kirstie

None the wiser to those threads i'm afraid. Really not sure what's going on!

Ah found you!!! Was intrigued by another post and found you here. I have a bit more info now so i would definatley say that you need to be asking for a referral to the Communication Clinic rather than CAHMS. By going through them first (CAHMS) you're going round the houses. No-ones fault, but it is the long way round hun. As for School i did the same, deferred entry for a year and it was the best thing for Lewis. He had intensive support from the Spectrum team (ask your GP to refer you) they are multidisciplinary and have speech therapist development workers, autism teachers, autism early years social worker (fantastic lady) behavioural therapy. They are brilliant and were instrumental in my sons progress in those early days. They worked with him in Nursery and home and we managed to turn around some of his hellish behaviours by the time he went to school. VTSS (visiting teaching support services) are another resource who are joining forces with Spectrum but will come to work with children at home or Nursery. (they're all in the same building at McDonald Road along with Educational Psycologists) talking of which do you have one? An Ed Psyche i mean? ask for Nursery to refer you to theirs if not. Lot's to take on board but as i mentioned in another post to you pm me and i will point you in the direction of who you need to be referred to if you like. This person is the best person and leading specialist and is one of the Dr's who diagnoses ASD's in Communication Clinic. (one appointment takes about 1 hour 45 mins and you see speech therapists for a bit, you talk, they play with your child and talk with them then you go upstairs and talk through all the history with Professor who then will also talk/play with your child and then they ahve a chat together (Prof and Speech therapists) come back in and tell you if and what they think the dx is. Simple and over with in one go!! CAHMS won't diagnose anything ASD. Glad you found this site it's full of information. I'm happy to pm you any info you want!!

Kathryn, I love this City- it is amazing and the buildings are stunning as well as the castle. I have never seen one that compares lol! Pm me anytime you are coming, would love to meet up!

I'm sorry if i've missed earlier posts saying how old your son is and what kind of diagnosis you think they might be looking at? If it's ASD then i reckon you are with the wrong bunch in CAHMS. Having gone down the route you are right now (i'm from Edinburgh too by the way) when my 9 year old was about 4 and i was none the wiser as to who diagnosed what. They don't actually diagnose ASD's that is done in the Communication Clinic and i will tell you via pm exactly who to ask for and a phone number if you like. First thing's first- does your son have a speech therapist? If not ask for a referral ASAP as Communication clinic need a report from them (as well as any other from professionals involved with your wee boy if there are any) and then they can issue you an appointment if deemed necessary. Local CAHMS weren't much help at all...sadly it seems quite common all over with CAHMS teams (i am sure there are some who have had positive experiences though). Anyway once we got to Communication Clinic a diagnosis of Aspergers was made and that was when my son was 4.5. So when my next son who is now 3 was showing some signs i knew exactly who to phone and he was diagnosed with Autism very quickly. My daughter is now 17 months and is having her assesment next month as she is most certainly on the spectrum too- with her it has taken since March/April as paed wanted to monitor her as she was still so young but Professor who knows my boys (dx them) has pulled her file and wants to see her. So for us not long, but it is easier if you know who to phone and where to get the help it always helps. It is so hard when you don't know who is who and what team does what. If you'd like some more info let me know and i'll pm you.

Ah, i see- i understand now- the rest (to Mumble) is as clear as mud lol!!

It's entitled Ian Jordan article. Also when i was reading some other posts elsewhere it was saying the poster of topic/post was *Guest bid* or Guest Lya of the nox* and i'm wondering if it's my pc because i know both are nor guests but members?????????!

Why can't i get access to this topic? i have tried searching the help files and can't see anything that explains why this is happening. Could be my PC it's on it's last legs and heading for the nearest window very soon!!

I use Oilatum intensive shampoo fro my son. He is only 3 but has had persistant dry scaly scalp and no matter how mild the shampoo nothing helped. I used this and within the first use trhe scales were on their way. It has helped. Watch the shampoo you use is ph balanced too as this can lead to dry scaly scalps if they are prone.

