Petra Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Hi, My name is Petra and have two children with SN, my son Jaydn has Aspergers and a bowel disorder,he is 12. I have Harriet who is 10, a friend from another list has written to ask your advise about Harri but I wanted to also join and explain what the question is about, Where do I start?? We have known for years she has had problems but it is only now we are finally getting somewhere! The latest thing is, her Dr , who is one of the top guys in leicestershire, has said that the reason he won't say she has ASD is because I and her teachers have said she has a good imagination. Yes she can play with a stick for hours but is this normal for a ten year old. So I think it depends how you view a GOOD IMAGINATION I think she ticks all the other boxes but not this one! Then I put the question to the other list about Imagination now being changed to Theory of Mind when it comes to the Triad of Impairments and what does that now mean. Really I just want to know what to ask him next time, I have her three Hockey coaches all saying she is sooo on the spectrum but he Dr won't have it YET!! Thanks for your time Petra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Petra, the first thing that sprung to mind was that you should ask to be referred to a different doctor, ask for it to be someone who understands the whole spectrum of ASD. You could research the paediatricians, psychologists and psychiatrists in your area to find out which are specialising in ASD. Arm yourself with as much information as possible and don't stop until you are satisfied. I have two sons with ASD and they both of them have very active imaginations; it's impairment in imagination they are looking for, not LACK of imagination. Not everyone in the health or education sectors understands this. Very few of them understand the whole spectrum of autism. Best of luck to you, and welcome to the forum Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Petra I agree with Lauren. I don't think an exert in Autism would reach that conclusion. The doctir concerned my be one of the top pediatricians in Leicestershire, but I would be surprised if they are one of the top Autism specialists. Simon PS Do you live in Leicestershire?, I was brought up in the South of the county and my parents still live there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Petra Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Thanks both of you, Harri's Dr is the said to be the best. When we went to him with Jaydn loads of people said we were lucky!! He has said that there is something wrong , for want of a better word, but he won't say it's ASD We also think she has Dyslexia, ADHD and we do know she has a High Leval Language Disorder as we just got a report back from the SLT The reason for wanting a DX is because she has alot of problems in school and I was hoping for support, saying that I now HE Jaydn as he had very little support in school so I don't think I will hold my breath!! I do live in south Leicestershire! Petra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted November 18, 2005 I do live in south Leicestershire! Petra Anywhere near Market Harborough? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Petra Report post Posted November 18, 2005 How close do you want?? Lutterworth! Years ago we lived in Arthingworth, do you know it?? It'sjust outside MH Small world isn't it? Petra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oracle Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Rita Jordan - probably one of the best experts we have - tends to say fixed and rigid thinking instead of no imagination. I think that that is a much better explination than saying that our kids have no imagination. We call our youngest the little inventor and how do you invent without an imagination? Some of the worlds most able inventors were autistic - so that sort of says it all. However it is possible for a child to be given a dx of A Typical Autism. That dx is given when you can tick two of the three boxes but not the third but there is too much evidence not to give a dx of autism. I know it is complicated. Carole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Petra Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Hi carole, The Dr does want to do another assesment, I think he said it was called 3DI, it's a new diagnostic test. Has anyone heared of it?? As well as picking up on ASD it should let them know more about her other problems. Lets hope it gives us a final answer!! Trouble is you always have to wait so long for them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Hi Petra, welcome to the forum I agree with what the others have said. This link is to a booklet on autism, it doesn't mention imagination, but talks about flexible thinking. All About Autistic Spectrum Disorders, For parents of recently diagnosed child http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=294 The following links are to previous topics where imagination has been discussed. confused about imagination, told son is not asd http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...t=0entry24288 Does it sound like Aspergers? http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...t=0entry24288 Hope this helps Nellie xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nikrix Report post Posted November 18, 2005 (edited) HI Petra I thought this might help you understand the Rigidity of thinking and difficulties with social imagination. Problems of imagination show themselves in different ways. Some children never seem interested in what a toy represents. They may focus on the features of the toy such as the wheels of the car or the box the toy came in. Other children may run the toy car in and out of a garage, but dont act out complex stories. Some children seem to act out stories or take on particular characters, but the story turns out to be an imitation of a video or book. This doesn't mean that children with autistic spectrum disorders don't have any imagination, it just means they tend to have less ability in this area and they tend to be less interested in sharing their imaginative ideas than other children. Read this in information booklet, thought it might help. Welcome to the forum Nikrix Edited November 18, 2005 by nikrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reuby2 Report post Posted November 18, 2005 My son has just received a diagnosis of hfa, however he has an active imagination and I am questioning whether the dx is right.How can one proffessional think one thing concerning a dx of autism and another have a different view?It makes you wonder who is right????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceecee Report post Posted November 18, 2005 Speaking as an adult who has mild as with me I have a very vivid imaginations good at writing stories etc.Had an immaginary friend when younger.But where i fall down is imagining people's feelings.I am not very good at putting myself in someone else's position.hope this helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LizK Report post Posted November 18, 2005 I do live in south Leicestershire! Yep, small world! Who are you seeing? Am curious. Send me a message (I think you can on here?) if you don't feel it's appropriate to mention names on here. 3DI is a screening test produced by the Institute of Child Health to help in the diagnosis of ASD. It's a computer programme questionaire based upon accepted practice and evidence based research. You get asked LOTS of questions about your child and at the end of it get a complicated report! However once interpreted the report will state if your child has autism/atypical autism/ASD or other conditions like ADHD, anxiety, ODD etc. I think it's relatively new and am not sure how well accepted a test it is nationally. It is only based upon the answers from the parent and doesn't actually take how the child is performing in assessments into consideration I don't think HTH Lx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Report post Posted November 19, 2005 Hi Petra Welcome to the forum <'> <'> <'> This is the link to the post conserning Reuby worries, hope it will help. Malika. <'> http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...indpost&p=51218 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Petra Report post Posted November 19, 2005 Hi Liz I don't want to put names on hee and I can't see a way of letting you know! Are you in Leicestershire aswell?? If you are what part? Petra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LizK Report post Posted November 19, 2005 Petra I think I've sent you a message . Never done it before so not 100% sure if I've done it right Click on messages towards the right of the screen Lx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
