Refered to OT for Dyspraxia

[figleaf]

My 7y.o son was refered to an EP and developmental peadiatrician last school year. The peadiatrician said he had dyslexic and dyspraxic traits. He is quite bright but dreadful with pencils/scissors or at team games such as football. They refered us to OT in April for the dyspraxia but said he was too bright to recieve help for dyslexia.

We have apparently reached the top of the OT waiting list and have been sent 2 forms,1 for me and 1 for his teacher, covering various aspects of home and school life.

The letter says that well see 2 OTs for an assessment of our needs and then be discharged. If we need more help than that well have to join another waiting list to see whoever.

Is this normal?
Will the other waiting list be 6 months long? The school have just started to help ds with his first IEP (but what it says I wont know till Thursday when I go in to sign it). Should I be doing anything else?

[LIZS]

No idea about the process and waiting times, think it could vary by area, but we're just being referred atm and waiting for an OT appointment or whatever. We've done questionnaires before and ds recently had a Griffiths test with a paediatrician.

When ds previously had OT it concentrated on activities for fine and gross motor skills and hand/eye coordination (see recent thread \link{ www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1373&threadid=110173&stamp=050927195828\Sensory Integration ...) some of which may be relevant to your ds.

hth

[LIZS]

try again !

[figleaf]

Thanks Lizs have read that carefully. Also found a web site for Dyspraxia society so have contacted them to see if any local group near me.

[Saker]

The Dyscovery Centre has a lot of useful info. Would also recommend the book by Amanda Kirby (Dyspraxia the hidden handicap).

[tallulah]

My ds got an assessment at 7 to find out the extent of his problems, then just one session of OT. School were very good with extra help but nothing from the authorities. (He is now 18)

[rummum]

daughter saw an OT a couple of weeks ago, and is seeing one again this week... also the EP is going to see her at school. I don't know if we'll see them again after this... I'll let you know...

I always type out a list of all my concerns (big font, bullet points) that they can keep on her files, that way we don't waste time going over things, also they are things I don't want to mention in front of daughter...

[figleaf]

Good suggestions rummum and Saker - thanks
Tallulah - 1 session. Did it help? I was hoping for a cure all programme almost.

[tallulah]

Thinking about it, it was 1 course, not 1 session . It did help, but it wasn't quite what I expected in terms of long-term help. Our best help has been a cranial osteopath who DS1 has been going to every 5 weeks since he was 7 (he's now 18).

[figleaf]

Finally got a date for OT first assessment - 22nd Nov. The letter says it`ll take 1 hour. Not sure what happens next.

[LIZS]

Good luck. She'll probably just see how he copes with a series of specific tasks and play a few games.

We've had confirmation that ds is on the waiting list, but how long that is I'm not sure.

[figleaf]

Im going to try to use the OT date to get DS teacher to actually implement his IEP. <br /> It sounded great when it was written . DS was to tell Teacher what went well each day and they would fill in a good work chart then DS would get a reward sticker. It never happened. <br /> <br /> I tried to drop a hint before the holiday and the teacher admitted he hadnt done that bit of the IEP yet. DS is very reliable at relating details and says he hasnt done it this week either. <br /> <br /> Im sendidng in a little note in on Monday to ask can I take some of the good work charts in to show the OT people. If that doesn`t work I'll have to go into school.

Very down about it all at the moment, just want DS to get the help he needs.

[figleaf]

And my DH is annoying me by saying I shouldn`t have had so much faith in the school system anyway.