Assessment for 7 year old child with learning difficulties - help needed! What do I do?

[Vic_]

Paediatrician said he has Global Developmental Delay and discharged him.

Class teacher asked Educational Psychologist (ED) for help, ED said Global Developmental Delay is an umbrella term and he should be assessed, possibly for autism. Referral was made for autism assessment by teacher but he has not met the criteria. Told to continue with existing support but only support being received is Speech & Language Therapy which although is needed (now at aged 7, he is only able to put two, sometimes three words together), he is behind his peers academically. (His 5 year old sister has taken over him in terms of recognition of sounds of the alphabet and starting to “read”.)

I do not think he is autistic but know that he is most definitely different to others and want to know what kind of assessment I need and where I look? Private or NHS.

[Jofisher]

I would ask your GP who can do a detailed Assessment for your son but I wouldn’t go back to the paediatrician you’ve just seen, surely he should have taken this forward it’s shameful they just said this that he has global delay and that’s that what are you supposed to do with that information as a Mum for goodness sake. Speak to children’s social services the carers association and the Mencap helpline and see what advice they can give you.

[Eeviee]

Dear VicI have no faith in the system I’m afraid and paid educational lawyers( - NOT SEN LEGAL who are a rip off!! ) but another legal firm for help and was referred to private educational psychologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist etc who produced reports in order to get an EHCP that meant my son got the right support at an early age.He only had 2 words at the age of 7. He is autistic but was Only diagnosed at 7 however. He did go to a specialist speech and language school in Surrey before he got the autism diagnosis. Research EHCP support. Medical support is only part of the picture. Your son needs an EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE PLAN. EHCP .

[XGCC]

He could have learning disability without having autism. Global developmental delay was the label my daughter had. Hopefully the speech and language therapist will do assessment and use that to request EHCP from school/council.

[Eeviee]

Hi. All children are different even if they have similar diagnosis. These “labels’ that can be given to a child’s particular problems are not always helpful to us parents until those problems have been fully assessed by all the relevant professionals who can then explain what it means. Once it is clear what their major developmental issues are the child can then be helped. In the early days of discovering your child is not developing in line with the “expected norms ” we parents can get very upset so try not to worry but gather the information you need. Try IPSEA.org .Uk and special needs jungle websites for a start