Daughters Dx finally confirmed by Ados!!

bonbons · October 13, 2010

Got a phone call today from CAMHS confirming that my 15 yr old DD does 'meet the criteria' for ASD, contrary to what they believed but backing up the professional opinion of the paediatric psychiatrist and our own parental instinct!! very relieved to have finally arrived at this point :thumbs: Annoyed at CAMHS attitude though ( surprise, surprise)...." guess thats what you wanted to hear" said the voice on the other end of the phone!!! :angry: " No!, not what I wanted to hear, just what I knew I would hear" I said! How ridiculous! anyway, just want to get on with it now and get the right support and education she needs as she is currently out of eduacation and feeling quite low, but official confirmation of her dx seems to be raising many more questions than before and just wondered if any of you guys have any advice?

.I know that a copy of the ADOS report will be sent to her old mainstream school( she is on a managed transfer to a special

school/unit, but wiil they also send a copy to the LA even though the stag meeting regarding her statement has already taken place and, if so, is it likely to speed up the process?

.Is there anywhere else other than CAMHS? my experience with their involvement has so far not all been a positive one and also they do nothing more than talk to her, which is fine, but they have already told me that they don't provide CBT and have not recommended anything specific to her ASD? Surely there is something somewhere?

.Whilst the subject of aspergers and ASD have been lightly approached with DD, she has asked little of me and I have not gone into too much detail so far as there has been this question mark hanging over her DX, though I never had any doubt,and also because she becomes easily irritated if you talk about things that she's not interested in, and I think thats the key...she isn't interested. I asked her how she felt about the DX and she said she cared neither one way or the other. I know that she is only 15 and this is all quite new but I suppose I thought that it would help to provide answers for her the way it has for us!? I hope that she will become more accepting as she gets older as right now she seems to push away those who want to help her and any efforts of support offered.....one reason why she is out of eduacation right now. What will happen if her next school have the same problems, even if they are specialised? perhaps there are adults with AS who can identify with how she feels right now?

Today's events have provoked many thoughts and feelings, good and bad. I feel we are firmly on the right track but worry about which direction it will take her..... :wacko:

Edited October 13, 2010 by bonbons

Kathryn · October 13, 2010

It's obviously a relief to have some firm answers even if they have thrown up more questions.

15 is a tricky age. My daughter was also diagnosed at 15. She actually wanted her diagnosis and welcomed it at first but then went through swings from extreme denial to acceptance which left me confused - let alone her! It's going to take time for your daughter to absorb this - mid adolescence is often a time of fluctuating moods and identity crisis anyway. Books may help.

Sorry CAMHS have been a bit rubbish. So was ours, but then we were referred to the specialist CAMHS adolescent outreach team where finally we found a wise and experienced psychiatrist with ASD expertise who was our lifeline. Try the NAS as a starting point to find out what else is in your area.

K x

smiley1590 · October 28, 2010

like kathryn's daughter i myself was officially diagnosed at CAMHS at 14 years old and if very confusing empty lonely world of A.S feels like feel like 'fighting/battling' whole world on your own feel 'invisible' no one 'gets you' or understands you or your life as struggle yourself to 'get' who you REALLY are and where you belong she probably trying to adjust steadily to official diagnosis and this takes time doesn't happen overnight she DOES care just she finding hard get her head around and find way through the fog of frustration that she feels it hard thing to accept brings down to A.S world with a BIG BANG! that's for sure and with her being in puberty stage she'll also have raging hormones messing with her mood head,emotions and feelings alot to take on so take it nice and slow as difficult period to go through if 'norm' but added pressures strains on top of that can push into 'overload' take step by step ....

so much information take in surrounding it all can be overwhelming overbearing .... suffocating she probably needs space too to work out her next move on what to do where to go i researched on the net about A.S and books at start helped me along alot discover more about 'my world' and i wasn't 'so alone' and 'on my own' even though feels like loniless place ever alot of time! i so can sympathise and empathise with your daughter i been there is can be 'rocky road' rollercoaster ride up and down everyday

she got puberty try take step by step too so much involved and can become 'robbed' of your teens i was and taken over instead by A.S and if not careful ... M.H probs depression ,anxiety,stress self-harm ,suicidal thoughts as this CAN be when problems start becoming an issue and become deeper more out of control be prepared thats all may happen ,may not just warn you just incase! keep you updated A.S teens more prone to M.H probs not wanting scare worried frighten you just want give out information to you .... any changes differences you notice keep observent more at this stage she going through keep an eye on her in the background ... she may need you when she think she don't and she'll be fine she can do it! i thought the same not saying i'm like your daughter! just trying to go from personal experience here!

these web links may help with info on what to get and look out for book wise: some will apply some won't as for children pick one's that do! you may find some books on the link helpful useful info for you as her mum to read up more on!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_19?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=aspergers+and+girls&sprefix=aspergers+and+girls

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=aspergers+and+me&sprefix=aspergers+and+me

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=aspergers+and+puberty&rh=n%3A266239%2Ck%3Aaspergers+and+puberty&enc=1&ajr=3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_35?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=freaks+geeks+and+aspergers+syndrome&sprefix=freaks+geeks+and+aspergers+syndrome

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_0_45?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=curious+incident+of+the+dog+in+the+night+time&sprefix=curious+incident+of+the+dog+in+the+night+time ( this the first one i read after official A.S diagnosis)!!!

good luck hope all goes well!

XKLX