Help with diagnosis

[clarek]

Last year I started a new job having been a stay at home mum for the last 6 1/2 years which involved working 2 nights a week at the weekend. Therefore my husband had the kids on a Sunday while I caught up on sleep. This is when we began to really notice our 9 yr old daughters behaviour. She made it obvious that she did not like the change in routine, and we began to notice other things aswell, such as very particular about how clothes feel next to her skin and certain shoes. Also she's never really had friends at school, and I daren't invite anyone around as she can be really rude to them when she has had enough. I sought help from the school nurse as I thought originally it was just a change of routine issue, but having recently spoken to a school teacher friend she suggested it might be aspergers. I have spoken to her school who have agreed to have the school psychologist assess her. School does not appear to be too much of a problem and her form teacher describes her behaviour as quirky or a little eccentric. Am I doing the right thing?

[Gareth Roberts]

Yes I think you are doing the right thing. I think it is quite possible that she does have Aspergers. Keep us updated on how it goes...

Do you need any specific advice on the diagnosis process?

[clarek]

Will the education psychologist be able to help or do I need to see my GP for a referral. My other worry is that once diagnosed how do I tell my daughter about it and what difference is a diagnosis going to make to how we run our lives?

[Carey2]

clarek Wrote:Will the education psychologist be able to help or do I need to see my GP for a referral. My other worry is that once diagnosed how do I tell my daughter about it and what difference is a diagnosis going to make to how we run our lives?

Hello,

The educational phsychologist would be part of a team of people that would make an assessment and possible diagnosis.

Most areas use a multi disciplnary team to assess Asperger's Syndrome, these include a speech and language specialist,pediatrician and education phsychologists as a minimum.

Your GP would normally make the referral to the consultant pediatrician if it is needed.

As to "telling" your daughter...... well only you know your child and how she deals with events, personally I would see what happens along the way, if there is a formal diagnosis then I think your child should be told and at that point you can offer some of the excellent books now available for this situation.
Lastly you should be aware that many children with Asperger's Syndrome
are very much aware that they are "different" from their peers and often it is a relief for them to know why this is.