Appt tomorrow and a bit teary...

[sc13]

Sorry to be posting, I know there are much worse situations out there...
We have our MDA tomorrow for DS (3); I have been keeping my chin up (I think) but am getting increasingly depressed. DH is super-stressed because (I think) still in denial. DS has been grumpy and stressed (and consequently, more spectrummy than ever), probably because he picks it up from us. Whatever they tell us at the appt, I'm worried it's going to be a struggle to get SALT or any other kind of therapy. I'm worried about all the different approaches to ASD because I have no idea what's best for my child atm, and I think what the NHS will tell us will be dictated by funding. I'm worried that things with DS are going to get worse in terms of tantrums and sensory issues and losing language instead of acquiring it. I'm worried that I'll be left to hold the ship together while DH, family and the friends who have also taken residence on the Nile, do their grieving and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Erm, rant over - until tomorrow, I guess...

Still fine, chip, thanks!! And just booked a (very expensive) family holiday instead of buying the handbag (aren't I selfless). The spreading the news (as it were) is going not so well with some people. My mother reckons ASD is something the Brits just made up, to claim they had invented something (luckily, I find her hilarious rather than irritating most of the time). One of my friends burst into tears. I've also been hugged and squeezed and sent links to endless autism blogs. Ah, and DS has been eating chocolate and pizza for two days running now... I am myself surprised by how well I'm taking it - it's like I did the grieving weeks ago

"My mother reckons ASD is something the Brits just made up, to claim they had invented something"

I think I would get on well with your mum. Do they diagnose ASD in Italy? Apparently they don't in France.

Hi lingle! My mum is one of the world's greatest sceptics. She is known to doubt that foreign correspondents actually go abroad; she thinks they just stand in front of a photo or a video screen and then pretend to be reporting from Iraq. Her reactions to DS's little things - Lines up things? So what. Number obsession? He's gifted. Limited pretend play? So what. Echolalia? Again, gifted because he remembers things. Ignores her? Who knows what I've been saying behind her back.

If they diagnose ASD in Italy, then it's not in the part of Italy I come from, because nobody I know has heard of it. The developmental milestones also seem to be quite different. I have absolutely no idea what they would have made of DS had we lived in Italy, but my guess is, perhaps they wouldn't have worried about even the language delay until he was 4 or 5 (school is not mandatory until 6). And then it's anybody's guess. The one family with a child with severe autism I know of have gone to the USA to get some kind of therapy - but again, I'm from the south; things may be different in other places

As I said, my focus has been on getting SALT, which to me is the main problem right now. For the rest, I really understand what they say when they say, it's still the same child. We came out of the dx and it really changed nothing at all in the way I perceive DS.

Thanks for the Felucca . Any thoughts on that DVD on listen and obey, is it really good then

"she thinks they just stand in front of a photo or a video screen and then pretend to be reporting from Iraq"

Well, that would explain why they usually just repeat what the newscaster has said when introducing them.

I've sent "Listen and Obey" to Silverfrog so see what she thinks. I would give it a B+. But frankly I'd give anything that's focussed on receptive language at least a grade B - it's so hard to find receptive stuff.

If only Hanen would write a book exclusively on receptive language. Now that I would pay any money for ("It Takes Two" is much more focussed on expressive)

Glad you're ok Sc13. Sounds like it's a relief to have it over!