Humpf been lurking for weeks and no one has asked about camhs

[whatreally]

Hi
Wondered if anyone has had any experience of CAMHS - what do they do and why were you sent there? I'm frightened My DDs school want her referred via an Ed Psyc but I wondered if a developmental paed would be "better"? DD has dyspraxia but I think her school want all bases covered.

Don't have any experience but just wanted to say welcome out of lurkdom and you will find lots of support on here. Someone will be along soon with some experience.
How old is your dd?

hello and welcome. no direct experience of CAMHS, but I think your instinct is right - that unless your DD is particularly anxious or distressed by her dyspraxia, a dev paed would be better. (and I would see CAMHS as an add on to seeing a paed, not an alternative).

Thanks Nikos. DD is nearly 7 and behind at most school stuff - writing, reading which I'd sort of put down to the dyspraxia, though I know it can overlap with other conditions. On the one hand I'm grateful that they want her referred but on the other sometimes I feel like they are using a mallet to crack a nut.

Hi. How old was you dd when diagnosed? Who carried out that assessment? Why have the school suggested she is referred to CAHMS? Sorry, soooo many questions.

my DS was referred to CAHMS in jan 08. He was seen by a doctor there and then referred on for an assessment where he attended 3 x 3 hour assessments. He was assessed by about 14 different medical proffessionals. I think each area and each CAMHS work differently though, we are in leicester. unfortunately for us we didnt get a dx through cahms but did get dx of asd and odd about 9 months later!
Do you know what they are looking for?

DD was "diagnosed" in October - so a mere 3ish months ago. She was assessed by an OT (referred to by school) who said because she was an OT she couldn't diagnose DD's dyspraxia but in her opinion that is what DD has & that's what a paed would confirm in her words "if we ever got to see one". Her assessment report described lots of things to do with dyspraxia without ever using that word.

Since then, school said that the SALT said "has DD been referred to CAMHS yet" which makes me think it was being muted about for some time but no one told me. Apparently SALT don't think she always picks up on facial clues. The ED Psyc referral talked about social communication barriers but this was news to us and I honestly don't know if she has barriers or not! This isn't our experience at home but I understand she may be different at school.

ds was assessed and dx'd by camhs. He has a dx of aspergers and dyspraxia. It took me blardy ages to get in the system and for it all to get done...I would say that it is brillant that they are getting this rolling with your dd now....and that her school are pushing for this...and are covering all bases.
In the end i asked for a referral myself via the gp...(school were just stringing me along).
ds has a multidisplinary assessment. He was seen by a few differnt people under the care of one specialist...then referred to a austim team and then to someone who also diagnosed dyspraxia.
It was a really postive experience for me...a really good chance to explain all the little niggles and all the things i'd worried about with people who had heard it all before and could totally understand what i meant. I learnt loads (through courses and suchlike that they alerted me to) and ds got help too (O.T plus transition courses for secondary school run by camhs) ...and i realised i was actually doing a pretty good job with him without even realising (they made me feel like that). Up till then i always wondered it it was somehow my fault.
It will be ok whatreally...they are there to help

just wanted to say...ds also has funding at school now...applied for before the dx. Does your girl get any extra help at school?
Ds is now in secondary school as has settled in beautifully.

CAMHS for dyspraxia? That's strange.

I am a school nurse and referrals to CAMHS in our area are made for children with life-impacting anxiety, possible autism, self-harming behaviours, mental health problems such as persistent depression, eating disorders, and similar.

If they have concerns about your daughter's social communication then I would have thought a first step (after SALT) would have been an assessment by a community paediatrician. They would then refer on to CAMHS if they thought it warranted it ie if they suspected ASD.

But then different areas may do things differently, the criteria for referral probably vary.

Troutpout I could kiss you I have a library of self help books about making your children happy Thank you for your comforting words. DD is getting extra help in school - 2 hourly exercises that the OT provided as well as subject help.

Reading through this thread, maybe I have had my head in the sand & am finding it hard to accept that there maybe something else wrong too. See, I can't even type the words! Deep breathe. Maybe, just maybe she has behaviours that could point towards aspergers but she is really socialable. Making, keeping and playing with friends isn't a problem for her.

Eek, turned down? I never even considered that. The school does have kids with special needs, a good SENCO and the teachers really care. I honestly don't know about going down the behavioural support route. Her behaviour in school isn't disruptive though she can be easily distracted and finds concentrating difficult

Welcome from me too!

Where are you whatreally ?
Ds has never been disruptive either...if anything he is too quiet and rather withdrawn at times. Tbh...i think this lead school to neglect his needs rather. He has friends too..but as he got older (i would say particularly past 8 ) it became apparent that he was differnt socially (on top of the other indicators). It was the subtle stuff that he was missing when it came to social situations.
Tbh when i was referred...it was a list i went with...a list of behaviours that i saw as different or difficult. Tbh some things he did had become so 'normal' to me that i was surprised at the things they picked up (ie tone and pitch of voice, lack of accent) I was referred to the lowest 'tier' and then worked my way up and through to the relevant team.
I'm guessing that it depends a lot on where you live as to the best route to having your child assessed. I queried it too when referred by the gp (it does sound a little scary doesn't it!)...but it just seemed that this is how it is done here.
Has your dd had OT for her dyspraxia?
My guess is that the referral is for other concerns the school may have with her...although as you say it could just be covering all bases.

oh and welcome !

we got our dx for aspergers from them only took 3 months in total and they have been great and she visited school la st week too

Our CAMHS was great in the end. Paed referred when J was three cos he thought he had ADHD but only CAMHS were allowed to dx. But CAMHS only see kids 5+ so had to wait until just before J was 5. Once in, dx came quickly. The additional autism was missed but then picked up immediately by new psych when J was re-referred to try medication. They don't offer much here except medication but the psych is great with J and always very supportive - school meetings, DLA evidence etc.

They should be able to assess and see if they need to be involved. Worth going if only to rule out any issues.

Troutpout, a lot of what you say rings true about my DD. She is my eldest and we never really had anyone to compare her to when she was younger & nothing much gave us cause for alarm. However, what we have thought were individual quirky behaviours put together, may be causing her problems. The pitch of her voice for example, we only became aware of after the dyspraxia was identified. We are on the OT list I think for a few more months & also on her waiting list for listening therapy. We are in London & hearing how others have had real problems accessing the help their children need, I know we are really lucky so it seems churlish to be upset about it all.

Also I have a confession...I thought a lurker was someone who had hung about plucking up the courage to post not someone who had previously posted before! I have posted once before but thank you for all your welcomes and replies. They have made me feel so much better. Have now taken head out of hands.