ed psyc report and 11 plus

[Morning Glory]

Smartie

I am not an expert on WISC scores and some of the scores you have quoted don't make sense to me without seeing the full report.

If you google WISC IV you can find a copy of a sample report which is very similar to the one that my son had. I know they can do different subtests.

I know that EP assessments have to be up to date to apply for any kind of adjustments to 11+ (I think it is less than 12 months old but someone might be able to confirm that). In my experience it is extremely hard to prove your child requires extra time for 11+, we had an EP assessment that said DS would require extra time and our request was refused.

It maybe worth asking the school about adjustments (the earlier the better) and whether being re-assessed by LA EP is an option.

We had a private EP assessment done and although not cheap certainly for us it has been worth its weight in gold.

Does your DD school do CATs? These can give you an indication of ability in different areas and are also very useful if you need to appeal at a later stage.

[smartie]

Thanks to everyone for their advise. I think I just have to wait and see what happens when I see the Ed Psyc again. I know it could be lots of different things, but my gut instinct is that she is slightly autistic. This is due to how she has been since a small toddler and I think her high score on the block design adds weight to my theory. It's been nice to get help from other people who have their own mountains to climb. Thank you.

[yoyo123]

if you have a sympathetic GP it may be worth going and seeing her/him about your suspicions about Autistic Spectrum as it is developmental. A referral to a consultant could connect you with specialist help if the diagnosis is correct. referrals through GPs are much quicker than through school..at least in this area

[smartie]

Yes , but now she's at an age where referrals etc could do more harm than good. I think if I knew more when she was younger it would have been easier to diagnose and she wouldn't have realised that there was a problem.

[Morning Glory]

I totally understand your concerns about diagnosis and you will have to do what you think is best for your daughter. If you do decide to get any kind of diagnosis/ assessment done then just be warned these can take a long time. We waited nearly 3 years for a OT assessment. It is also not unusual for Aspergers to be diagnosed till Year 5/6.

My DS wanted to know why he was different, he would ask to see a psychiatrist from about the age of 8, he just wanted to know why he was not like the other kids. He had always been a very different child, quirky but we had no idea why. It was only after he'd asked me again if he could see someone, that I rang a private EP, who after hearing what my DS was like said I think he has Aspergers. It wasn't the first time it has been implied or I'd thought about it but no one had ever just said it (everyone is too PC). The reason I had dismissed it before was because some of his behaviour is the opposite of stereotypical AS e.g. I had alway read about disruptive, aggressive behaviour, my DS is the most passive, gentle, well behaved child you could meet. Once diagnosed (beginning of Year 6), he has the answer he always wanted and he can tell people of his diagnosis if he choses or not. For us as parents it has changed the way schools respond. You have much more clout with a piece of paper with a diagnosis on it. He now gets some excellent support from the Learning Support Team at his GS and is extremely happy.

My only concern is that the 11+ will creep up on you quicker than you can imagine. We ended up applying for adjustments (enlarged answer sheet & break) without a diagnosis then the day he got a diagnosed, the panel for the adjustments was sitting so we had to fax his diagnosis letter over to the LA. In the summer holidays he had an EP assessment which stated he would require extra time. We then went back to school in the September and had to ask the school to submit another adjustment application for extra time. We only found out about a week before the test that the application for extra time had been refused. It was all very tight on dates and stressful.

In the end I always go with my gut instinct and what I feel is best for my child.

[smartie]

Thanks for your help. Could you give me a brief run down of how autism is diagnosed, times scales etc so I have a bit of an idea what I might be letting myself in for. Thanks

[Fluffy66]

One of my DS has an Aspergers diagnosis, the other is going through the process. With the first, as i'd been labelled a paranoid mother when he was 2, we went privately. This cost A LOT but was well worth it - very detailed and extensive and all in one day. The second child still only has a diagnosis of Pragmatic Language Disorder and this is 18months from contacting our doctor. This is obviously 2 ends of the spectrum (no pun intended )I think it very, very much depends on where you are in the country and i have been told time and time again that our hospital is having trouble recruiting.

