thomastank

Sorry for late reply, only just found this. I got it off Amazon. Was expensive but I thought it worth I find it hard to shop around with kids on tow. . . .

found it, this seemed to tick a lot of boxes with us. Hope it helps you. http://www.researchautism.net/asditem.ikml...p;info=linksymp

Hello, there, its already been answered but my ds didn't have a speech delay, but I wont start the debate. . .!!! HFA and Aspergers are very similar and we were just pleased to have a diagnosis. Annoyingly I cant find the list we worked from (if I find it I will let you know) but if you look on general autism sites and aspergers you might spot things that your son does. For example my son was (and still is) obsessed with trains (thomas mainly). He also played the same game when he got out of the bath every single night for 2 years (pretending to be a ghost wrapped up in the towel), was/is very aggressive with other children, would never join in 'circle time' with other children, would always run off with no fear of leaving me etc. His language was not delayed but it was strange, ie he had made up words/phrases, would answer certain questions the same way every time. He was still in nappies (actually only just out of them during the day in the past few weeks and nearly 5). Put down everything that you think is unusual about him and take it with you to your appointment. I really feel for you, its a very difficult time being in 'no-man's land' but I am sure you will get there and as you get to learn more about your son and learn more strategies life will get easier. Feel free to ask more questions. Oh, and the National Autistic Society website is very good. . . . .

[Definately worth applying for, we bought a trampoline for the kids which is great especially for burning off all that excess energy!!!!

Hi Jan and welcome. You'll get lots of help and support here. My son is in reception at school and is coping very well with the right support. Do you have a date for your assessment?

Hi A and A, and welcome! My son was diagnosed with HFA last year aged 3 and a half, diagnosis took under a year. Good luck on your journey, and I hope you get your answers soon. By the way, it may be useful for you to keep a diary/list of various traits etc. to take to your peadiatrician, we did and we had a fairly smooth diagnosis, time has to be allowed for various professionals to observe your son in different settings, nursery, home etc. Do you have an appointment date? Good luck anyway.

Hello again! Portage is a home visiting service for pre-schoolers, they will give you loads of advice and strategies for making everyone's life easier, visual timetables, structure etc. Have a look on www.portage.org.uk We only qualified for a few sessions as my son was about to start school but it was worth it. Also the NAS do courses such as Earlybird which will help you too and give you more info on ASD. I also met some local people on mine. . . . When you fill in your DLA form go the Cerebra website, they have a great form which lists the type of things you need to include question by question. Imagine your worst day and don't put he good bits down! There's another post on it somewhere, general discussion board I think. Preschool should be able to call in people as well to help them. Good luck, feel free to ask more questions if you need to! As you learn why your son behaves how he does it gets easier to understand and help him. xx

My son was petrified of the "Brand new Thomas" as he calls it, and Thomas is his life! Getting more used to it now but the change freaked him out. . . .

My son on Eskimo kids too, been on it 3 weeks and seems much calmer (only one major meltdown). Even his teacher said how much calmer he was this term and thats before she knew. . .who knows but worth a try!!!

I ticked yes, my son has HFA. Luckily got it first time due to a lot of help, it took me months (even missed deadline) but got there in the end. . . .

Hi Carolyn, welcome to the forum. I have 2 kiddies too, my 4 year old son was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism last year, also have a 2 year old daughter. Diagnosis is a very hard time, (bit like a rollercoaster ride!) but you should get lots of support here. The National Autistic society is a good place for info too. Will you get any support like Portage (I'm not sure if it covers all parts of UK?). Is your son in nursery? Are they supportive? I've done several courses which really help too, give you more strategies for supporting your son, visual timetables, egg timers etc. Anyway, welcome and feel free to ask loads of questions, there is some great advice on here. . .

Brilliant, thanks very much

Does anyone know of a DLA leaflet /book to help parents/carers fill in DLA forms for children? I borrowed one of a friend and it seems to have gone walkies, I really want to replace it for her. Thanks

Ahhh, thats fab and I'm sure all of us here appreciate what a big deal it is.

