linss Report post Posted April 23, 2007 hello everyone , I wanted to know if this has happened to you. We are under a lot of pressure from school to give our son medication, he's eight and is now on his third school . This school is actually very good and he's part of a special unit with specialised support. His behaviour is still the same however with violent outburts and school are finding him very hard to teach as he so often refuses to even attempt anything. We're now in the position where in so many words we've been told it's either medication or no schooling . Has this happened to you ??? I am coming around to the idea of medication but really know so little about it at this stage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JsMum Report post Posted April 23, 2007 I would be very worried if this where me, it surely has to be the doctors and parents overall decision, to finally trail medication for difficulties with aggression. Is there certain triggers in the classroom that are effecting him, sensory, learning issues ect.... I would want to know more about the medications the school are requesting and what is the overall issue with his behaviour. it could be that the schools specialist unit need to re assess their tecniques as well, preventing the aggression, support for controling his anger and behavioural interventions. What worries me also is yes the medication could help but what if there is a relaps are they going to want more medication, increasing the dose as time goes along to the point he is on a large dose. medication is suppose to be a tempary messure until the person learns ways to manage and cope so it could be something they recommend if given with other therapies. I wouldn't medicate if I was pressurised. it has to be your decision. JsMum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted April 23, 2007 Hi Linss - As Jsmum says, the decision about medication isn't the schools to make, but having said that you've said yourself the school is very good with specialised support/knowledge, so if you 'trust' them it's worth taking a look at the reasons behind their suggestions... If he's in his third placement and the implications of his behaviour are as serious as you've said (medication/no school) or even if the behavioural issues are having a dramatic effect on his ability to learn then it would seem worth looking at all possibilities that might help... From the info you've given it's not clear what type of medication the school is talking about, or whether that medication is appropriate to the dx. Does he have an ADHD dx? OCD? ODD? any of these as a 'co-morbid' to AS/ASD wouldn't be exactly unusual, but the responses to each would be very different... Maybe it would be an idea to speak with the senco/head and see what their thinking is, and then discuss that with the people who CAN advise on appropriate interventions (Paed/Ed Psych etc) if you agree with them? Whatever way you look at it, if things at school are at the crisis point you've indicated some sort of intervention is a must. Another thing to assess is whether you think the school are talking about medication for their benefit of for his, or whether it's a mixture of the two. i'm not a huge fan of 'medication' Per Se, but absolutely no doubt about it, the right mix for the right child can be hugely helpful, or even an absolute necessity... L&P BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linss Report post Posted April 23, 2007 hi thanks for your reply, he was diagnosed with AS , the psychiatrist said he was also mildly adhd and for this adhd she could give medication.I have always been confused by this. Are children not given medication if they have only have AS as a diagnosis ? What if he doesn't actually have adhd will the treatment be relevant to him ? , do you need a correct diagnosis to benefit from the medication? In relation to his school, knowing them well and how they strive to understand the children i believe they are being honest and realistic with me about his options , it was i who understood what they were hinting regarding medication and i broached the subject with them and it's then that they explained that without extra help from this area it was unlikely that he could continue in mainstream schooling . They haven't mentioned a particular medication and wouldn't do this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Noetic Report post Posted April 23, 2007 Are children not given medication if they have only have AS as a diagnosis ? Many seem to be medicated for aggression or to help with sensory stuff (risperidone at very low doses helps some with anxiety too but also aggression and sensory overload) so no you don't need another diagnosis for meds. What if he doesn't actually have adhd will the treatment be relevant to him ? , do you need a correct diagnosis to benefit from the medication? ADHD meds can make things worse if the kid has elements of Bipolar (which is a possiblility when aggression and impulsivity is the main problem), but they can work for many on the spectrum. It's obviously not that the meds only work once he has a diagnosis but if he is medicated for something that treats one thing, but his problems are actually caused by another thing, it's unlikely to be helpful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted April 23, 2007 hi thanks for your reply, he was diagnosed with AS , the psychiatrist said he was also mildly adhd and for this adhd she could give medication.I have always been confused by this. Are children not given medication if they have only have AS as a diagnosis ? What if he doesn't actually have adhd will the treatment be relevant to him ? , do you need a correct diagnosis to benefit from the medication? Hi Linss - Sorry, I was a bit vague there! What I meant to say was that there is nothing inherent to AS/ASD that can be medicated for, and in that respect anything that medication is offered for is effectively a 'co-morbid'... So if a person has AS and ADHD (or any other co-morbid condition) medication may help the co-morbid and have an 'over all' beneficial effect... similarly, some children with extremely high stress/anxiety levels could be helped with medication for that, or those suffering depression helped with medication for that... To help your son, anyone prescribing would need to treat the co-morbid, and that would need to be appropriately identified as something seperate (but possibly influenced by/impacting upon) the AS itself. Hope that's a little clearer, and that you find some answers soon L&P BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LittleRae Report post Posted April 24, 2007 Hi Linss I was in a similar position recently. My DS has AS & ADHD (without the hyperactivity). It wasn't the school in our case but his Psych who was pushing for medication. I resisted for 2 years. Then on a recent consultation with a different Psych, it came out that DS thought he was stupid - he's actually very bright, but was just average in a few subjects (where he needed to study and couldn't just learn by osmosis as he was used to!). The Psych said I was being unfair to him, as he wasn't reaching his potential, so I reluctantly gave in. Now, I still don't see any difference at home, but school work has improved immensely. He is getting better grades in his subjects, is taking part and even answering voluntarily in class! The amount of written work he produces has now doubled. I guess what I'm really trying to say is that the medication has helped him learn. As has been said, if your DS is on his third school, and he's still not learning due to the outbursts/behaviour, then maybe it's time to try the medication. Someone once said to me, to look on this medication as I would a pair of glasses. Yes, the child could probably struggle on without them, but what a difference it makes when they put them on..... Good luck with your decision Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
