Simon Baron-Cohen can stuff right off

[Loralei]

Yeah, I don't really think my 14 year old nephew has great insight but he's recently been diagnosed with ADHD and I think he was trying to say something about the traits being more tangible? I don't know though; I suspect ADHD is probably as nebulous as ASD.

I will not be deprived of MASKING: The Musical I am still filled with joy by "massive societal ego problem." :lol:

[Smunder Woman]

Yeah, that was an unplanned bit

[Dutchie]

Honestly, I mean this in the nicest possible way, but I feel a bit like your posts on the thread recently have either missed the point entirely, or I'm misconstruing them.

Was that aimed at me? I only posted twice on this thread and I'm not sure which point I'm missing...

[Loralei]

Our appointment was 4.5hrs! We did have break for an hour and a half in the middle while the team conferred, and it was good to get it all done in one go. Berty now has a formal diagnosis of autism. They were just brilliant with her; she was so nervous going in and had made me promise to stay with her, but she skipped off with the SALT when asked and was so hyper when she came out that she couldn't stop talking. We went for a walk in a local park while we waited and she gave us a running commentary on flowers! dog! Hopscotch! Clouds! :lol: They also made a point of listing her strengths first, and emphasising them, and were lovely in the way they talked about things that were difficult for her. The SALT asked her how she felt when they told her they agreed with her self-diagnosis and she said, "triumphant!"

They are going to email me the draft assessment form today. P tells me I am not allowed to tell her teacher that I told her so :mad:

[Glint]

How marvellous for Berty (and your lovely family).

I'd be so tempted to include, as expected here is Berty's diagnosis to her teacher.

[Shoe]

Great news that it went well for you both, Lora!

I've to go and collect a form from my brother tomorrow for his assessment. Apparently my mum couldn't think of anything different or unusual about him when he was little so I started listing things I remembered and she decided I should fill in the family member form instead of her or my dad. :lol:

[Smunder Woman]

Our appointment was 4.5hrs! We did have break for an hour and a half in the middle while the team conferred, and it was good to get it all done in one go. Berty now has a formal diagnosis of autism. They were just brilliant with her; she was so nervous going in and had made me promise to stay with her, but she skipped off with the SALT when asked and was so hyper when she came out that she couldn't stop talking. We went for a walk in a local park while we waited and she gave us a running commentary on flowers! dog! Hopscotch! Clouds! :lol: They also made a point of listing her strengths first, and emphasising them, and were lovely in the way they talked about things that were difficult for her. The SALT asked her how she felt when they told her they agreed with her self-diagnosis and she said, "triumphant!"

They are going to email me the draft assessment form today. P tells me I am not allowed to tell her teacher that I told her so :mad:

God, this is amazing to read. Berty is such a superstar and I hope you're taking credit for that.

I'm really pleased to hear about a good diagnostic team too. To be fair, jack's was excellent, but he is their stereotypical boy :))

[Little My]

They are going to email me the draft assessment form today. P tells me I am not allowed to tell her teacher that I told her so :mad:

Oh, they'll know. I really wanted to shove R's ADHD diagnosis in the faces of several past teachers, but the one she had at the time was the one who pushed for the referral and helped enormously. She was great.

I'm glad it went so well, and that you're both happy with the outcome.

[Kenickie]

I'm so pleased for triumphant Berty.

[Smunder Woman]

You are absolutely allowed say you told them so :)) I have spoken publicly about this stuff, I give you permission :lol:

[Froozy]

Too right she does (B feeling triumphant, I mean). That sounds like an excellent experience.

I like Triumphant B to go with Tenacious S :))

[Smunder Woman]

Great news that it went well for you both, Lora!

I've to go and collect a form from my brother tomorrow for his assessment. Apparently my mum couldn't think of anything different or unusual about him when he was little so I started listing things I remembered and she decided I should fill in the family member form instead of her or my dad. :lol:

This happened with my parents too. It's good really, because it means they just accepted us for us, but also a pain when you need evidence :))

[Loralei]

God, this is amazing to read. Berty is such a superstar and I hope you're taking credit for that.

I'm really pleased to hear about a good diagnostic team too. To be fair, jack's was excellent, but he is their stereotypical boy :))

That's really kind of you, but I basically learned everything I know about ASD from you and Bats, your Twitters and the things you told me to read. You should probably make a career out of this stuff ;)

I did feed back to them that I was impressed with how child-centred the process was. Apart from the (expected) waiting times, we've had a positive experience, although I am aware that getting anything done with that diagnosis is the next hurdle. It probably helps that we all like talking about ourselves :))

I hope R's teacher-at-the-time did it for you, Little Me. People are still largely a bit rubbish at hearing children.

Shoe - that is brilliant :)) P was always going to come today anyway, but I told him I couldn't do this appointment alone as my memory isn't good enough. I can't remember when any of my children first talked or whether they held their arms out to be picked up (except TD, who has never stopped)!

[Smunder Woman]

Jack's was easy, because he actually did fit their stupid checklist perfectly :))

I am essentially making a career out of talking to Bats about ASD

My next mission is an ADHD assessment for Joe. I refuse to believe he's not got the same flavour of ADHD as me, which is the one that means you appear quiet and still, but are anxious and going a million miles a minute inside instead

[Dutchie]

Oh wow Lora, that sounds like an amazingly satisfying appointment! I love Triumphant B's verdict!! So pleased for all of you.

My next mission is an ADHD assessment for Joe. I refuse to believe he's not got the same flavour of ADHD as me, which is the one that means you appear quiet and still, but are anxious and going a million miles a minute inside instead

Yesterday my Joe had the first part of his AD(H)D assessment, part 2 is next week. Your description of your (and probably your Joe's) flavour of ADHD sounds very much like how I'd describe my Joe... Hmmm

[Bat Macdui]

I am inordinately impressed with Triumphant B. :)) I really hope it helps make her life easier to navigate.

[Smunder Woman]

We should all be more Triumphant B :))

[Smunder Woman]

Oh wow Lora, that sounds like an amazingly satisfying appointment! I love Triumphant B's verdict!! So pleased for all of you.

My next mission is an ADHD assessment for Joe. I refuse to believe he's not got the same flavour of ADHD as me, which is the one that means you appear quiet and still, but are anxious and going a million miles a minute inside instead

Yesterday my Joe had the first part of his AD(H)D assessment, part 2 is next week. Your description of your (and probably your Joe's) flavour of ADHD sounds very much like how I'd describe my Joe... Hmmm

Yeah, it's very different to how people tend to think ADHD is. Myself included until recently :)) Joe is awful at organising and remembering things, constantly seems baffled by how he's made his room so messy, and is very, very calm until he (very rarely) has an absolute meltdown. I don't particularly think he needs the meds side of it, but would like to get it recognised and avoid him having 30-odd years of anxiety and depression because of it :))

Fingers crossed for your Joe!

[Smunder Woman]

You might have seen this already but, just in case, it's very useful :))

[viggy]

I FULLY realise that I'm teaching my Granny to suck eggs here ;) but the only thing I'd say about that ADHD iceberg is that it doesn't mention any of the positives / strengths that can come with ADHD.

Hyperfocus, creative thinking, problem solving under pressure, the empathy that can come from feeling "different" - obviously I'm highly biased because L was diagnosed with ADHD in his 30s and I think he's fully marvellous :))