Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
SN children

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

Original poster

Please help me ..... Is DYSPRAXIA deffo on AS?

54 replies

RTKangaMummy · 24/03/2005 11:24

DS is nearly 10 and has DX of Dyspraxia

We think he has some traits of AS

But very very mild

DS Head teacher was asked by ED Psych whether he was Autistic

SHe said ABSOLUTELY NOT

I am fuming with her comments

we are waiting for ED Physch app.

And now it is set for JUNE because apparently he only sees one child per visit to school

We were expecting him to see DS last month when he came to see another child

...

OP posts:
aloha · 12/05/2005 18:27

RTKangamummy, who were you cross with - the head or the psych? I'm confused!

Blossomhill · 12/05/2005 18:38

I feel that language disorders are on the spectrum but again it's another one of those ongoing debates.

JakB · 12/05/2005 19:04

I think the spectrum is bloody huge and all-embracing.

sis · 12/05/2005 19:07

If i remember correctly, The Wise One (ie Jimjams) said that they shared a number of traits/symptoms and were separate but that children with dyspraxia were often, but not always, on the autistic spectrum. If I have got that wrong maybe it will lure her back to correct me.

Blossomhill · 12/05/2005 19:23

Think of the olympic symbol, how Bibic explained it to me. makes so much sense.
Even though my dd doesn't have an asd dx the way I look at it is the same part of her brain is affected. Does that make sense?

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 12/05/2005 20:17

It is the HEAD teacher that I was angry with

Sorry I didn't explain properly

OP posts:
aloha · 13/05/2005 10:26

Do you think your ds is autistic then? I'm still confused! You see, I would be amazed and rather cross if someone said my ds was autistic as he clearly isn't.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2005 11:02

Aloha no I don't think he is autistic but that his behaviour is as his classmates describe as "WEIRD" and that they like him for his "MADDNESS"

They have all been together for 6 years in the same class.

He deffo has the "POLICE" way of thinking as in when someone else does something wrong he wants to tell them even if it is none of his business or even if they are older than him

He can't see that it is NOT his job to tell them

He also has this strange way of greeting other children and way of talking to them.

The other thing is he will never say sorry

I have no idea why but we have never successfully got him to say it reliably, after lots of asking he will

BUT WE DO NOT THINK HE IS AUTISTIC

I was just wondering about how to describe the little ways of his behaviour really.

I am not sure if I have described it very well but hope so

OP posts:
aloha · 13/05/2005 11:27

I can see those kind of eccentricities make him a bit different, but I wouldn't say they made him autistic, personally. I would sort of agree with the head on this one - I see autism as a much more serious disorder personally. It doesn't mean that I think he should see the educational psychologist though. Is that why you are annoyed, because you think her comment made your son less likely to be seen? But he has got an appointment for June, hasn't he? I'm certainly in favour of getting to the bottom of things and was keen to have my own son assessed.

tamum · 13/05/2005 11:31

FWIW as a biologist I can't see how you could say that dyspraixa is "on" the spectrum- it may frequently be found as an associated trait in people with ASD, but it can't be the case that it always has the same basis, surely.

Saker · 13/05/2005 11:48

I think the real key thing is the criteria for diagnosing dyspraxia which are mainly motor based. On the Dyscovery Centre website it says
"The essential feature of Developmental Coordination Disorder is a marked
impairment in the development of motor coordination. The
diagnosis is made only if this impairment significantly interferes with academic
achievement or activities of daily living."

The major thing with dyspraxia is the problems with motor skills. There are no diagnostic criteria about social skills or communication although it is accepted that dyspraxic children often have these problems to a greater or lesser extent. Therefore it would be possible to diagnose dyspraxia in a child without social problems or quirks so I don't think you can say it is on the spectrum.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2005 11:48

The school is the driving force for him to be seen by Ed Pysch

He DEFFO has Dyspraxia but we didn't know anything about it so didn't push for DX it just happened

He has problems with his legs and knees {hypermobility} and was refered by GP to a paed then the pead refered him to physio the physio refered him to OT

Then we were told that he has Dyspraxia.

We knew nothing about it at this point

All of his problems we had put down to him being very prem {27 weeks} and being in NNU ITU.

So we have totally been lead by everyone else and not really asked for any tests

They have all refered on to the next stage without our input.

