After 2 days at The Rygate Centre, my 7 year old has been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tic Disorder, Attention problems, motor learning difficulties and possible autistic spectrum difficulties. As you can imagine, I am somewhat overwhelmed! On the whole, it's not a great suprise as I knew he was 'different' and struggles at school, but to have professionals name the problems makes it real.

I now feel almost shell shocked and wonder, where do I go from here? Obviously this will be followed up with school etc but as a parent I don't know what to do next. Does anyone know of any support groups for parents with kids like my son? I just feel a bit lost right now.

Thanks

Originally posted by FetishFairy
After 2 days at The Rygate Centre, my 7 year old has been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tic Disorder, Attention problems, motor learning difficulties and possible autistic spectrum difficulties. As you can imagine, I am somewhat overwhelmed! On the whole, it's not a great suprise as I knew he was 'different' and struggles at school, but to have professionals name the problems makes it real.

I now feel almost shell shocked and wonder, where do I go from here? Obviously this will be followed up with school etc but as a parent I don't know what to do next. Does anyone know of any support groups for parents with kids like my son? I just feel a bit lost right now.

Thanks
Here is the link for the OCD online.......Hope it is of use to you
www.ocdcentre.com/index.htm?OVRAW=ocd&OVKEY=ocd&OVMTC=standard [url]]

The NAS (national autistic society) have a very comprehensive website
http://www.nas.org.uk/
which may be of some help. I have worked for them as a teacher and they are very good. Your head must be spinning right now and having a 'label' must seem very daunting. The only way to look at it from here is that once the label is there, help can begin for your son. If he is on the autistic spectrum, whilst autism doesn't have a cure, there are many things that can be done to help teach your son the social and communicative skills he needs to live a good life. There is also a sheffield support group
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/projects/autistic/index.html
which may be of help.
Hope this is of some use.
Dawn

In Sheffield your main sources of help might derive from SNIPS who will register your son and help you in many ways.
They can be dreadfully pushy or too laid back in some respects and you might take a while to find your way around the system but they an also help finance childcare etc.
If you cannot find a reference for SNIPS or SNIP, try OSN who can help in other way and are listed in directories and so on.
Just because these people tell you all this info (Ryegate) doesn't mean as much as it feels right now. Most people in the UK suffer some form of OCD or autistic spectrum symptoms, especially men as autism is most prevalent in males.
Any person who puts their books in author or alphabetical order is displaying symptoms. Or who must always put their keys in their right hand pocket before setting off from the doorstep with their left foot. It's coping and ordering in a personal manner.
Read up about the diagnoses and don't worry. Educate yourself about it all then look at what would suit you as a family and your son as an individual.
The education system and care providers have a legal obligation to help you and provide a certain standard of service to your son. Just make sure you take adantage of it.
You'll be fine although I appreciate it may not feel that way right now.

So sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis, but I'm sure that in one way it's a relief, at least now you know, and though it may be hard, you can and will deal with it, it's when you don't know that it's difficult to deal with, I had 29 years trying everything and anything to find out what was wrong with my son, and basically no one wanted to know, he was labelled a naughty boy, and I was an over protective mother, and neither case was true.There are many more services out now to help both of you,please use them, and use any specialised services you can, NAS are brilliant and they will help you and listen to you.There are good groups and forums where you can ask advice and air your problems, and they will help you, please try, www.krism.org.uk. I hope I've given that address right, but most of all trust your own judgement, don't let anyone fob you off, it's your son and if you
feel something isn't right, you will probably be right.Good Luck, and I hope you join the forum I gave you, it's similar to this one, ther's always someone that can help you.

Originally posted by FetishFairy
After 2 days at The Rygate Centre, my 7 year old has been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tic Disorder, Attention problems, motor learning difficulties and possible autistic spectrum difficulties. As you can imagine, I am somewhat overwhelmed! On the whole, it's not a great suprise as I knew he was 'different' and struggles at school, but to have professionals name the problems makes it real.

I now feel almost shell shocked and wonder, where do I go from here? Obviously this will be followed up with school etc but as a parent I don't know what to do next. Does anyone know of any support groups for parents with kids like my son? I just feel a bit lost right now.

Thanks
http://www.ruskin-mill.org.uk/rmet/rmet_menu1.htm


Try getting in touch with these people. It is Aounghus Gordon you need to contact. he will point you in the right direction. You can get state help with this too.

I know of two couples in Sheffield who have children there too and have very positive things to say.
It is no quick fix but works long term and deeply.

Best Wishes

I heard a about a group today and thought about you.
Ray Of Hope is a group of people who are parents to children with challenging behaviour.
There are groups for specific needs who are there as a mutual help and social group and from the attitude of the lady I met today I think this place might be an excellent first stop for you.
It's advertised around Hillsborough. If you are interested pm me and I'll give you the number.

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I feel a bit better today, not all doom and gloom. I think I was in a bit of a state of shock!

Ray of Hope sounds like a good group, I saw their poster in Hillsborough and will give them a call. Thanks Zebra!

Ruskin-Mill sounds like a great place but I don't think it is what my son needs. He is happy at school and they are very supportive of his needs. He has very low self esteem and has himself marked as a failure and I don't think sending him away to school would be appropriate for him. (plus I'd miss the cheeky little monkey far too much!!) Thanks anyway Bonny, it was good to read about it anyway.

I know he will get the help he needs at school but its the ODC and Tics that worry me. It seems there is nothing they can do about that as he is too young. I worry about other peoples reaction to this as he does some wierd things at times. His current Tic is uncontollable head and shoulder shaking every few seconds. It gives him bad headaches but he can't stop doing it! People can be so cruel, especially other kids and I do worry about this.

Once again, thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

I can sympathise with you and I am sure my sister could empathise. She is waiting for an appointment for her son who is now 11 and his 'symptoms' have worsened with the start of secondary school. He has always been very difficult and has an aggressive streak - hits her etc. He has a compulsive nature, spinning around several times before sitting in a certain chair, chanting words, he's obsessed with dog poo ( not getting it on his shoes ) and a whole host of obscure stuff that is too lengthy to go in to. I have been telling her for years that he was different and it's only now that she's admitted to herself that she and he needs help.

They have just left my house (11.15 ) and I feel like I have done ten rounds with Tyson. I work with difficult kids so I know how to deal with him but my sister doesn't and she lets him get away with murder.

The doctor thinks he may have autism spectrum. In my opinion he's ADHD and borderline Aspergers. We'll see what the 'experts' say......