Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi. I'm mum to a newly diagnosed 16 year old daughter. She is "high functioning" and I guess that's why only in the last couple of years have there been any problems stemming from what now turns out to be her autism.
On her assessment results, the pyschologist notes that our daughter seems to have some sensory integration/processing difficulties, and recommends a specialist assessment from an OT. It turns out that this assessment will cost £200. I wondered whether anyone could help us understand what it will offer so we can decide whether or not to have it?
Our daughter is very articulate, and says that she often feels as if she is "not touching enough" - she does things like stretching out her fingers, and "trying to touch interesting things" to increase her tactile stimulation and has often said she would like a weighted blanket.
She is also sensitive to noise, though mostly this is only when she's already feeling anxious. She talks about noise cancelling headphones, but I think that what she actually wants is ear defenders, since she doesn't want to listen to music- just to "block out" noise from outside.
When she is stressed she likes pressure against her ears and eyes, and says that she finds hats to be calming because they press on her head.
We could *buy* a weighted blanket, noise cancelling headphones and a hat for little more than the cost of the assessment; but we're unsure about whether the assessment would reveal more than what our daughter is able to tell us about how she can be helped.
Is anyone able to explain what the assessment would involve?
Thanks!
Sarah.
Unfortunate no-one has come back to you on this. I felt inadequately confident to respond, but will venture something to see if others take more interest.
When I first read this this morning I thought, the things they try to get away with charging for.... But to be honest maybe there is a legitimate assessment out there. I just take the instant view that someone's making easy money.
Sensory issues are common to most people on the spectrum. The trouble is it usually appears as a passing add on in explanations, as most people use the Triad of Impairments to explain autism, which doesn't cover this sort of thing.
So I'm racking my brains as to whether there's any institute out there with any kind of grasp of this to be justifiably able to charge £200. But you never know.
Not understanding touch and exploring touch is quite common, and you can buy safe objects on line for children who need to explore.
Background noise can be very difficult and people on the spectrum can hear things NTs cannot, and be upset or in pain for what seems nothing.
Someone out there, please come in on this discussion and tell me I'm wrong, but I've just got the feeling this £200 is a con. We don't get much real help with AS. But there's lots of woolly thinking consultants popping up with expensive cures and treatments - its worse than the cosmetics industry for cheats and chancers.