Meeting with the psychs

[KarenT]

DH and I have a meeting this morning with J's psychiatrists about assessing him for ADHD. TBH I'm not sure I see the point any more - having researched it I can now see that he's unlikely to get a dx as he's already got AS, and that 'trumps' ADHD as the symptoms can be explained by the AS. J's settled so much in the last year (and particularly in the last few months) that his new school don't see any issues and must be wondering what all the fuss was about when I was so desperate to move him last year. So if the psychs visit school to observe they're not going to get any evidence, anecdotal or incidental. He's doing very well academically, has made friends and is socialising well. BUT whenever he gets unsettled all the old issues resurface and I want the ADHD symptoms highlighted in some way so that he can be provided for in secondary, where there'll be problems aplenty to get him rattled. Don't know how we're going to get round this. Had intended to speak with IPSEA and NAS but was offered this appointment today so haven't had time.

 

Ah well, wish us luck!

 

Karen

x

[Karen A]

Hi Karen.I hope the meeting goes well.

My thoughts may be too late if you are already at the meeting.

However I was wondering whether the ADHD type symtoms that you describe could be the way J showed that he was anxious at the time...which is why things are better now that school is more settled.

 

When Ben is anxious it is noticable that he becomes more restless and active and he finds it difficult to settle.I could imagine that people could wonder about ADHD.However he is able to settle and focus very well once the anxiety is reduced.

If J is the same then the most helpful outcome would be to have appropriate support in school for the ASD so that J does not become rattled....easier said than done I know. Karen.

[Bagpuss]

Let me know how you get on <'>

[ASue67]

Hope it went Ok?? <'>

[KarenT]

Hi guys, we're back.

 

Karen, some of what you said does relate to J too. The key to him is being calm, which is where we're focusing with all the work we do with him at home. He's made incredible progress with the autistic symptoms over the past year but those that are associated with ADHD still feature quite strongly, especially (as you say) when he becomes unsettled. If the issue were AS alone, so I've been led to believe, then there would have been improvements in the ADHD symptoms as well. Last time he got unsettled (feb half term) his presentation was decidedly ADHD so there's a definite shift there in the direction he's going.

 

Anyway, the meeting went well and was quite positive. The psychs now seem more accepting that DH and I know what we're talking about and accepted our concerns that the ADHD symptoms are genuine and becoming more prominent as we continue working on his AS issues. We've agreed that there's little point in assessing as the process involves observing the child with symptoms on display, which realistically isn't going to happen because he's so settled in his new school and has made significant improvements in how he manages most of his outside activities as well. But they took on board our concerns about secondary school and asked us to get J's Head to invite them to his next IEP review meeting so that everyone can discuss this together. Realistically this isn't about asking for more help from any agency, rather to prepare an accurate account of how J responds under pressure (which he's undoubtedly going to face as he enters secondary) and ensure that all involved can proactively support him for the transition.

 

I've also emailed the Choices Advisor for our area to find out exactly what options we have with regards to schools J could go to. His primary is out of catchment and under the new scheme he won't be eligible to go to the excellent, autism-friendly secondary that it feeds into, but will be sent by postcode to the local hell-hole. He doesn't have a statement so I need to know how this will affect our choices, and what courses of action I need to take to get him somewhere appropriate.

 

Relieved the appointment is over, won't have it hanging over me for the Easter holidays now so we can have fun in the sun instead (yes, it will be sunny, I have decided!).

 

Thanks

Karen

x

[Bagpuss]

Yay, well done you, so, so pleased it went well <'>

[Karen A]

Sounds like it was positive.I hope you can sort something out re secondary schools it is a big deal which we will be looking into all too soon Karen.