DS (7) has had issues since he started school mainly social and communication but over time it was becoming more and more apparent that there were physical problems and he has been becoming more and more withdrawn at school.
We have struggled to get anywhere for a long time as the school said he wasn't bad enough for any kind of referral and the OT and developmental paediatrician he saw 2 years ago after we pushed the GP to help weren't much good as just gave a couple of exercises to do.
Anyway at end of year 2 after he spent the year barely speaking to his teacher and his handwriting was still looking like that of a 5 year old we decided to go private for an assessment as his sensory issues were becoming much more obvious to us so we thought maybe sensory processing disorder.
The assessment brought up lots of sensory issues (everything but visual being affected) but the therapist says he has dyspraxia (sensory based). She said she can't officially diagnose him as she needs to do that within sessions (we are on the waiting list) or we can pay her to do the dyspraxia assessment. She said she will be able to diagnose it definitely.
We also saw the NHS SALT for a progress check (he has weekly sessions at school with their SALT who is very good) and she picked up verbal dyspraxia and has referred him to CAMHS and in that referral says he needs to see a developmental paed and an educational pyschologist. The CAMHS waiting list is 2 years long though!
We also asked the GP to refer us to see the dev paed again (now things have progressed and because we want to cover all our bases if the school need a diagnosis through the NHS not private) which he did but in his referral he said he didn't feel there were physical issues (not sure how he came to that conclusion ) so they refused to refer unless the school do so.
So what happens now? We have lots of exercises to do with him at home while we are waiting but I feel like I need to get the school on side. Mainly to help deal with his communication skills but especially his appalling handwriting (even he can't understand what it says!).
Thus far the school have said he isn't bad enough academically for them to do anything although he is vaguely on their radar. I think having this (near) diagnosis may help push them into action. Am thinking of getting a meeting with the SENCO but would it be best to go through the teacher?
If anyone else who has a child with dyspraxia has any advice on this or in general about what helps and what I need to be doing it would be appreciated! I feel a bit out of my depth at the moment!
Thanks :)
P.S. Sorry it is so long
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DS (nearly!) been diagnosed with dyspraxia - what now?
10 replies
nikki1978 · 27/08/2014 16:00
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SugarSkully ·
27/08/2014 21:03
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SugarSkully ·
28/08/2014 14:57
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SugarSkully ·
28/08/2014 19:39
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