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DX meeting tomorrow and nervous

39 replies

claw3 · 22/06/2010 22:08

Have Specialist SALT report and was wondering whether you would consider ds's difficulty mild or not? High functioning? it reads

Attention and listening skills

Ds was described by his teacher as being able to focus in the classroom, however on a 1:1 basis, he seemed quite agitated and moved around a lot on his chair. Within the class, he was observed to call peers to focus their attention.

Verbal comprehension

Ds is a little boy who is often confused by instructions and explanations. He is able to respond to simple questions about what is happening but finds it difficult when these questions involved any kind of inferring or deducing of info. He has some early concepts established including first and last but other more complicated time concepts such as before and after are not yet established. He has difficulties understand pronouns. Additionally, it was noted that he had some specific difficulties in understanding emotion based vocabulary and was unable to label. On many occassions, he seemed quite confused.

Expressive Language

He had some specific difficulties with sequencing ideas even at quite a simple level eg sequencing three pictures. This was also reflected in his ability to relate a narrative. He has some specific difficulties with vocabulary and often referred to things tangentially eg "13 one's candles" His output in general seems to involve quite simple sentence structures, often with quite muddled ideas within them.

Ds tends to talk in quite a lot of detail about topics in which he is interested, particularly ideas such as star wars.

Speech Sound Difficulties

Ds has some residual speech sound difficulties with blends and more complex high level sounds.

Non verbal Communication Skills

Ds eye contact was reasonably good when he was initiating communication with an adult but was not consistent with an interaction. He used nodding and gestural communication within his output.

Social interaction skills

Within a conversational context, ds was able to initiate some ideas, giving info about his grandmother etc he was able to cope with simple questions and a back and forth conversation involving a couple of different turns. However his conversation skills remain quite limited.

Within the classroom context, ds's teacher reports he is not a loner, however on the occasions that he was observed, it was notable that his communication attempts wre not directly specifically at other children and therefore missed by them.

Within the school context the following were observed.

Talked repetitively about some topics ie star wars

Ds is engaged in some repetitive behaviours eg rubbing his chin and mouth causing sores. There was also eye twitching observed and rocking within the assessment.

Some repetitive hand movements.

What kind of help should i be asking for, tips please?

Feeling nervous, his future is in my hands and i want to get this right

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claw3 · 23/06/2010 13:49

Star, thanks, no it wasnt traumatic, it actually went better than i expected. Emotions were put on the back burner and i was there to do business!

Ds is fine, he currently has his nose stuck in one of his comic annuals with his duvet over him (his self soothing technique) We will have a walk to shop to buy a sweet after my coffee.

I felt quite sad watching ds interact, or his inability to interact. I was sitting there willing him to pick up on the clues of the invitations to join his play or for him to answer a question with an appropriate response or to show an interest in what SALT was saying. So yes sad, that my half hearted dream of ds suddenly 'getting it' was officially over.

Action plan was to
develop social communication skills
Support from an adult for any difficulties
quiet place for ds when overwhelmed
Support from an adult when dressing
Support from an adult when eating
Support from an adult toileting
Support from an adult PE

All very vague, but was told Statutory Assessment would be more specific.

EP told me it would all be clearer in the statement!

So it was generally accepted at the meeting that ds would need and get a statement.

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claw3 · 23/06/2010 13:56

Silver, thanks, i felt the mum and dad go in and interact with ds stunk of the old school and was to prove a point ie i am not the cause of ds's anxieties as old school had accused me of.

Still point well proven and ds actually commented to SALT he was bullied in his old school and on tape!

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/06/2010 14:05

Glad you got some answers finally, and I hope the school take you seriously now and you get the support you need.

lou031205 · 23/06/2010 14:40

Excellent.

I knew there would be a one-way mirror!!! After our conversation last month I felt so stupid imagining there would be one. I'm glad he didn't have to be observed by people in the room.

I am glad new school SENCO was there - at least no-one can say that it didn't happen!

wasuup3000 · 23/06/2010 14:43

Finally

claw3 · 23/06/2010 15:02

Thanks Fanjo, ds starts at his new school tomorrow and they seem much more supportive and understanding, thank god.

Lou, yes they did have a one way mirror and a room where we sat. I didnt realise, i suppose it was a must really. I had visions of all us crammed down one end of the room, with ds at the other

He also said that he wanted to make the children in school happier and when asked why, are they unhappy, he said they are always unhappy with me

Thanks Wassup and everyone else. You have all kept me sane.

Im off to the shop now, i owe ds a sweet

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/06/2010 15:03

claw - that is great, DD's nursery is very understanding and it makes the world of difference, I actually feel cared for by them, I hope your ds's new school is the same.

debs40 · 23/06/2010 15:08

OMG!! Claw I can't believe it. It must seem like such a relief. I don't know how you have hung on to your sanity through all this.

Will post later - must pick up DS!

TheArsenicCupCake · 23/06/2010 16:17

Claw.. So glad it went well!

sugarcandymountain · 23/06/2010 16:53

Glad you're finally getting somewhere claw. It must feel like such a relief to be listened to at last.

TheCrunchyside · 23/06/2010 22:45

Claw so pleased you have a dx. been following your threads and it has been a long time coming.

claw3 · 23/06/2010 23:22

Thanks again everyone, feeling relief and sadness.

Everyone is right, no matter how much you expect it, it is definitely a sad event. I didnt think i would feel quite so sad.

Still onwards and upwards, im sure it will pass

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StarOfValkyrie · 23/06/2010 23:31

claw It won't be sad for long I'm sure. It's a bit of a milestone in your journey, and one where you can't go back from (not saying you'd want to though).

I wasn't shocked but I was devestated that the end to my hopes that it was all a silly mistake were dashed, but by then I'd been devestated by a good many other things and always picked myself up and became quite good at it, as I'm sure you now are.

As you well know, the dx is not adding or takiing away anything from your ds, it's just giving him an entrance ticket to the labyrinth of support.

claw3 · 23/06/2010 23:49

Thanks Star, im sure it will pass quickly, its not like i have time to dwell, plenty to do etc. I will have my sad moment today and move on tomorrow.

Im more shocked at how sad i feel, than the dx. I really thought i would just take it all in my stride.

I think it was the actual sitting back and observing ds interact with someone else for an hour, that has made me feel so sad. Not something i have done before, i suppose i interact with him every day and it had become quite 'normal' to me. I dont think i realised just how difficult it was for him and how anxious he was.

By tomorrow it will make me more determine, to get him expert help, just a sad day today.

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