Hi There
We are currently starting the assessment process with my son who is 6 years old and i could really do with some advice.
As with ppl on the ASD spectrum my son needs routine and he is really struggling right now coping with the change of class at school. He's sleeping even worse then he usually does and is suffering alot of anxiety = meltdowns etc especially from bedtime and getting ready in the mornings.
There are 2 reasons i feel really lost. Firstly, and i don't know how common this is, the teacher says he is absolutly fine at school and just gets on with things. He's the complete opposite when he comes home and can take hours to get back to a calm state. He's always been like this and so the school haven't really supported me in terms of going for a diagnosis. We took him for an initial visit with a paediatrician who has written to the school to suggest strategies to support him especially in the transition from school to home. I have been into school to see his new teacher and she is willing to provide a timetable prompt, i'm hugely greatful for that but it was all laced with " i can't believe your child behaves like that".
Secondly, how do i help him explain how he feels. He has a basic grasp of happy/sad, but if you ask him what upsets him, worries him etc he doesn't understand. It makes it hard to help him especially with the school anxiety because i can't figure out exatly whats making him worry. He just says he doesn't know.
Thanks everyone xx