Since Jan Drew only posts negative stories, I wil post only positive ones.
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NOT A MAGIC WAND, BUT THE NEXT BEST THING...
Date : 02.06.04
How care unit helped these parents in distress
Eleven-year-old Jordan Simmons spent six weeks at The Terraces day unit last
year. Today his parents Theresa and Jason spoke of the 'invaluable' service
it provides.
Jordan was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at
four and has since been diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome and Autistic
Spectrum Disorder.
Problems initially arose when he was at nursery due to his hyperactivity,
inability to pay attention and interaction with other children. He was also
quite aggressive, due to frustration at his speech problems.
As the time neared for him to start school, mum Theresa, aged 40, grew
increasingly concerned and contacted Dr Sara Walker, consultant child
psychiatrist at The Terraces at Mount Gould Hospital for her help. She met
the family, from Goosewell, and Jordan was diagnosed with ADHD.
"I felt relieved in a way because I knew there was a problem," said Theresa.
"I knew it wasn't just ordinary hyperactiveness. But in another way I wasn't
relieved. Back then a lot of people didn't believe in ADHD: they thought it
was a label to cover up bad parenting. Because Jordan's disability is in his
head and not physical, people can't see it. People just think it's bad
behaviour."
Jordan started at Goosewell Primary School and was put on Ritalin which
helped him get through the school day.
Theresa added: "The rest of the time we managed as best we could. Our main
aim was to keep him in a mainstream school."
By the time Jordan was seven, Theresa and Jason, a navy petty officer
caterer, had begun noticing more problems, such as facial expressions, eye
movements and vocal tics. After further assessment, Jordan was diagnosed
with Tourette's, taken off the Ritalin and put on different medication. But
his behaviour in school grew worse, and in the end Theresa kept him at home
for a week to reassess his drug regime.
"Things crashed quite badly in school. He became very, very unruly and
depressed," she said. "He was spending most of his day outside the
classroom."
Jordan's medication was changed to Risperdal, and his behaviour immediately
settled down. He was then 'statemented', meaning he was recognised as
needing teaching support in class.
When Jordan was 10, however, things got worse again. "The Risperdal wasn't
enough on its own to get him through the day. He was getting louder and more
active at home and I was finding it hard to keep up with him."
He was put back on the Ritalin again, and kept on the Risperdal as well, to
help him shut down at night.
But by last summer the problems in school had not eased, so it was suggested
to Theresa and Jason that Jordan spend time at The Terraces. Their initial
reaction was to say no, and they admit the thought of sending their son
there scared them.
Theresa said: "We thought, 'If we take him out of school, is he going to go
back in? Our target was to keep Jordan in mainstream schooling. We don't
expect him to be top of the class, we just want him to be given the
opportunity of a good mainstream education."
The family plodded on, coping with Jordan's behaviour as best they could,
until the subject of The Terraces was broached again by Dr Walker at the end
of last year. This time Theresa and Jason agreed, and before Christmas
Jordan went to the unit every day for six weeks to be assessed.
The couple were given weekly progress reports, and at the end of the
assessment period they had a meeting with Dr Walker.
"They had noticed things about Jordan, and said he had Autistic Spectrum
Disorder," Theresa said. "That knocked us sideways. He already had ADHD,
then Tourette's Syndrome, and then we were hit with something else. But the
autism made us understand a few of his oddities."
Jason added: "As he's getting older, it's like missing pieces of the jigsaw.
It all fits into place now.
"Although it was a shock, we're so glad it got that bad at school and he
went to the unit. We don't know if he would ever have got the autism
diagnosis otherwise."
He added: "I didn't want to take him out of primary school in his last year
but, having been there, you can't praise them enough. The work they have
done will make such an important mark on him, and at such an important stage
in his schooling."
But Theresa and Jason are keen not to hide behind Jordan's conditions, and
say they still treat him like any other 11-year-old.
Theresa said: "Yes, he's got ADHD, Autism and Tourette's Syndrome, but we
still apply the same rules as we did with our teenage daughter Jenna. We
don't use the titles to our advantage, neither do we let Jordan use them as
an excuse for bad behaviour.
"But at the same time it's sometimes hard when you're out in public with
people looking and staring and not understanding, and as Jordan's getting
older, he's noticing it more himself."
Now Jordan and his parents only see Dr Walker about every six months, but
are able to see her and her team if and when problems arise.
Theresa said: "The battle is not won. We don't know how things are going to
change as he goes through puberty, but we know the CAMHS service will be
there right through secondary school.
"The whole unit is so approachable. It's more than just a job: they're doing
it because they want to and because they care.
"The unit is there for any help and support you need."