Just starting group session for speech delay and possible autism

[scotsgirl]

Hiya the assessment itself went ok. It's hard to tell as the therapist didn't give much away, just that his eye contact was poor. He has improved so much again in the last few weeks it's so confusing although that's a positive. I have my final appointment November the 12th to discuss there findings. All this waiting is so frustrating, I just wanna shake them and scream "tell me what your thinking"

 

[Plex]

Thurinius - I still dont know what to think is going on with Sam. I now think that there is more to it all than i have done previously. I also feel stupid about all this and I feel like im over reacting now they seem complacent about it. Just cant win!! Its good to hear that they will pursue a diagnosis for ur boy- are they continuing help aswell?

Unfortunately i have googled stuff and regret it I have seen my greatest fears but also seen some truely amazing individuals. xx

Spaggy - Gosh hun, no wonder ur shattered Have u had any intervention at all/help from other agencies? xx

Scots - It feels like ages away doesnt it? Our review meeting is for the 5th Nov, I completely agree with the wanting to shake the answers outta them lol I feel like I cant move forward without knowing their views on all this. xx

I keep blaming myself - is he behaving like this due to something i have done/not done? Yesterday he started pulling his hair, not just a little bit but massive chunks, fist fulls of hair and dragged his hands through/down like he's going to pull it all out yet he doesnt look like he's in pain????

He also bites the skin off his fingers until they bleed and even then he keeps biting them. Hate to feel like im in the dark about all this. Need answers and need them now! lol

 

[Plex]

Well, just a day left till we know more about whats what. I have to work tonight so will be pretty shattered going in there at 12pm 2moro - i have a scan first thing in the am so not gunna get much sleep before i go

I havent written anything down as of yet(sure i did write something down but have lost it ). Im not sure what they want/need to know and whats irrelevant x

 

[alibaba24]

Plex please don't feel that way its nothing you have done just write everything down that way you can't go wrong x

 

[Plex]

Thanks hun sure does feel that way sometimes though.

Im gunna write some stuff down later when hes in bed, hopefully my brain wont go blank then :doh: xx

 

[Reid]

Well, just a day left till we know more about whats what. I have to work tonight so will be pretty shattered going in there at 12pm 2moro - i have a scan first thing in the am so not gunna get much sleep before i go

I havent written anything down as of yet(sure i did write something down but have lost it ). Im not sure what they want/need to know and whats irrelevant x

Good luck tomorrow xx

 

[Plex]

Well, Samuel now has an official diagnosis of autism, although they say he is high functioning as he can interact well with adults etc. He checked quite a lot off the autism diagnosis check list so i know he is behind in a lot more areas than i originally thought. It is a good thing to know, a relief thats for sure.

He has a specialist teacher going out to his nursery 2moro am to assess him - i think this is when they sort out a statement for him???? Not entirely sure but at the moment i dont care - we know whats we're dealing with and thats good enough for now xx

 

[Reid]

Well, Samuel now has an official diagnosis of autism, although they say he is high functioning as he can interact well with adults etc. He checked quite a lot off the autism diagnosis check list so i know he is behind in a lot more areas than i originally thought. It is a good thing to know, a relief thats for sure.

He has a specialist teacher going out to his nursery 2moro am to assess him - i think this is when they sort out a statement for him???? Not entirely sure but at the moment i dont care - we know whats we're dealing with and thats good enough for now xx

Sounds like it's went well and you sound very positive which is fantastic xx

 

[Thurinius]

We are lucky that autism is so in the news, it means there is lots of help out there. So yes, sad though it is, it is good that you have that diagnosis


can I ask what sort of tests they did? We are waiting for our tests for an autism confirmation.

 

[Plex]

Thurinius - I started to write a reply the other day but then i realised how much i needed to write and how late it was lol

I think he had a lot of tests but its remembering them all lol

Well, hes had a hearing and a sight test just to rule that out as being a problem.
He attended speech and language drop in sessions, was referred to salt and attended chatter matters.
Hes had observations (many) done by speech and language team, the child development service, peadiatrician and a child psychologist.

Tests varied, it was mainly them watching his social interactions and the problems he had there. He had to do things such as respond to his name, engage with the tester, follow simple instructions like comb the dolls hair or asking to show where the plate/ cup/ ball is. He has done tests like putting small pegs into a board with holes in, place 3 similar red fish into a puzzle board, describe pictures. Answer simple questions about pictures ie who has no ball.

the last part was group session in which he attended with 2 other children and they were observed as to how they interact.

Do you have an appointment coming up? xx

 

[Thurinius]

We've had an initial CDC appt but there is a six month wait for the diagnostic that will definitively give him the autistic label.
Though we have a hearing test in December, I really don't think there is anything wrong with his hearing but they need to rule it out.

 

[Plex]

I was the same with his hearing, i could whisper some things and he'd hear me, but talk normally and he'd ignore me and vice versa. Samuels initial assessment was when he was just 2, its all seems to be waiting - its taken us 1.5yrs to get to this stage. We were really not sure about Sam though as he presents quite well initially, i think maybe thats why its taken so long. I would imagine if ur boy is showing strong signs then the diagnosis should be quicker. Although this is still an area that im quite ignorant of.

Is the diagnostic appointment far off still?xx

 

[Thurinius]

Yes I can whisper do you want a biscuit in the kitchen and he will coming bombing in! But quite often I have to say his name several times to get his attention.
It's been a long process for us too all in all. I took him to the drop in speech therapy when he didn't say anything aged two they said he was very young and to wait 6 more months to see how he did.
Six months later I had a baby so that consumed me plus he was starting playgroup and I thought that might get him talking.
After the first term at playgroup they wanted to refer him to the early intervention squad thing (I still,had no inkling he was autistic I thought it was for his language) the playgroup did a big report on him as did the health visitor. However the health visitor neglected to tell us she was going on holiday for two whole months. So her report never got filed and he left playgroup.
He was in nursery for only 4 sessions before they noticed something wring and basically told me he was autistic.
So got in touch with returned health visitor,a s we were already in the system I wrangled a cdc appointment within a fortnight which was lucky.
And he may get the official diagnosis after he is four. However all the agencies are treating it as probable which is good I guess.

 

[scotsgirl]

That's great plex that you finally have answers and can move forward. I hope you get all the support and help you need. Our big meeting is on Wednesday so feeling nervous x what is the statement for?