My Grandpa was an engineer!!!! Nan, Not sure about other siblings having AS (ASD) or what the prevelance is but i will say that i have 16 year old son- no ASD (dyslexia though) a 9 year old with AS a 3 year old with Autism and a 17 month old with Autism. Probably genetics play a huge part in this in our case, however no-one actually knows for sure why and who will/will not be affected. No-one else in my family has any ASD although dyslexia features in a few of my female (interestingly) cousins children and with my own son. My son with AS is by my ex partner and his cousins child has AS so who knows. Very interesting subject but the answers remain elusive. Maybe one day.............

Only just seen this thread, i wish i'd have known you were coming (i'd have baked a cake!!! Lol) i would've come to see you!!! Well done your daughter on going up \and down the Royal mile festival time it's unbelievably busy, quite daunting for anyone so she did extremely well!! Arthurs seat, it's something else isn't it? having an extinct volcano right in the middle of the city (well, the volcano was there first, and the city came after with the Castle being built on the Volcanic rock) It would have been lovely to have met up but hopefully next year if you come back i can show you some more of the sights if you like. There's a couple of us girls here who meet up now and again for pizza and a natter, would be fab to have a get together! Glad you enjoyed it and well done on the Play,it does take a lot of guts- quite an achievment!!

Thank you, i have emailed the Uni. Not sure how it will work out as he is no longer drinking milk atall (but is eating other dairy products) shall wait and see!

Oh just googled lactose intolerance and it lists chocolate as being a trigger for symptoms, ever since he was a little baby chocolate gave him a bad stomach, we decided not to give him any as it just seemed to go right through him....The grumbling tummy is another (as well as the wind) as soon as he's had breakfast he's asking for lunch so i suspect his tummy is growling and he's confusing it with hunger!!

Thanks Flora, It's interesting you say that your son had eczema patches when milk touched his skin, my son gets like that if sauces like ketchup touch his skin, must read the label.... This has just thrown me really because he is now off milk totally and will only accept water which is fine but i just coudln't get my head around the idea it was lactose intolerance when he wasn't having any milk to drink, however i must have a look at some labels. Either that or gluten do you think? Could be his system is getting over the milk he's been drinking for so long????? i think i'll have him checked for it though. Thanks for your help Flora!! <'>

Hi Nan, I think you are making the right decision to talk with your daughter. My boy was diagnosed with Aspergers at 4.5 and i was so grateful to the Nursery staff who actually put me in the right direction. With a Nan like you i'm sure your grandson and Daughter will be just fine!! He sounds like a lovley wee soul. Light switches are our thing at the moment (with my 3 year old, Autism) and my daughter mis assesment for the same is liking switiching the printer off and on off and on!!!

You know the annoying thing is in the Hospital Caroline takes R to and the CAHMS team they are meant to be part of an ASD team, laugh???? i nearly p**@!* my pants. I too know how crappy they make you feel there so i totally sympathise with you Caroline, you know my thoughts on them. Will phone you later hun!

Hi there, my son is 3 (has Autism)and has always looked very pale and washed out, i always thought it was his skin colouring and that's it. Anyway he has always had the worst constipation and lactulose didn't even help. He was also a big milk drinker. Someone once said to me about the dark bags under his eyes and pale skin he had a milk intolerance, but i dismissed it because in my eyes he drank it with no ill effect. Forward wind to 6 weeks ago on holiday he went completely off milk (i suppose it does taste different abroad) and ever since he's had chronic diorreah and every few days sickness. Stool cultures have thrown up nothing and there are days when he looks deathly pale and the diorreah explosions are exactly that (still in nappies, at this point i'm quite glad!) No-one else in the family have been ill either. it's only him who is suffering. Do you think it's just a coincedence he's gone off milk and the sickness etc has come on? I asked the Dr about Coeliac disease but she said no because he would likely have had the diorreah from the off. Am not sure if an intolerance would fit either because he's not actually having any milk (will have yoghurts and cheese) So anyone have any ideas> does this sound familiar to you? GP checked it wasn't an overflow from mega constipation but seems it's not that either! Am baffled and a bit worried too it's a long time to be unwell. Any advice very welcome!

