We haven’t made any progress since the last assessment. His psychologist has been busy and I was caught up with work and stuff as well. It was only last week that we spoke again and agreed to proceed with another set of evaluations next week, which is going to confirm if my child is a “high functioning kid.”
Okay, I don’t quite understand what that term means exactly but it is a label for those whose IQ are above average and do not quite come across as exhibiting any signs of autism or aspergers or whatever. Or put it another way, these are the kids who are in the spectrum but look like normal kids at most times.
With such kids, it actually doesn’t sound like a big problem so many parents just let them be and hope they’ll grow out of it. But according to the psychologist, the real problems are when they are in their upper primary. One boy who was recently diagnosed only when he was in P5 ran into problems with his teacher because he couldn’t understand that certain remarks made by the teacher wasn’t personal. And the best part is, many of these kids are in the gifted programme.
Which reminded me of those 10 to 12-year-old boys who were hiding under their tables or lying on the floor during the occasional workshops I ran with them. One even threatened suicide. Honestly, these kids are brilliant but I can’t say the same about their behavior. So I can appreciate why it’s important to get my kid diagnosed earlier than later. I mean, being a social misfit and getting into teachers’ bad books aren’t that fun really.
Some mummies left comments in my last entry that I’m brave in sending him for the evaluation. Well, I have no idea why this is considered brave. It suprised me even more to learn from the psychologist that a mum tried to kill herself over the fact that her kid was diagnosed as a high functioning one.
I’ve never thought of myself as brave. I’ve lived with the possibility that my boy is somewhere in the spectrum since he was about three. I was in denial too. I was afraid once. But I’ve since lived with all that feelings. It isn’t such a big deal for me now because I think he’s doing good so far. And all I want to do now is to ensure that he’s emotionally ready for primary school and then think about the rest later.
Because technically speaking, I’ve got to worry for the next 16 years of his life if adult means being 21 years old. Even if results from this set of evaluation is normal, it still doesn’t mean I would have an easy time parenting him in the future.
Yes.. it’s not easy.. i’ll have to agree with you .. 200% here.
Comment by Mama BoK — Tue, 3 Jun 2008 @ 4:19 pm
Mum tried to kill herself?! Gosh, now I undestand why the clinic case consultant asked me how ready I am to face the fact if Eu is aspergers.
Ky: Yes, I was so surprised. Which is why the psychologist said she needs to be careful when dealing with parents cos different people have different sensitivity.
Comment by kwai yoke — Tue, 3 Jun 2008 @ 5:09 pm
My girl has learning diffculties and I would like to bring her for a check up. Can you send me the address that u go?
CK: I’ve sent you an email.
Comment by CK — Wed, 4 Jun 2008 @ 8:44 am
It’s interesting to hear about high functioning kids having problems later in life. I hadn’t thought of it that way and figured such children would just always be on the periphery of the “typical” kid. It is true many very smart children and people have social issues. So what are high functioning children to do? Are they left in the regular school system? I’m just wondering how being aware of the condition early but still have to put the child thru normal school will help avoid social problems later.
Hsin: Interesting point you raised cos I did ask the psychologist and her answer was quite funny. Apparently, many of these bright high functioning ones end up in the gifted programme and their little quirks are accepted cos most pple associate being smart with being odd in some ways. Those kids I’ve come across were like that! I supposed the real problem comes about when they grow older. By then, they’re usually viewed as eccentric! Actually come to think about it, I have a few classmates in my primary and secondary school who fit this profile! And not forgetting those really odd balls in the corporate place…
So this is why the psychologist recommend diagnosing earlier. We can help them integrate better if we can identify that they’re in this category. So hopefully, they won’t have to create the social problems later.
Comment by Hsin — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 @ 9:30 pm