His IEP says that he is to see ED Pysch.

The school need him to be assessed to guarantee extra help or the money for it.

DS has done extremly well in atcheiving his targets on his IEP

We are really proud of him and how much he has improved in the classroom.

His next revue for IEP is on Wednesday

Yes his ED Psych app is for June.

No I know he is not "AUTISTIC" like others DD/DS on here.

But like BH says it is like the olypmic symbol and certain things cross over from Dyspraxia

I am with HEAD because her knowledge of Dyspraxia etc is zilch but she wants to make out she knows about it.

Like Sports Day is and has been a complete nightmare for DH and me for years and she just doesn't "get it"

OP posts:
aloha · 13/05/2005 11:52

You know the head and her motives better than I do, but maybe, just maybe, what she meant is more that your son is great and pleasant and that she doesn't see that he has huge problems, and maybe that's a good thing???
I do sympathise hugely with the sports day thing though - that is something I really want ds's school to understand. If he isn't doing it well, it's because he can't, not because he won't.
As for his personality quirks, I think the paediatrician to who told me, 'It's probably just him, his personality and the way he is" made a very good point. Not every kind of oddness is a 'symptom'. Oddness can be good!

Saker · 13/05/2005 11:53

ooh sorry I said this ages ago down the thread. But I think it is important. And I think the reasons for the autistic traits in dyspraxia can be different. For example, my ds2 who has a lot of dyspraxic traits has some trouble with his imaginative play and would have certainly failed the CHAT test when 18m. But some of this is because of his motor skills - even at 3y9m he has trouble picking up a toy teapot the right way round and holding it over a cup. In his efforts to get that right then the actual point of the game can get lost.

aloha · 13/05/2005 11:53

BTW, he sounds like he's doing really well

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2005 11:53

Yes DS dyspraxia is deffo physical

hand eye co ordination, balance, knowing where parts of his body are and what they are doing.

For example he couldn't work out how to climb over a gate

to know where to put his hands and feet how to turn them etc

How to ride a bike, roller skate,

even how to roll stretched out he can't move

If you ask him to lie down and then roll it didn't happen

OP posts:
aloha · 13/05/2005 11:55

he sounds like my ds alright! Does/did your boy walk along the road touching things all the time, or pressing himself against walls? Mine does. I think it's because he doesn't really know where his body is unless he is pressing on something, iykwim. His clothes get FILTHY!

Tiggiwinkle · 13/05/2005 11:56

I have one dyspraxic son and one (aged 6)just dx with Aspergers. TBH, I think if my dyspraxic son were to be assessed now (he is 16 and was assessed when he was 9) he would also come out as AS.
They do share some traits although in other ways are very different-I fing the whole thing totally confusing!
I am wondering if it would be worth getting my 16 year old re-assessed in the light of the recent diagnosis of AS in the family-any ideas or opinions about dx at this stage?

Saker · 13/05/2005 11:57

Aloha - ds2 does that a lot. Plus lying on the floor. And also he pats things a lot. He is coming down the stairs by himself now, but he often stamps on the steps a few times as if to check they are really there

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2005 11:59

DS got his DX at 9 about a year ago.

Like I said earlier we never knew anything about Dyspraxia before then

I know there is nothing wrong with DS and his weirdness

but want to get it sorted before moves to senior school next year.

OP posts:
aloha · 13/05/2005 12:00

It takes ages to get anywhere doesn't it?

Saker · 13/05/2005 12:03

We still tend to use the pushchair a lot - I have just got a Maclaren Major off Physio and it is a dream to push after the other one. Poor Ds2 kept getting his feet stuck under the bar at the front because his legs were too long, but he loves his new buggy.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2005 12:03

We actually have to get it sorted by the autumn as that is when the forms have to be filled in for senior school.

OP posts:
Saker · 13/05/2005 12:06

RTKangaMummy
I hope you can get some proper help sorted out. The Ed Pysch should look at everything regardless of diagnosis. Will you go for a statement?

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2005 12:12

I have no idea how to

He has an IEP and we are going in again on Wednesday for the update

I know the school want to get money for support or something. No idea really

They deffo want him to have the extra time for exams

His mental speed for maths is slow although again he has been working really hard on getting it faster

His has just had SATS this week and so hopefully they have given him the extra 25% extra time.

OP posts: