Hello Every1

[natwood]

Hello,

 

Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Natalie (obv ) Mum of Taylor 12, Sam 4 and Eva-Mae who is 1.

 

Sam has recently been going cahms and his doctor thinks he may have some form of autism. I didn't even know about austism really apart from watching rainman. I realise now that there are different forms and things but just wanted to itterate the fact of how clueless i really was on the subject.

 

Since i have been scouring the internet for every bit of information i can (which is how i found this forum) and after reading about the different types of autism i am sure he has aspergers. Obviously am not a doctor but was like reading a play by play on my sons behaviour. God I thought he had adhd!

 

I'm not sure how i'm supposed to feel about it but i actually am a little relieved to know that it's not anything i have done wrong to cause Sams behaviour. My husband on the other hand still has his head stuck in the sand!

 

His doctor came to see Sam at nursery today so am waiting to hear back now. His nursery teacher was speaking to me about Sam maybe not getting the chance to go to my chosen choice of school. Sam was supposed to start school this session but we felt that he should wait another year. I have the full support of Sams nursery school but is talking about different schools just now a bit soon? Also why would Sam not be able to attend my choice of primary? He is a very intelligent little boy!

 

Is great to actually speak to people who actually have been through and are going through this my family don't really understand!

 

Anyway hello anyway,

 

Natalie x

[JsMum]

Hi Natalie well come, hugs <'> hope you begin to get some answers here, I would request an explanation to the school situation, has your son had any assessments in nursery, it may be able to distinguish his abilities and if there is some low levels which is very common in boys with AS, its called an uneven prophile, exceptionally good at some tasks but significantly low on other tasks, these are important to know because a mainstream classroom will require certains abilities, such as listening to information, memory, and prossessing, attention and concentration.

 

My son has ADHD too, for J he has lots of other problems too, ASD and ADHD is all rather linked though seperate DX here in UK, other countries consider ADHD as part of the spectrum.

 

A brilliant book to read is Tony Attwood, brilliant for Aspergers Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.

 

The best place for support is your local parents support group who have children with Autism/AS.

 

Other websites I found very informative was Contact A family and National Autistic Society, for particual Aspergers Syndrome there is OASIS too.

 

Hope you feel welcome.

 

JsMum

[baddad]

Hi natalie - welcome to the forum

[NickyB]

Hello and welcome, Natalie

 

I can relate to all that you've said. It took me a while to get my head out of the sand when DS (now 5) was younger, and admit that there was something wrong. I felt a huge relief after diagnosis, and I'd certainly agree that knowledge is power. I find it much less scary to deal with now that I have a greater understanding of ASD.

 

Hope you find the forum supportive - I certainly have

 

Nicky <'>

[Flora]

Hi Natalie and welcome to the forum

 

Flora

[Karen A]

Hi Natalie and Welcome to the Forum. Karen.

[Zosmum]

Hi Natalie

Can 100% relate to what you're saying

Hope you find this site as useful as we have

Zosmum

[natwood]

Thanks every1,

 

as for finding this site useful, i was on it till 12 last night! From about 6 lol!

 

Is helping me already x

[bid]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

I have a son of 19 with AS and ADHD, and I have a dx of AS myself.

 

Hope you find some answers and continue to find the forum a help.

 

Bid

[kirstie]

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!!

[kirstie]

Actually Spectrum are having a coffee morning this Friday morning, sounds a bit naff but it's a great place to meet the professionals who work in Spectrum and VTSS and the other parents. Always a good place to find out excellent information on all sorts of things. It's almost like the Mums Dads and Kids have their own little ASD community if you like. The playschemes, the ASD units and things like 1:1 swimming lessons for kids with additional support needs- the same faces always crop up and combined everyone is a wealth of information. Lots to find out about and i am bombarding you right now but just know how difficult and painful the whole process can be!!

 

As for school, it's YOUR choice where your Son goes and no-body knows him better than you. I firmly believe that along with the gut instincts on something being 'different' with your child the same gut instincts apply to knowing how they will cope with educational placements. Do not be browbeaten and stick to your guns.If you want him to go to mainstream primary school then you go for it, there will be a support package put in place for him should he need it (and by the way they'll be throwing it at you because they just love Mum's and Dad's who want mainstream as a pose to specialist placements!!!! urgh another minefield) But there's another year ahead and i wouldn't be too worried just yet, you have plenty of time to think- and by the way lots of time for your son to be given the support he might need in the meantime. I wish you all the luck in the world!

[forbsay]

Hello

 

Welcome to the forum <'> <'> .

 

Yes, spectrum will give you lots of information.

 

Kirstie is right - the school is your choice. You know your son best.

 

Take care

 

Forbsay

xx

[**Mia]

Hello

[Kathryn]

Welcome to the forum Natalie

 

K x