Hi Elaine, i'll come!!!!! tell me when and where!

My son is In the night garden mad- and tweenies (he's only 3!) he loves Nina and the Neurons, Carrie and Davids Popshop and Me too!!!!! But he really loves Something special too (i didn't know Justin was Jake, how cool!!! love him to bits so glad he got MBE! did he learn Makaton for the programme or did he already know it? sorry, just wondering!) Thankfully Thomas is a thing of the past (feels like a million years ago when my 9 year old was into him in a MASSIVE way!) and we do everything to steer clear of that little blue engine!!!

My son is also 9 (in a few weeks) and wouldn't wash, bathe,shower brush his teeth or change his clothes if i didn't make him do it. He quite likes the bath when he's in it as he shares it with his 3 year old brother but i have to wash him and his hair do his teeth etc. Maybe i should be pushing him to be a bit more independant!!

Well, if nothing else you guys made me laugh so thank you for that!!! I tried the tilt test with my 16 month old and i have to say she 'failed'- actually, not sure that's the right word to use- she kept her head in line with her body anyway!! Moebius mouth is where the upper lip is very curved, the cupids bow close together and high- not sure i'm making that much sense. I googled it and found a couple of pics of very cute babies with this. Also, quite interesting factor that physicians may look for (more so with children with siblings on the spectrum) when assesing for autism is the head size/shape. I have 8 y.o with A.S and 2.5 y.o with ASD dx and daughter mid dx, now my younger son has a very big head- flat at the back and wide at the sides (think of Ernie from Sesame St Lol) and this was something they mentioned at his diagnostic appointment, my 8y.o has plagiocephaly and my daughter has something-encephaly (soz can't remember what!!!) meaning one side of her head is a bit bigger and that her face looks a bit like it's squint (to be honest i can't really see it, she's not as obvious as her brothers head wise) and then oyu have my 16 y.o who is nt and has a perfectly shaped head!!!!! Flora, it is interesting, i have auditory processing difficulties ( ask my driving instructor lol) as does eldest son, i hadn';t heard of left ear preference etc.

Someone has just brought to my attention this tilt test that can be done on infants/children with suspected ASD. The idea is to sit them on your knee facing away from you and tilt them to each side at a 45 degree angle and the child with suspected autism will keep their head in line with their body but the child who is not will move their head back. I haven't tried this yet on my youngets, who i found out yesterday is most likely on the spectrum too. (i knew) so now we await the Professor's appointment. Also, has anyone heard of moebius mouth? This can be another indicator apparently. It's where the top lip is very arched and the bottom lip flat, incidentally my daughter has this. I would imagine the tilt test would have to be done with a relativley young child, but it is by no means a diagnostic tool and should not be treated so. Just wondered if anyone had heard of these things?

i get it too even though hubby is working!

I have often wondered the same, how do they all know each other??? when i used to pick up my nt son i stood there with noone to talk to it was horrible, with Nursery with Lewis who has Aspergers it was very tricky at times because they were quite up their own backsides and very snobbish that they often made complaints about him, but very rarely said anything to me. But you just know when they've been talking about you before you get there and then theres a deafening silence as soon as you arrive. One mother used to physically pull her child away from mine if he went near Lewis they were a bunch of trouts who i wouldn't give the time of day to. I will soon see how things unfold when my 3 year old son with ASD starts Nursery after the summer hols- will keep you posted!!!! Hev, i am with you on the looking like i've been dragged through a hedge backwards ha ha!!

i meant King Kong duh!!!!

Oh yes, we've had the dino obsession with the roaring LOUD first thing in the morning, but before that it was King King for years. He would roar like him too and beat his chest, he was so loud it did drive us mad. Pirates of the Carribean came next which wasn't so bad. We have loads of books and little dino figures (is that the right word?) and theres a high dtreet shop that sells loads of tea shirts and tops with different dinosaurs on it! (pm me if you want to know where!) Lewis used to pretend he was a dino too when other kids were around, some of them didn't know how to deal with that but we are just used to him and let him carry on, ina lower tone of coarse lol!!