Formal Assessment / Diagnosis Thingy

Lucy_Rush · Post by **Lucy_Rush** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:09 pm

Uni have offered me one - when i was in first year they had no-one to do it apparently, so i left it. But now i'm in third year they do. apparently. So my name is waiting on a list for the access to learning fund to pay for it, and to see the educational psychologist.

I'm kinda worried about it, and not particularly looking forward to it, but figured since it seems so hard to get tested for dyspraxia it would be silly to turn down the opportunity for a free assessment. And if it does say i'm dyspraxic it may prove usefull in the future.

(Oh and i notice its snowing on the forum atm. Very festive. Its so cold outside it feels like it should be snowing out there instead of all this non-stop rain!)

Emmur · Post by **Emmur** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:31 pm

i dont see what uk people's problem is, surely if you went to the gp theyd do the same tests I had done basically balance and reflexes and strength and clearly the doctor will see something is wrong, which means they have to refer you to a neurologist because its standard practice to test patients presenting with gait problems for some quite serious stuff, and along the way if its Dyspraxia that will be diagnosed... maybe instead of saying "i want to get diagnosed with dyspraxia" people should say "I have alot of balance problems..." maybe throw in that its been getting a bit worse as of late, that'll set alarm bells ringing

Post by **Pooky** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:02 pm

Emmur wrote:i dont see what uk people's problem is, surely if you went to the gp theyd do the same tests I had done

No they don't, they tell you to go private which is costly.

Emmur · Post by **Emmur** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:31 pm

Thats odd because I thought Dyspraxics all have the problems with coordination, and balance etc. which can be symptoms of worse neurological stuff, a GP that tells you to basically **** off would not be doing their job properly as far as I can see.

sheppeyescapee · Post by **sheppeyescapee** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:01 pm

Emmur wrote:Thats odd because I thought Dyspraxics all have the problems with coordination, and balance etc. which can be symptoms of worse neurological stuff, a GP that tells you to basically **** off would not be doing their job properly as far as I can see.

Pretty common from what I've heard. I went to my GP and was told that they couldn't help and that I should see the Ed Psych.

The Ed Psych was the one that diagnosed it.

Emmur · Post by **Emmur** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:48 pm

hmm what did you say to your gp? did you mention particular problems with balance and coordination or did you just ask about dyspraxia?

Do you have any reflexes?

Lady Fluff · Post by **Lady Fluff** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:55 pm

The GP never got involved with me - maybe cos I went through the university, but I went straight to an Ed Psych...

Lucy_Rush · Post by **Lucy_Rush** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:10 pm

the first time i tried to get diagnosed (1st year of uni) i went to th disability people.

disabity services said they could only diagnose dyslexia and told me to see my gp.

the gp said he wasnt sure but refered me to an ocupational therapist.

the occupational therapist rang me to say she could only help me if i had trouble bgetting in/out of the bath/shower, and neededa hand rail.

the ot then told me to ask my university disability services to assess me.

they still didnt have anyone who could assess me, seen as i didnt have dyslexia. and just advised me to see my gp. (again!)

the gp advised me toget assessed privately. i didnt.

now 2 years on uni aparently can do it now.

i think inside of uni usually its usually relatively easy to get assessed though. compared to outside of uni anyway.

Lucy

Emmur · Post by **Emmur** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:44 pm

Could I just give some advice to anyone who is planning on going to see their GP, not to just ask about dyspraxia but just to say that your balance and coordination are really bad and you were worried about why, because alot of GPs don't understand dyspraxia but they do understand that gait issues can be very serious, and if you ask to be refferred to a neurologist then they shouldn't refuse to because clearly if there is a problem which GP tests like reflexes will prove, they have a duty to refer you to someone who can tell you why

I was refferred from occupational health to the gp, and I have a brain scan on monday and have seen a neurologist who wants to do more tests. I did talk to the GP more about particular problems than just asking about dyspraxia which I didn't even mention until the end

Lucy_Rush · Post by **Lucy_Rush** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:10 pm

my assessment is on thursday with the educational psychologist, paid for by access to learning. is scary now i'm actually going to get tested. hope i'm still welcome even if it turns out i'm not dyspraxic.

Lucy

Liz944 · Post by **Liz944** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:19 pm

Sorry I am a bit late in reading this thread....

Why did your university not fund you to go to another unversity center which could have test for dyspraxia sooner? Rather than wait till you have almost finished your degree....

I know I had a choice of getting tested locally to my home or near to my uni.

Lucy_Rush · Post by **Lucy_Rush** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:36 pm

the uni just werent very helpful in first year. i gave up on them after a while. they seem to have improved since then now and are more organised and helpful etc. i know it seems a bit late assessing me now in third year, but since i am doing postgrad study i will still have the assesment.

Liz944 · Post by **Liz944** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:44 pm

Good luck on thursday.....

At least it will help with your postgraduate studies. What are you thinking of studying?

Lucy_Rush · Post by **Lucy_Rush** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:41 pm

well had the assessment today and dont know what i was worried about. it was fine. she said i did have some problems with slow reading and writing speeds, and a poor visual memory which let me down on some of the tests. She said other stuff but i cant remember what. She just put down as the diagnosis "Mild Specific Learning Difficulties", although she didnt actually say specificly what they were or if it was dyspraxia.

Lol. probably should have asked. Will have the full report done by the end of february when i will have to go in and discuss it with someone. Overall i'm relieved glad its done whatever it says.

And i have a place for a pgce in september liz although not sure if i'd manage to teach a class of kids and am starting to consider whether i should apply for an MSc in Medical Statistics too.

plenty of time to think over that one yet though.

Lucy

Lucy_Rush · Post by **Lucy_Rush** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:49 pm

Hi I got the report back from my formal assessment today.

It went through all the different tests with a bit on how i did on each one, and said what specific areas all of my problems are in. The diagnosis 'dyspraxia' was not used but neither were any others. It just said that i do have specific learning difficulties, but did not say specifically what.

I have to make an appoinment for a disability adviser to talk me through what the report means. Usefull since i dont understand it lol.

The report did have a section with reccomendations for my pgce course (starting it in september). Recomended "specialist teacher support" for help with essays planning and organising etc and "specialised technology and software" to help with everything.

I am very happy about this since if i did not go for the assessment (i didnt really want to go) i would not have any evidence of my difficulties and would really have struggled next yr. Especially since my current course does not involve any essays or written work. But now i have got the evidence and reccomendations i am glad that if i need some help i will be able to get it.

Also i will get extra time again for my final exams in the summer. I have had this through all of my exams since forever, but did not actually have any proper proof i was entitled to it, they just gave it me for my degree cos i'd always had it. So it is a relief i will have it again for my final exams. Would really have messed my grades up if it was not there!

Anyway thats all. Lucy