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6yr old has been assessed - Please help

mummy4

Hi

Last year we reached breaking point following another stressful family holiday, our now 6 year old has always been a little different, however his obsessions, melt downs, routine requirements have been a daily struggle to manage.  The school just kept telling me he was imature and needed to concentrate and listen!

I contacted the school nurse directly and after persistant phone calls managed to get my son an appointment with a peadiatrican, he has seen him twice now and at the last appointment said he had concerns with my sons sensory issues (tip toe walking, holding stones) and social behavioural difficulties, poor concentration, poor diet only solid foods (3) He has referred him and i've been waiting for 3 months to hear something.

I found out today from his teacher my sons been assessed in school by the community nurse, who has said she has referred him for his sensory issues but that no further action is required, what does this mean???

surely they cant assess my son for an hour in a class room and get a full diagnosis?!

please help any feedback would be appreciated, i'm told i will get a report but i'm sure this will take months as it usually does. I'm just worried my son is being let down

thanks x

Parents

  • Hi - what a let down.  I don't know whether it's to do with budget cuts or just lack of appropriate staff within services or both, but this is definitely a substandard respond.  Most professionals who know about autism can diagnose very quickly, but there are procedures they usually have to go through before they can officially say.  In the late 1980s my son was diagnosed.  He saw a paediatrian 3 or 4 times in the 9 months it took to diagnose him, he also saw a psychologist + 1 or 2 other professionals.  Maybe the nurse doesn't understand autism well enough to give the diagnosis or maybe she's been told to identify sensory issues but go no further?  Sorry but you can get very suspicious about this sort of thing.  Money usually plays a big part.   Sometimes families have to "jump through hoops" to get an assessment/diagnosis + that should not be the case.  Contact CAMHS to see how they can help. If you feel like it write to the Chief Executive and Chair of the NHS Trust who employs the Paediatrician + detail your complaints.  Also the the Dir + Chair of the Children + Families Dept of your local council.  Councils also have Chairs of Overview + Scrutiny Boards so write a letter to the Chair of that also.  I know it's more work but they rely on us shutting up, trying to keep calm + above all, carrying on.  Good luck with everything

Reply

  • Hi - what a let down.  I don't know whether it's to do with budget cuts or just lack of appropriate staff within services or both, but this is definitely a substandard respond.  Most professionals who know about autism can diagnose very quickly, but there are procedures they usually have to go through before they can officially say.  In the late 1980s my son was diagnosed.  He saw a paediatrian 3 or 4 times in the 9 months it took to diagnose him, he also saw a psychologist + 1 or 2 other professionals.  Maybe the nurse doesn't understand autism well enough to give the diagnosis or maybe she's been told to identify sensory issues but go no further?  Sorry but you can get very suspicious about this sort of thing.  Money usually plays a big part.   Sometimes families have to "jump through hoops" to get an assessment/diagnosis + that should not be the case.  Contact CAMHS to see how they can help. If you feel like it write to the Chief Executive and Chair of the NHS Trust who employs the Paediatrician + detail your complaints.  Also the the Dir + Chair of the Children + Families Dept of your local council.  Councils also have Chairs of Overview + Scrutiny Boards so write a letter to the Chair of that also.  I know it's more work but they rely on us shutting up, trying to keep calm + above all, carrying on.  Good luck with everything

Children
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