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Having a dilemma whether to go through with CAMHS assessment on my 8yr old son.
He is very bright but struggles with his behaviour at school and can be disruptive.
As far as I can see he has some autistic spectrum tendencies and quite possibly could have Aspergers with a good dose of anxiety thrown in. He is friendly and tries hard to interact with other kids but has difficulties with the subtleties of social interaction so is often left out and picked on to some degree and rarely gets invited to other kids parties.
After 2 years of waiting our Camhs appointment has come through, but I'm really concerned about the implications of him having a label if he gets a diagnosis.
We already know he is a bit different to other kids (and in many areas in a good way), so I don't need a diagnosis to tell me that. We have learnt ways to cope with him at home and most of the time we can control his behaviour to a certain extent, it is more at school where he struggles, though academically he is doing well.
Has anyone gone through a camhs diagnosis and regretted it? From what I've read you don't necessarily get any support anyway. I guess he may have to disclose the diagnosis to employers, health insurance when he was older.
Why wouldn't you go through with it? Its a no brainer for me, and will open all sorts of avenues for extra help, assistance etc as he gets older.
For reference I have one stepson who is ASD, and one daughter with Tourrettes, both were assessed. As before I see only benefits from the assessment.
Yes.
As for the stigma involved with a dignosis, probably too late for that from the education world, he has CAMHS involvement, that ticks a box by itself. As for getting the test/diagnosis, it's what you need to do to get your son the correct type and amount of intervention to have the chance to thrive. If he needs support but CAMHS or school aren't willing or able to provide it, consider reaching (deeply) into your pockets for private provision, mental health issues especially in teens can have tragic outcomes, don't miss any chance to get help. Sorry to be blunt, my kids were all fine until later in their teens, then it's gone very sideways.
I understand a fear in having your suspicions confirmed, but having a diagnosis or not won't change whether or not your son is on the spectrum.
Having a diagnosis doesn't mean you have to go around telling everyone.
You absolutely don't have to disclose a diagnosis to employers - and I'm pretty sure it would be illegal for them to require it.
They are really good, my son got referred to Cahms for an issue last year and they were brilliant. Informal chats etc,
Hijacking this thread a bit, my son is very likely to be diagnosed with Cataplexy (collapsing during emotion (in his case laughing), and Narcolepy but he is in complete denial. He's 8. Any attempt at discussion results in massive screaming rages, violence ,and he has even punched my wife during a hospital appointment to take blood. He is adamant that we don't talk to his school about it. (we will) .He is very bright and it also seems he has done his own research on it via Youtube.
Just in the process of going through screening via the Paediatrician/Consultant but he hasn't mentioned CAMHS at all, and nor has our GP.
Would you expect it to be routinely referred to CAMHS, or does it have to be done by the parent/carer?
Would you expect it to be routinely referred to CAMHS, or does it have to be done by the parent/carer?
You would need referring by a GP/Paed/Senco - however think maybe a neurologist would be better in your case.
Thanks Incognito, we have a meeting with the Paediatric Neurologist tomorrow so will raise it tomorrow.
After 2 years of waiting our Camhs appointment has come through, but I’m really concerned about the implications of him having a label if he gets a diagnosis.
What implications and with who?
Have you had your lad assessed for autism? If he is autistic I don't believe CAMHS will do much for you anyway.
What implications and with who?
Have you had your lad assessed for autism? If he is autistic I don’t believe CAMHS will do much for you anyway.
Concerned about implications for him and his self esteem. I think the term "autistic" is used as a bit of a playground taunt in the same way "spastic" was used when I was growing up. So having to have that conversation with him that he was on the spectrum would be difficult.
Also concerned about how others would judge him with that label. I'd say he has a mild case and most people wouldn't realise there were any issues if you met him briefly. I also know adults who are definitely further along the Autistic scale than my son who seem to have managed without a diagnosis.
