need reassurance

Hi k3llogs,

  I read your post above and just wanted to say that one of my boys who is also diagnosed with Aspergers now manages eye contact. I asked the ED Psyc about it and he felf it was a learnered behavior. My best advice is to keep an open mind. Not all symptoms fit the steriotypical diagnosis and it's worth getting the full picture. When I was putting together case statements for my sons statementing i never did any research on the condition. Years later, I've begun to read about it and have been astounded by how accurate my observations were. I've now just begun to read a book by Tony Attwood, 'The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome.' To be frank I wish I'd read it years ago. It gives you insight into the condition as well as some of the pathology discrepancies that appear to contradict typical presentations, yet clearly other indicators show the person has the condition. Had I read it sooner, I may have found a better way of expressing what i witnessed and it may have dispelled sooner any doubts I had. You will meet a range of different opions in your journey, not least from well meaning friends who try to alay your fears, but always go with your gut feeling. You may not feel ready to read it yet, but I hope it helps in some way, Good Luck to you and your son. It sounds like you have much more support than I did when embarking on this journey of discovery. God Bless. Coogyxx

He has an appointment with the gp on the 18th and I've spoken to my friends mum who is a pediatrician who specialises in diagnosing autism. She also thinks an assessment is a good idea.

she gave me some techniques to deal with his behaviour better than they seem to work well so even if his diagnosis comes back as nothing wrong I think I needed to change my approach to him anyway.

it might be blind hope but now I've got this in my head I've noticed things like him making prolonged eye contact and not being upset by loud noises. I just don't know. I want the assessment now!

his school have no problem with him other than his speech but they are really good in working alongside me and the speech therapist to try and improve it.

Thankyou for all your advice, I am going to follow up with the assessment and we will deal with whatever thw results might be :)

Well said re 'professionals,' I wish I had realized I could have recouped the costs. My LEA really dragged their feet. My son was in the second year of secondary before he got his statement. I ended up having to take then to the SEN tribunal in the end.

Too little too late for him. A real failure in terms of support for his needs. :(

I think from your description of your son's behaviour you are very right to get him assessed for autism.  I get sick of hearing professionals that know nothing about autism brushing parents off this way.

If you are forced into private assessments because the LA refuses to undertake the necessary assessments, you could put in a formal complaint asking for compensation to cover your costs.

Hi k3llogs,s

 I have two boys diagnosed with the condition and when diagnosed I struggled to come to terms with it. I fought very hard for assessments that the LEA refused to do and eventually I had to contact independant practicioners for private assessmen to get things moving. Like you I went through basic assessments first, Hearing and sight, which helped eliminate as well as isolate the funimentals. Learning that my sons could hear was as important as it would have been had they been found to have hearing difficulties and likewise with sight, as it meant that there absobtion to the extent that they didn't respond, was not due to deafness or fixation due to visual difficulties.

I'm not sure where you live or what the services are like in your region, but my advice would be to proceed. As a mother, if your gut reation is that something isn't right, go with it. Many will cause you to doubt your concerns, but you know your son best. Bare in mind that if he is diagnosed, early intervention is key and also that diagnosis often takes many years and all the time that slips by will be time lost by way of support or any intervention he needs.

I've always found that private assessment is quickest, but your LEA and primary trust will also want to assess various areas. Key assessments are conducted by Educational Psychologists, speach and language therapists, and Ocupational therapists. Try and get all if you can the more infomation you have the better.

I hope I haven't alarmed you, but for your peace of mind I think you are on the right track. If I can be of any help with the process please ask.

I wish you well, Cooybear.

Hi - no, you're doing the right thing in getting him assessed.  It's clear you have concerns so it's the right way to go.  If he's autistic then that's a fact, if he isn't then you know.  

i meant to add that the speech therapist said it was nonsense to think he was autistic and the health visitor just tells me he has attachment issues to me.