Hello, I wanted some advice too so thought I'd add to this thread too, hope you don't mind? I'm reading 1-2-3 Magic - anyone done it? It tells you to give the child 3 warnings for behaviour and then time out, so much the same as what you are doing. We've had nightmares with the step and the tantrums get worse but 123 recommends that you send them to their room. I've sent my son up twice today and both times he's been upset but calmed down to do his 4 minutes so it all seems good, the only thing is, am I being too 'kind' by sending him to his room rather than the step? (he has toys in his room). The next time I was counting him he stopped by no. 2 so he obviously didn't want to go back to his room. thanks for your help (again). . . .!!!

Hello, lots of people seem to be mentioning CAMHS. . . .My son was diagnosed last year aged four with HFA and we had support from Portage. After he started school we were told everything was handed over to school but I wonder if I am missing out on CAMHS, I've never heard of them before joining here. . . .We don't get any support apart from school.

Hi Mr A and Welcome! You are in the right place (if your daughter is on the spectrum). Good luck and I hope you get the answers you are looking for.

Hi there. My husband and I were hypnotised about 6 years ago to stop smoking. My husband was on over 30 a day and it still worked and he hasn't touched one since. I have no idea if it work for you but it was the best £90 we ever spent in our lives!!!!

Hi, I just wanted to say hi and I know what you are feeling! I have a nearly 5 year old boy (HFA) and my daughter is nearly 3 (NT). I have this situation all the time and its really hard. My son can be agressive, and its really hard to know when its just bad temper or genuinely upset. My heath visitor said to me "Autism or no autism, a child needs discipline" and to me either way he has to learn to stop hitting out. I do think you did they right thing though, I'm not always good at seeing the easy way round and just get cross! Oh and my son def. has good and bad days!

Thomas the Tank engine, any trains actually, Chuggington, maps, tracks (we have to stop the car and look over bridges at tracks!) etc. etc. bit scared of steam trains though (the noise!). Can't see it ever stopping. . . . .!!!!

Hi there, my son is nearly 5 and we are toilet training now. He always poos in his pants (only been out of nappies for a month or so so one thing at a time!!!) unless I am there to spot the signs (his face goes white) and rush him to the loo. There is a website which might be able to help you, www.eric.org.uk My son was seen by a continence advisor who came with a specialist health visitor, I wonder whether you might have one in your area??? Hope this helps x

Hi, thanks for all of your advice. DS has a very structured time at school, visual timetables, taken to a small room with small groups of children if classroom is too much etc. but I must admit I'm not so good at home so might start. The problems really happen when he's just with his sister watching tv etc. We do have an egg timer for time out but I might try the reward chart with good and bad, I think he'd really get that but like you wasn't sure about introducing the negative side. Thanks, its something to think about.

brilliant, thanks, its just hard because he doesn't get it yet. My 2 year old daughter will sit on a step and walk calmly back in and say sorry, cuddle etc. and even the threat of the step is enough to stop her. At least I know I'm doing the right thing and will be consistant. thanks v much .

Hi thanks, thats what I thought but my son was diagnosed with HFA even though he didn't have any speech delay. . . .I'm not too worried, just curious.

Hi there, thanks for your replies. By time out I mean that every time he hits someone at home (usually his sister) I tell him that it is not acceptable and put him in our hallway. He doesn't come out until he has calmed down and then done 4 minutes (he is 4). I then go in and tell him again that hitting is not acceptable and he is allowed out to apologise. If he doesn't want to say sorry he's back in for another 4 etc. I am determined to anything to stop the hitting and put him in the hallway every time and totally agree with you on your PS which is why I am determined to sort this. Am I doing the right thing? At school he gets taken out of lessons and if he hits in the playground he has to sit inside for the rest of lunchtime.