I guess the problem is with a 2 year wait if we turn down the assessment and he starts to struggle more at school then we have another 2 year wait to get any help.
Having been and being where you are with my son, it’s apparent that all Camhs are different from one borough to the next ( we’re in London) and depends on budgets etc.
We have so far received a good service - yes you have to really push for stuff - don’t be afraid to ask for anything as well as 2nd opinions.
You up should absolutely be going through camhs - as well as the school Senco being involved.
At the the end of the day you want your child to be happy, any help/ strategies are what you need as well as your family.
2 years for camhs - insist everything is now fast tracked - way to long to wait, badger the school...
make sure you and your family / wife other siblings are in the loop it’s a stressful time, look after each other.
Knowlegde is key !!
Feel free to message
Yes - the school will be able to access additional funding when diagnosed, its not so much about the child getting 'labelled' more about helping the journey through and between schools easier so the groundwork can be done ahead of time... if nothing is registered there will be no provision.
The SENCO / Inclusion Manager will do all the work. Especially if its my wife 😀 If you're not getting due attention, take it to the governing board (letter to the chair maybe to start).
If you have any questions on it you'd like an objective opinion on, feel free to DM me and I'll run them by her. Be aware a fair bit can vary from one LEA to another though.
Having a diagnosis doesn’t mean you have to go around telling everyone.
+1
Do you even have to tell him?
I don't think I had any real concept of being ill or Dr's until I was a teenager anyway, you just kind of implicitly trust your parents when they say you're off to the Dr's and assume it's normal and everyone's doing it. I think I made it as far as being injected with radioactive dye at about 13 before questioning whether everything was 'normal'.
Have a look at careers in engineering and the lego threads if you want a view of what the future holds.
Assistant Head and SENCO here so if you want to chat it over, give me a PM and we can arrange to have a chat.
If you get a CAMHS referral, you don't have to tell the school, the doctor won't be able to disclose it either. I understand the stigma but my first thought it that if his behaviour at school isn't the best, it'll give him support and then protection of it gets any worse.
Remember that it's a spectrum disorder, this means you can have a bit of ASD (Asperger's) or ASD where you can't even communicate.
There's good psychology behind the blazé statement that "all men are on the ASD" spectrum, so don't focus too heavily on the symptoms. Stay off the internet and have a good and honest chat with the professionals. Happy to be one of these if you want a chat.
Do it.
It will open up more funding, resources, support, than if you don't. My son has moderate autism, some of his frustration with not understanding the world can manifest itself as "bad behaviour", so with his diagnosis and it being central to his Education Care Plan, it means that the reasons for, and the strategies to help deal with his needs are fully disclosed to all and have helped enormously.
He is coming to terms with his "label" and it helps him understand who he is and why he is like he is. I just wish I'd had the understanding of autism when growing up, things make a lot more sense to me now.
Thanks for all the advice and kind offers of PMs/chats - may take some of these up in the future, but for the time being I think will go ahead with the assessment so we can get some support in place if the behaviour gets worse.
Thanks again!
Was about to say get some support in place so if the behaviour gets worse but you already did!
I'm a qualified SENCO and work in a PRU supporting permanently excluded children, lots of whom have unidentified/ undiagnosed needs. The trouble is nobody knows how your son's behaviour will manifest in a few years time, particularly high school. Better to have the support in place now so you will have more options and security for your son in future should it be required.
Good luck!
Dave
Better to be in the system so you can push for support when you or your son needs it. Something that struck a chord, you said he's not invited to parties. Do you know if he's not invited or does he fail to respond / has he not gone to events in the past? Decision making, particularly on-the-spot and related to social anxieties can be really tough, so ASD kids might say "I'll think about it" which to the kid asking it looks like rejection. Just thinking out load, but at least with a diagnosis you can all look for ways to assist him recognise certain social situations and also recognise anxiety in himself. It is helpful to talk about mental health and it is similarly good to enable your son to talk about his feelings, frustrations, difficulties. Good luck.