slipping through the net/late diagnosis

[Tortoise]

Hi all,

Just noticed that there are quite a few of you here that have been diagnosed in adulthood. Some of you might feel that you have slipped through the net and have been let down by the educational system.

I thought you might be interested in reading this article.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools ... 80,00.html

[Daniel]

Wow, that's quite an extreme case. The diagnosis and support system in the UK at least seems to have improved a good deal over the years, as many on the teens forum seem to be getting much of the support they need, although this doesn't necessarily remove the problems of bullying and others. For older members here there was less of a diagnosis process if there was any at all, and special needs was more in its infancy with limited resources are a more limited scope.

My experience is that I was tested and diagnosed with 'Clumsy Child Syndrome' at primary school (so I guess the midish 80s) which was essentially the old name for Dyspraxia, but for some reason no action was ever taken and no support ever given. My mother on the other hand thinking "well he's not clumsy" didn't take any further steps either. I think back then, and with that rather innaccurate name it was thought to be more if not purely a matter of co-ordination and balance, without the other aspects of the disorder that I've only learnt about very recently.

Although I could look back and say "what if", I realise that this is pointless, as what been has been, I am where I am now and the only thing to do is to look forward. I will probably loathe PE teachers until the day I die, but at least I should have no need to encounter them in the future. However although I went without help, it's quite different to the horrendous mis-diagnosis made of the chap in the article.

[david456]

I'm not sure on this case. I have my own views. Is sueing the place going to do any good?

[mr_mallow]

I had a similar situation to the above article, though, obviously not that extreme. I was given a 'statement' in early secondry school, that listed none of the problems I have with dyspraxia, weirdly enough, and I was put into a special needs school with no effort made to diagnose or treat my problems.

If suing gets him some peace of mind, do it. I know I'd love to sue my local concil, the NHS and my old school for alot of things. More power to him!!

[SomeT]

This is what I intend to do, can't believe someone has done it, I think its right you should sue the eduction system for being let down. If you think about why should other people have the oppurtunity to do better when you dont? It's not right I think.

[Ruth]

I'm surprised at myself but I find myself agreing with the chaps decision to sue. If the case is a s stated then he has been severely neglected possibly even abused bv the educational system. The council made a severe mistake by sendidng him to the special school and he will be paying for that for the rest of his life.

I hace strong views about litigation and am appauled by our seemingly unstoppable slide into a letigous society. In this situation however, if that facts have been stated acurately, I believe this young man deserves compensation. Interesting.

[david456]

But is it the system or the individuals fault? An organsiation employs someone in good faith, if they are not very good and mess up, is it right that the company gets clobered or the individual?
Plus- I suspect all of us at some point have been through situations that we could quite easily try and sue, but where do you draw the line?

[Daniel]

I'm personally not keen on the UK adopting the OTT litigation culture of the US whereby it seems the individual holds next to no responsibility for anything and should anything happen to the hapless individual it is always someone else to blame who is the expected to pay out some ridiculous sum of compensation.

I do believe however there are circumstances where there is a case to answer. The original article highlights a major failing in the diagnosis and care for the person involved that has probably led to them being allocated to a stream of education provision entirely unsuited for them. In turn their potential has not been realised and the consequences of this may affect them for the rest of their lives.

It is difficult to look back on distant events, when knowledge of disorders and wotnot wasn't at the same level as it is today. From my own perspective, I suppose things could have been different had teachers and indeed myself understood dyspraxia from an earlier age, but I find the whole thing rather hypothetical. Perhaps PE lessons wouldn't have been hell, perhaps I'd have got better A-levels and gone to a better Uni, and through better understanding of dyspraxia had better understanded myself and ended up with a better job. Very, very hypothetical.

[Snjstar]

oh dear

[david456]

It's an interesting debate, which can be viewed in many different ways. You are right Daniel there are many what if's and buts.

[SomeT]

Thats the thing, I think everyone has a different story to one another most more severe than others and others not so bad.

[Marcus_Woole]

I believe early diagnosis can truly change the trajectory of a dyspraxic person's life. But if we had known more about dyspraxia decades ago, would we have created a society more accommodating from the start? Or would we have just been left waiting for broader awareness to catch up?

[Marcus_Woole]

Late diagnosis can feel like lost time. I believe early awareness could dramatically change life trajectories for dyspraxic individuals. If we could rewind and diagnosis everyone early, would we be creating a society that’s more accepting, or just more labels?

[ALADDIN]

Wow, that's quite an extreme case. The diagnosis and support system in the UK at least seems to have improved a good deal over the years, as many on the teens forum seem to be getting much of the support they need, although this doesn't necessarily remove the problems of bullying and others. For older members here there was less of a diagnosis process if there was any at all, and special needs was more in its infancy with limited resources are a more limited scope.

My experience is that I was tested and diagnosed with 'Clumsy Child Syndrome' at primary school (so I guess the midish 80s) which was essentially the old name for Dyspraxia, but for some reason no action was ever taken and no support ever given. My mother on the other hand thinking "well he's not clumsy" didn't take any further steps either. I think back then, and with that rather innaccurate name it was thought to be more if not purely a matter of co-ordination and balance, without the other aspects of the disorder that I've only learnt about very recently.

Although I could look back and say "what if", I realise that this is pointless, as what been has been, I am where I am now and the only thing to do is to look forward. I will probably loathe PE teachers until the day I die, but at least I should have no need to encounter them in the future. However although I went without help, it's quite different to the horrendous mis-diagnosis made of the chap in the article.

In the late 1980s, I was labelled a "clumsy boy", aged 8,9. symptoms of ADHD were present. My mother was told I should have physiotherapy ( I think I have had 1+ sessions). I passed the 11+. I achieved good GCSEs, A Levels. I achieved a degree, pgdip without any support.

I was told by a psychiatrist to have speech therapy. I was told , aged 23, January 2002, I have dyspraxia. I thought it was just being clumsy. People thought I may have Aspergers syndrome. Once a GP got me an assessment, the psychiatrist, quickly said "Aspergers traits not a problem". I am autistic in social communication. I learned about adult dyspraxia. No NHS diagnosis, I had a private diagnosis in Spring 2012, aged 33, my GP would not accept the report. I had a nervous breakdown to get my ADHD detected, early 2020, aged 41. I received a diagnosis, almost 6 years ago.

I am self employed, underachieved. fed up. I passed my driving test after several attempts in a manual car.

I am low self esteem, anxiety, depression, I often feel lonely and isolated.

My friend who is aged 42, received a diagnosis of dyspraxia, 18 in 2002, because his parents are doctors.

In my opinion, lots of people slipped through the net, unfortunately.

[Tom fod]

Hi Aladdin

The post from Dan (who with Pooky founded this forum in January 2006) dates from March of that same year - Where has the time gone?

In the late 1980s (1988 to be precise the Dyspraxia Trust (later to become the Dyspraxia Foundation) was formed. It may be your psychiatrist had not got the memo about Dyspraxia? I also believe profession were perhaps somehow not always sufficiently aware that you can have a Neurodevelopmental condition but be highly intelligent with it. There does seem to be a fair bit of who you know/see and how able your loved ones are able to fight to get you the right support (in addition to the postcode lottery aspect)

I believe mine was indentified (diagnosed). as part of the Statement of Special Educational Need process in c 1988. Nobody explained Dyspraxia to me or perhaps they did and I was not willing to listen. Who knows? I only discovered/confronted my dyspraxic self in 2009/10.

There are definitely far too many who have slipped through the net and gone unsupported for years. I had my coping strategies but perfectionism is unsustainable and exhausting.