borderline

[laine]

Hi all. Just come back from seeing educational physcologist. She has informed me that C is borderline aspergers??????????????. Not sure what to make of it. When i questioned her she asked why would you want youre child to have this label.

 

Now i am sat here still no wiser has this happened to anyone else and does anyone have any advice.

 

Thanks lainexxxxxxxxx

[fiorelli]

When i questioned her she asked why would you want youre child to have this label.

 

Thanks lainexxxxxxxxx

 

 

Why would you want a label?

 

No-one really wants a label - but it is most often the key to getting the help your child needs, and knowing where to go for that help.

 

<'>

[Viper]

Yes Laine I have the same problem. Ben has "traits" of AS with ODD and seperation anxiety disorder. But none of these are confirmed.

[laine]

Why would you want a label?

 

No-one really wants a label - but it is most often the key to getting the help your child needs, and knowing where to go for that help.

 

<'>

 

Yeah is said that and she replied but he wont get a statemnt with that label. I feel really miffed at the moment i have been waiting for positive answers and got cr*p. Oh i did also get a long list of other things he has, oh and hes dyslexic , she said this like i knew. Although i have had my suspitions this had only been said today. 2 hours with that woman ..Thanks for youre reply by the way

[fiorelli]

That's ok laine.

 

IT isn't just for a statement that having a dx is useful for though - when you have a 'name' for what is 'wrong' it helps make it a bit clearer in your own head. You can then go out and find the support you need at HOME. ASD isn't just a school problem...

 

Besides, who is a ed. psych. to give a diagnosis? You usually only get them from a specialist paediatrician/clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist... I would also be interested to know on what basis (what assessments/tests etc have been done to help her come to her diagnosis) she has said he is 'borderline aspergers' and has 'dyslexia'

[laine]

That's ok laine.

 

IT isn't just for a statement that having a dx is useful for though - when you have a 'name' for what is 'wrong' it helps make it a bit clearer in your own head. You can then go out and find the support you need at HOME. ASD isn't just a school problem...

 

Besides, who is a ed. psych. to give a diagnosis? You usually only get them from a specialist paediatrician/clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist... I would also be interested to know on what basis (what assessments/tests etc have been done to help her come to her diagnosis) she has said he is 'borderline aspergers' and has 'dyslexia'

 

I me and all. I am naffed with the whole situation. I didnt think there is borderline you either are or not.

thanks for youre reply i am feeling calmer by the minute. I thin its a way of keeping hold of the funds that schools get in order to give these kids the help they need mybe i am wrong ???.

[fiorelli]

that's just it laine - my understanding is that Aspergers Syndrome is part of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The operative word being 'Spectrum' meaning there are no borders...

[neda]

Hi Laine

 

My son is currently being assessed by ed psych but I've spoken to my GP and said I feel he is pinning his behaviour on communication difficulties even though I don't think he has seen his extreme behaviour. My GP told me if I don't get the answer I want to go back and talk to her about where we go next. Also told me to keep a diary of any incidents/upsets/frustrations so I've got something to help me remember things that have happened. When I asked my ed psych whether I should be doing it he said I didn't need to bother with that at this stage.

 

I've also been told that Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy should also be involved in the assessment. So maybe you should explore it with your GP first and know that ed psych isn't your only option. I've also been told that a diagnosis will come from a paediatrician, others have diagnosis from psychiatrists. But ed psych's do not 'officially' diagnose.

 

Hope this is of some help.

[LindaB]

My daughter is currently undergoing assessment. It was the paediatrician who she is seeing about her chronic fatigue syndrome first mentioned aspergers, although I had my suspicions. She referred us to a psychiatrist for an assessment. This has also involved seeing the clinical psycologist. She has also seen the ed psycologist but this was in connection with her statement and not her assessment. The whole process has taken several months. By the way we had no trouble getting her statement even though we have yet to get an official diagnosis.

