Advice needed.

[Rob's mum]

Hi, I have just joined this site and would like some advice.

 

My son is 41/2 years old and his pre school have just informed me that they think he is a very high achiever on the autistic spectrum. These are the following traits that he is showing:

 

1) He can name all the Thomas the tank engine characters. (Special interest).

 

2) Remembers large chunks of song/rhymes.

 

3) Very attached to certain children and adults.

 

4) Blunt when telling children he is not their friend.

 

5) Unconcerned to be seen singing/dancing. (Unaware of social rules)

 

6) Standing on tiptoe when walking.

 

7) Does not like change/different environment. (transitions)

 

8) Medical problems hearing, speech, toileting.

 

9) Refusal to take his coat off if something has upset him before we get to pre school.

 

10) Not worried about some adults telling him off. (consequences of his actions).

 

11) Not making eye contact with these adults.

 

I tryed to keep it as the pre school wrote it for me.

 

Now as a mother i could go through and give you reasons as to why he does some things and put the other things down as that is just the way he is. The news came of a complete shock and i am finding it hard to make the right next step. The pre school have advised me to take him and get him referred but i don't want to waste anybodies time.

 

Please help and thank you reading this.

 

 

[zenemu]

Hi,

 

Firstly, welcome to the forum

 

Ask the preschool if they would be so kind as to put their concerns down in writing, so that you can show it your Doctor. You are not going to be wasting anyone's time. It is generally accepted that between the ages of four and six it genrally becomes apparent that a child may be ASD. This need not be a big issue, but you will need to be prepared as a parent, because all ASD children have there own challenges and being prepared as a parent is always going to be beneficial.

 

It is possible that your Doctor won't refer your son until he is a little older, but it is important that the doctor is aware of the preschool's concerns and that you take the time to monitor your son and see what observations you can make about his behaviour. It certainly sounds like he is showing some early traits, but ultimately a referral is the only way you are going to get the answers, so set the ball rolling.

 

Zen.

[justine1]

Hi,

 

Firstly, welcome to the forum

 

Ask the preschool if they would be so kind as to put their concerns down in writing, so that you can show it your Doctor. You are not going to be wasting anyone's time. It is generally accepted that between the ages of four and six it genrally becomes apparent that a child may be ASD. This need not be a big issue, but you will need to be prepared as a parent, because all ASD children have there own challenges and being prepared as a parent is always going to be beneficial.

 

It is possible that your Doctor won't refer your son until he is a little older, but it is important that the doctor is aware of the preschool's concerns and that you take the time to monitor your son and see what observations you can make about his behaviour. It certainly sounds like he is showing some early traits, but ultimately a referral is the only way you are going to get the answers, so set the ball rolling.

 

Zen.

Hi and Welcome to the forum <'>

Zenemu is 100% spot on You need to make an appointment to see your GP,ask the pre school to write down all their concerns and if you can make a diary of how he is at home,you will also need to make notes of how he was as a baby too.If you can give it a few days,maybe friday,to gather as much info as you can.

 

I see you have a list of traits but you need to give a few examples of these traits and when you noticed them.My GP asked how he is from when he gets up until when he goes to bed.As zenemu also said you may not get a referral until he has started full time education but in my opinion the sooner the better,the waiting list to see a specialist can be anything from a couple of weeks to a year(6mths is average where I am.)So by the time he is seen he will be in full time education and he may need additional support.

 

I wish you luck and keep us posted There is lots of great advice on here.

[Rob's mum]

Hi,

 

Firstly, welcome to the forum

 

Ask the preschool if they would be so kind as to put their concerns down in writing, so that you can show it your Doctor. You are not going to be wasting anyone's time. It is generally accepted that between the ages of four and six it genrally becomes apparent that a child may be ASD. This need not be a big issue, but you will need to be prepared as a parent, because all ASD children have there own challenges and being prepared as a parent is always going to be beneficial.

 

It is possible that your Doctor won't refer your son until he is a little older, but it is important that the doctor is aware of the preschool's concerns and that you take the time to monitor your son and see what observations you can make about his behaviour. It certainly sounds like he is showing some early traits, but ultimately a referral is the only way you are going to get the answers, so set the ball rolling.

 

Zen.

 

 

Thank you so much Zen. I do have the pre schools concerns in writing, so i will take that to the doctors with me. He has got the doctors on Monday, so will then post what she says.

[julie1]

have either yourself or the pre school considered the pre school advisory teacher comming to make there own desision on where to go further. our lady was very helpful they sent my dd to the nursery assessment centre and even help with IEPs while we were waiting.

[purplehaze]

Hello & welcome to the site, I work in a pre-school with some children who have autism and I am the SENCO. This is what should happen:

1.the pre-school should discuss their concenrs with you and talk about early years action & early years action plus & statutory assessment etc

2. during this meeting/discussion you all should agree on some targets to go on a individual educational plan-putting your son at early years action

3. the pre-school will carryout the different activities etc for the targets

4you should have a review meeting to discuss how the targets have been going etc (we usually do one every 6 weeks ish)

5. make new targets etc & review or diecide to get other professionals involved (SALT, OT, EP, Area SENCO/children's & young peoples services etc)-which makes it early years action plus.

6. all involved may decide that getting your son assessed at your local child development centre in the hospital-they will usually offer a 2 day assessment & your son will be seen by various professionals mostly the ones I have said above etc.

7. if all this action doesn't support your son appropriately then a RSA (request for statutory assessment) which means your asking for your son to be assessed to find out if he is in the percentage of children that need a statement to lay out what support your son need whcih is legal & the pre-school/schools have to be able to meet the needs that is laid out on the statement.

 

Sorry I have rushed this but I haven't much time at the mo-but ask me anything & I will try to help! Good luck xxx

 

Edited to say-the child development centre usually diagnose if they feel it is appropriate & the pre-school can't just say to you that they think that they are not qualified to diagnose autism & your son should be working on targets already before anything like this is mentioned anyway!

Edited May 25, 2010 by purplehaze

[Rob's mum]

Hello & welcome to the site, I work in a pre-school with some children who have autism and I am the SENCO. This is what should happen:

1.the pre-school should discuss their concenrs with you and talk about early years action & early years action plus & statutory assessment etc

2. during this meeting/discussion you all should agree on some targets to go on a individual educational plan-putting your son at early years action

3. the pre-school will carryout the different activities etc for the targets

4you should have a review meeting to discuss how the targets have been going etc (we usually do one every 6 weeks ish)

5. make new targets etc & review or diecide to get other professionals involved (SALT, OT, EP, Area SENCO/children's & young peoples services etc)-which makes it early years action plus.

6. all involved may decide that getting your son assessed at your local child development centre in the hospital-they will usually offer a 2 day assessment & your son will be seen by various professionals mostly the ones I have said above etc.

7. if all this action doesn't support your son appropriately then a RSA (request for statutory assessment) which means your asking for your son to be assessed to find out if he is in the percentage of children that need a statement to lay out what support your son need whcih is legal & the pre-school/schools have to be able to meet the needs that is laid out on the statement.

 

Sorry I have rushed this but I haven't much time at the mo-but ask me anything & I will try to help! Good luck xxx

 

Edited to say-the child development centre usually diagnose if they feel it is appropriate & the pre-school can't just say to you that they think that they are not qualified to diagnose autism & your son should be working on targets already before anything like this is mentioned anyway!

 

[Rob's mum]

Hi

 

I have taken my son to the doctors with the list the nursery gave me and my own list of queries and she has refered him to be evalvated.

 

Watch this space.

[purplehaze]

Good luck, I hope you get the answers you need!