another trip to CAMHS

[sbm78]

Hi Guys, we've moved areas and have to start the process with CAMHS again apparently because we never actually got a diagnosis. GGRRRR. The 1st and 2nd time I took this to CAMHS I was quite naive and wanted them to tell me how they could help, they suggested behaviour support at school etc which was ok. He is now 8. Anyway... this time I am pushing for my son to be tested for autism/aspergers etc, the reasons for this are I'm fed up with him being angry alot, resulting in his sister taking the brunt and me constantly feeling stressed and upset, I want him to have a happy childhood ..... I will be going in to the initial appointment head strong, with a list of behaviours, videos that I've been taking of his melt downs :( Anyway I've started to put together the list and just wondered what you guys think? Whether you think that my son might be autistic. I know the spectrum is long and all children are different but what do you think:

*Delayed language skills
*Auditory processing disorder
*Sensory Issues - low pain threshold. A graze can result in DS becoming very upset and difficult to calm down
*Struggles to make friends
*becomes obsessive with other children
*Takes peoples speaking literally, metaphors and figures of speech
*Doesn't like being told to do something ("in a minute, not yet") he has no idea how long a minute
*Not happy when things do not go his way - everyone "winds him up" He lashes out.
*Playing with objects. DS is always picking things up off the ground, anything he can get to play with/throw/kick
*DS LOVES/obsessed with lorries, tractors, trains
*Lining up cars, building huge symmetrical towers with plastic cups.
*DS has an over-active imagination.
*Not happy with anyone else touching or playing with "his" toys
*Doesn't tend to show remorse - although I have seen a slight improvement in this area

Anyone with an opinion please comment, I'm interested to read what you think.

[OneInEight]

With my non-expert hat on looks very possible to me too BUT having said that don't hold out too much hope for CAMHS having a magic answer. What you really need is to develop strategies to help and you can do that right now by doing as much reading as you can about ASD - Tony Attwood is a good place to start. I would also recommend pushing for support at school if you haven't already as this should depend on need rather than diagnosis anyway. |For ds1 and ds2 the anger is related very much to anxiety so anything you can do to reduce this is a good place to start.

[sbm78]

Thank you both, I'm glad you are both thinking along the same lines as me, gives me confidence going forward.

We have just moved schools as relocated, I've already had a meeting with the SENCO and given her his history and which levels he's working at (still on level 1 for reading/writing and 2c for maths - yr4) so he's going to need a lot of support.

I need to read up about autism some more.
Thank you guys x

[sbm78]

Good luck Greener2....

Yes I've already had experience of the blame game. The 1st time I took him, he was 5 at the time, they blamed mine and my husbands break up and put me on a parenting course. I knew as I know now that this had nothing to do with his behaviours. He's always been this way!

x