Asperger's diagnosis?

[motherof2boys]

Don't know where to start here so really hoping someone will be lovely enough to help me.

DS1 (7 years - year 3) has been visited by educational psychologist at request of school (which is a small primary). He is very articulate and interested and not disruptive but the school is concerned that his work 'product' does not reflect what he is capable of. He struggles to write things down.

Ed psychologist has said that he has mild Asperger's syndrome, but that she is not qualified to diagnose so it is up to us now whether we get in a psychaitrist to get a diagnosis. But apparently this could affect his chances of getting a place at a good secondary school (?)

So I have 2 questions:
1.where can I find out things about AS and what we can do to make the best for DS1?

1. Does anyone have insight into this diagnosis thing?

We are keen not to 'label' if we don't need to - in truth I suspect that both DH and I are on the AS scale and we are managing in life....

thanks

Er, Cazb23, stop advertising and go away.

Mother of 2... your school sounds switched on which is a good start.

Usual route to diagnosis is referral by GP to local ASD team (if there is one) and a mulit-disciplinary assessment by SALT, occupational therapist if necessary and psychologist/psychiatrist.

A diagnosis/'label' can be useful for getting additional help through the school system.

The NAS site www.nas.org.uk has got lots of useful information

I'm in a similar situation with my son and will try and post more later but my three year old is about to go bonkers

'But apparently this could affect his chances of getting a place at a good secondary school (?)

If you get a statement (And although hard if he cannot produce work to level it may be possible) you get to pick your secondary a year early

far mroe likely she's been told to dissaude parents
, many an ed psych does that sadly-LEA employees you see.

the NAS (National Autistic Society) website is apcked with AS info.

Also feel free to CAT me- I ahve two asd kids,one AS, am taking an MA in ASD and pretty well fit AS dx criteria myself.

thank you all. I have ordered the book that 'Virgin Peachy' suggested elsewhere.

I think that I am aware that I have huge responsibilty for DS1 but don't want to forget that he is hugely good company (adult conversation) and fascinatingly quirky.

school has sent back the report to educational psychologist as they didn't think it was 'good enough' (there were a lot of factual mistakes for a start) and are proposing doing some IQ tests and having meeting to discuss strategies which might make things clearer. So fortunate with the yr 3 teacher (also the SENCO) - last year was such a bad one with DS just made out to be naughty and lazy.