Once you get to see someone they will go a long way back asking about all sorts of behaviours, language development, sleeping and eating habits etc. What i do now is write down all those quirky little things that they say and do, examples of unusual and strange behaviours and anything that seems extreme in a note book so i always have examples or details to hand.

Girls, from what i understand, do tend to be diagnosed later in life because, as i understand it, we generally are naturally more socially able so those areas of disability can be covered up more and only come to light later.

The best book i ever found is Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood (its navy with a square mosaic pattern on the front). If i had read this before my eldest sons diagnosis i would have known before we saw anyone medical. This book will highlight what Morning Glory says about her son being passive and gentle - every child with an ASD diagnosis is different and has trouble to a different degree in different areas.

I also agree that the diagnosis has done my DS more good in education than any harm. Out of education you only need tell people if you want to. I would also reiterate that time is of the essence for you now with Y6 looming. There is no doubt my DS is in the best place at the GS. Having been on a school trip with the Y7's and also spent years as a parent helper and now working in a primary school he is with children who are all similar to him rather than that very broad spectrum of children you get naturally at a primary school.

Fluffy

[Morning Glory]

As Fluffy66 has said diagnosis will vary throughout the country.

I have done a summary of our timelines just so you can just get an idea:-

We always knew DS was different from a very early age (but never really mentioned it). When he went to school there were a few underlying problems nothing major but just a few things bubbling away. He really struggled with handwriting, finger spaces and getting anything on paper.

Year 3 - it all came to a head with major social problems. SENCO got involved and he was referred to SALT and OT and EP was asked to see him (EP would not see him as not underachieving).#

Year 4 - Was seen by SALT - who told me he was gifted in Speech & Language and that if he was her son she too would be concerned. In hindsight I now know she suspected he had Aspergers. School continued to try and get EP involved but with no success. School arranged for DS to have play therapy once a week - this was amazing and my son said that the play therapist helped him understand about life. Social problems slightly better but mainly due to Play therapist input.

Year 5 - Great teacher who was very well organised, plenty of rules which my son loved. She also spotted that DS had difficulties with the way he did his CATs and got him to answer the questions on the question sheet - this made such an impact he went from the 50th percentile in Year 4 to 95th percentile. DS continually asked from Year 3 - Year 5 to see someone who could tell him why he was different. Local Authority EP still not prepared to see DS so called a private EP who after a long conversation said I think your son has Aspergers. Went to GP in February who referred him to our local hospital and he was seen by Community Paediatrician - I wrote up notes about all his quirky behaviour from birth (or what I could remember), we had the SALT report, report from play therapist, Head Teacher and Class Teacher. She had no doubt from the reports and meeting him that he had Aspergers. Diagnosed June 09. Private EP assessed him in the August.

Year 6 - Put on school action +. DS had OT assessment in Nov 09 (we waited 2.5 years). 11+ Adjustments applied for. DS failed 11+. 11+ appeal January 2010 - successful. Feb 2010 we applied for a statutory assessment which was refused.

Year 7 - DS started GS. Statutory assessment appeal set for Nov 2010 . Local Authority concede and withdraw from appeal and agree to assess. Today I have a happy DS and a LA who are going to assess

I don't think the system makes life easy for anyone with a child with SEN. I've had some huge mountains to climb but to see my DS so happy and thriving in an environment that suits him extremely well, makes me very very proud of him and that is my reward for every ounce of time, effort, heartache and sleepless nights I've had over the years.

[Fluffy66]

I don't think the system makes life easy for anyone with a child with SEN. I've had some huge mountains to climb but to see my DS so happy and thriving in an environment that suits him extremely well, makes me very very proud of him and that is my reward for every ounce of time, effort, heartache and sleepless nights I've had over the years.

Here here MG

Apologises for offending anyone....... but in my experience of LEA EP's are best steered clear of this is def an area to use your own money.

Fluffy

[Morning Glory]

Fluffy66

Cannot comment on LEA's EP's as DS has still never seen one. Had a sniff of one a few weeks ago but just sent a questionnaire for both of us to fill in. I do however believe due to the Statutory Assessment, one will have to be involved, but I won't hold my breath.