rather than transition between activities.

MH therapies can be included in F of the EHCP. You will need evidence to get it included and may have to appeal but provision can be included even when DC don’t meet the normal CAMHS threshold. It also means support not offered on the NHS can be provided, for longer, more frequently and without the need to sit on the normal waiting list.

What about OT and SALT? They can help with emotional regulation too.