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."