[reuby2]

Hi Laine,

I've just had a similar problem with the Ed psyc over my son (7)who says that the camhs report doesn't give him a dx of an ASd even thought the paediatrician says it is a clear dx from the CAmhs report!!!!

 

This Ed pysch then went on to tell me that the psychiatrist who did the report has also dx another of her pupils at another school but the ed pysch doesn't think there is anything wrong with this boy either !!!!!

 

You don't happen to come from the midlands do you and it's the same ed psyc??????????

 

 

I don't know where they all get off!!!! I think if they have issues they should get back to the proffessionals that they disagree with,and sort it out that way instead of putting in their tuppence worth to us parents and confusing things!!!

 

The Ed psych is NOT qualified to dx and she admitted to me that she wasn't the proffessional in that area so .....then.......THEY SHOULD KEEP THEIR OPINIONS TO THEMSELVES and concentrate on what they are qualified to do ....I say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hang in there chuck!!!! <'> <'> <'> <'>

Edited January 31, 2006 by reuby2

[LizK]

I me and all. I am naffed with the whole situation. I didnt think there is borderline you either are or not

 

I think there is a continuum between NT and ASD rather than a defined cut off point. There is a recognised group of people who fall in that grey area between ASD and NT where they have some ASD traits but not all and seem to cope with life pretty well. Tony Attwood mentions this in his book and I've seen references to this group in other literature I've read. I've no idea whether this is what the EP is referring too or not and her description of borderline Aspergers seems to make no sense. Does she mean she thinks he's on the higher functioning end of the spectrum? Does she think he has atypical autism? Does she think he doesn't fulfill the criteria for ASD but has traits?

 

I really don't get this thing about not labelling which is so prevalent these days. I know certain elements of disability rights lobby feel very strongly about labelling and their philosophy about not labelling or stigmatising a person is filtering through into the education of health care professionals. I can understand exercising caution if the diagnosis is genuinely not clear, giving the wrong diagnosis would be harmful but not giving a diagnosis when the facts are clear seems ridiculous and just as harmful. I am a little cynical too about the motivation of some EPs as a diagnosis of ASD costs the LEA money and I wonder if there is a financial agenda for not 'labelling' children

 

Where I live an EP can make a diagnosis or not of ASD but their opinion is trumped by that of a paediatrician or psychiatrist. The EP dealing with my four yr old was very relcutant to diagnose him to my disgust but thankfully the paediatrician felt it was a pretty clearcut matter and was happy to go ahead. I can apprecaite your frustration

 

Lx

[Guest hallyscomet]

Hi Laine,

 

Iam a bit late to post,you say

 

Besides, who is a ed. psych. to give a diagnosis? You usually only get them from a specialist paediatrician/clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist... I would also be interested to know on what basis (what assessments/tests etc have been done to help her come to her diagnosis) she has said he is 'borderline aspergers' and has 'dyslexia'

 

My sons Specialist will only take notice of any reports coming from and Educational Psychologist if they are Specialists in the ASD world. He said there are so many Educational Psychologists that couldn't diagnose ASD as they are not experienced enough. He said just because they operate under the label "Educational Psychologist" that is meaningless.

 

So may a say the Specialist Paediatrician could refer you to a good Educational Psychologist. The problem is if the child is doing the test WISC test they dont want to do it twice in one year as the child will become good at it, then you wont have a truly accurate assessment. Ask you doctor.

 

All the best

 

Hailey <'>

[Zemanski]

definitely go to your doctor and ask for a referal to an ASD specialist on the basis of the Ed psycho's suggestion that he is borderline AS (probably at CAHMS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the main diagnostic service for children)

 

it will take months but it is worth the wait to have an accurate diagnosis

 

children with AS do have statements and can still get them, she is just spouting the LEA party line, but it is much easier to get the right support with an official diagnosis

 

Zemanski

[Elanor]

Just to echo what others say - you need to know what your son's problems are (not a 'label' - a proper diagnosis) and you need an appropriate professional, not an EP, to make that judgement. Ask for a referral to CAMHS now - it could take a long time.