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diagnosis for 10 year old, other advice needed

LisaLQ

Hi guys,

My son (one of triplets) is 10 years old, and is having a really rough time at the moment.  I separated from his dad in January, and sadly he passed away in October.  He is awaiting a CAMHS appointment to be assessed for Aspergers.

His behaviour has really declined lately, he's being bullied at school (or he believes he is) about his odd behaviour and lack of co-ordination (they take the mick about him not being good at football), and is now screaming and kicking and struggling when I'm trying to get him ready for school.

A bit of info about his behaviour: he is obsessed with maps/roads/journey planning, timekeeping, he is blunt and doesn't understand he hurts peoples' feelings with what he says, he takes everything he hears about as the truth or literally (eg. he's petrified about it being the end of the world today), he angers easily if he doesn't get what he wants (lashes out, runs away, occasionally swears, breaks things), he is obsessed with radios (he has three) and the computer, he hates germs (but also hates baths - go figure lol) and wont share food/drinks or eat anything touched by someone else, he hand flaps, and has facial tics.  

He's doing fine in school academically, and was assessed by an ed psych a couple of years ago in his old school (we've moved out of the area when I left his dad) who said because he didn't need help in school he wasn't going to pursue a diagnosis, and said to get the GP involved if I was having trouble at home.

So we're waiting for a CAMHS appointment (referred in August), but in the meantime, wondered - is there anything else I can do?  The school are aware that we're awaiting referral (they suggested it at a parent's evening earlier in the year) and I've made them aware that he's not happy about coming to school - so the family support worker is going to have a word with him today.

I'm seriously wondering whether he'd be better homeschooled or in a school for kids with similar issues, but don't want him to feel different to the other kids and obviously without a diagnosis, we have nothing to work with anyway.

Any advice really appreciated, I'm so tired at the mo (I have four other children, including his triplet siblings) and am struggling to manage him when he's like this.  Must say that in between meltdowns and tantrums, he is the most wonderful little man, very intelligent and great company.

Thanks,

Lisa

xx

Parents

  • Further to my last post, I had an appointment with the occupational therapist at CAMHS/CYPS today, without my son, to go over his background and "symptoms" again.  It went well, we didn't get everything covered so she may do a home visit to finish off his background info.  

    He is going in for two "baseline" assessments next week and the week after, I'll have to wait in the waiting room while they chat and play with him.

    She said - judging by what I'd told her, he is showing classic signs of either autism or aspergers, but she can't do the diagnosis til the baseline assessments are done and other assessments are made.

    However, she said whether he is diagnosed or not, she will be helping give him the support he needs to deal with his bereavement, his anger issues, and his depression.  

    She said that they will likely do another assessment at school, and diagnosis may be a long way off, but she said he is going to get this back up whatever happens and we are on the road to finding the best course of action for him.

    She's given me some ideas to help with his anxiety, like carrying a photo of my partner (my son gets angry when my partner goes home after staying), and some games he might prefer.  Also mentionned deep touch therapy - something I'd be interested in hearing more about because I'm trained as a massage therapist, so I could potentially do this for him if they showed me how to.

    She also agreed that he may have trouble transitionning to a mainstream secondary school but said not to worry about that just now, as once he's diagnosed they can either help support him into a mainstream school or decide if he'd be more suited to one of the special schools (there is one locally to me who deal solely with kids with autism/Aspergers).

    There's so much more I can't remember, but I don't think I've ever felt this relieved!

Reply

  • Further to my last post, I had an appointment with the occupational therapist at CAMHS/CYPS today, without my son, to go over his background and "symptoms" again.  It went well, we didn't get everything covered so she may do a home visit to finish off his background info.  

    He is going in for two "baseline" assessments next week and the week after, I'll have to wait in the waiting room while they chat and play with him.

    She said - judging by what I'd told her, he is showing classic signs of either autism or aspergers, but she can't do the diagnosis til the baseline assessments are done and other assessments are made.

    However, she said whether he is diagnosed or not, she will be helping give him the support he needs to deal with his bereavement, his anger issues, and his depression.  

    She said that they will likely do another assessment at school, and diagnosis may be a long way off, but she said he is going to get this back up whatever happens and we are on the road to finding the best course of action for him.

    She's given me some ideas to help with his anxiety, like carrying a photo of my partner (my son gets angry when my partner goes home after staying), and some games he might prefer.  Also mentionned deep touch therapy - something I'd be interested in hearing more about because I'm trained as a massage therapist, so I could potentially do this for him if they showed me how to.

    She also agreed that he may have trouble transitionning to a mainstream secondary school but said not to worry about that just now, as once he's diagnosed they can either help support him into a mainstream school or decide if he'd be more suited to one of the special schools (there is one locally to me who deal solely with kids with autism/Aspergers).

    There's so much more I can't remember, but I don't think I've ever felt this relieved!

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