A Diagnosis- At last

Hi

Sorry for not posting for a while. It has been manic here. Hollie is busy finishing up her first year of her music performance, doing very well in her last gig of the year. She is at the moment nursing a sore throat so was unable to go to college today.
We finally got the assessment date for Arran. We went along last Friday to our local clinic. There were two doctors there so not too intimidating for him. The assessment was mostly based on games and a book. He had to fathom expressions, feelings and the mannerisms that the characters showed as the story progressed. Thank goodness he did not have to read or we would have been stuck. It lasted about an hour so not too bad. Arran really struggles with empathy and the little human traits that we all have. He is fine with obvious feelings like anger and happiness.

I dropped Arran back at home then after a bite to eat went back for the verdict. The paediatrician went through how it was marked and how he did in each section. She wants him to see a speech therapist but at his age it might be difficult to change the way he forms his words now. I think that this is the least of his problems and most of the time he is clear in his speech but tends to talk a little fast at times. I am also guilty of this.
So the big conclusion. He does not have Aspergers as first thought by the experts but Autism. On a scale of one to ten he is about a five or six. in the middle. I suppose it could have been worse. At least we now know the full range of his special needs. Asergers is a high functioning Autism so it looks like we have skipped this and gone the full whack.

I am slowly telling the relatives. It is especially hard for the grandparents to get their heads round his disabilities.

Arran is still Arran though and we will adapt to his needs. At least we have to whole picture now.

Up to date

We have just had the annual review for Arrans educational  statement. Most of it is form filling and ticking boxes. This time the wheels have started turning in respect to his future plans. Scary, as he is only thirteen. He has just managed to grasp the first hundred words that are given when they start school so how can he contemplate further education! I suppose it is in few years time so must relax.

They are very happy with his progress as he has improved with his reading. We have to give the occasional prod to keep him going but he is more willing to give it a go. They think he is working at a level of a eight year old which is an improvement.

One of the questions on one of the forms was . What do you see yourself doing as a job? He is in two minds animals or buying and selling Old toys especially Transformers. I can't see his obsession waning as he gets older. He also loves animals especially rabbits.

Our daughter is busy finishing up her first year on her Music Performance course. She is doing so well including grades. She is practising for the final gig of the year and her three solo pieces. This has been a bit stressful but she sounds great. I just have to convince her of that.

I have just finished this painting that I did for my Mother in law for her 70th Birthday. She has not had it yet and we don't see her until later in the month.We brought this slate back form Wales a few years ago and have just got around to painting on it. She loves her bird life and regularly gets Green Woodpeckers so I thought it was the ideal subject.