Labelling Children

f77ms you have given a list of all the behaviours that are typical of a child on the autistic spectrum.
Without a diagnosis, he would be left to fight his way through a world he hardly understands, and then be miserable and probably expelled from school.
Early traumatic years ( not lived in a war zone I expect?) cannot give a diagnosis of autism, the tests they have ( especially in play, and how they react) will not give a mis diagnosis to a simply shy and anxious child.
Having a label is the first step to getting help and realising what is actually happening both for the child and the parents.
the National Autistic Society is very helpful and has lots of material for you to read, it will help you understand your DGS. I have always been close to my DGS but without knowledge of his autism and the best way to deal with him it would have led to escalating anger all round.
They do not diagnose lightly believe me.

Nope, I don't agree. I'm another who hopes you are't a teacher, or that if you are, my grandchildren don't end up in one of your classes.

Azie09,well said.although you will never convince some.Far too many labels today.No wonder there's a shortage of teachers.

Lisalou I agree with you ! I think children are being over diagnosed / labelled with ASD/Autism - my GS is one and was diagnosed at 5 . I would be interested to hear why there is a huge increase in children with learning disabilities , one or two in each class I believe, from a teacher . My GS is a bit different , on the plus side he has a wonderful and inventive way with words , is very affectionate and intelligent but is disruptive in class , anxious and worries about all manner of things . I won`t go into the history too much but he did have a very traumatic few early years and I feel this has played a part in the way he behaves and this diagnosis .

Your post is going to be very unpopular Lisalou partly because it's the kind of subject that most people, not being professionals, can only relate to with personal anecdotes. Having watched my children go through 35 years of the UK education system I have wondered myself about the growth of diagnosed conditions, changes in what is considered acceptable behaviour and changes in the kind of discipline that teachers can exert.

The same people who complain about lack of respect for the old, entitlement in the younger generation and the growth of selfishness in society will defend unruly children on the basis of some condition or other. The top performing comprehensive my children attended in a university city with a high middle class intake was eye opening. It took a while for the truth of what lessons were like to leak home but the normality of rudeness to teachers, constant noise as children disregarded the teachers while they talked and played about, children throwing objects across the room and at the teachers, children simply listening to iPods or spending the lesson with their heads on the desk were the norm. The teachers had sanctions of course but clearly many lessons were crowd control and this was a GOOD school.

This may not connect with your posting but something has gone wrong with the way many young people feel they can behave along with many parents being blind to the behaviour of their children and woe betide the person who tries to suggest otherwise. I feel sorry for teachers and can't imagine why anyone enters the profession these days. They have become completely undermined administrators. I know quite a few retired teachers whose last few years were described as sheer hell.

Lisalou in this instance I really can't say Welcome to the forum.You should do some reading on the subject, and I worry that you really are a teacher!

I think the interest of teachers in the overall well being of their pupils educationally and with behavioural issues, support and mentoring etc have improved massively in recent years.

If only Dyslexia was known about in the 1950s 60s I would have managed better in school and my difficulties in writing and organising work would have been recognised, I would have had a much easier time and not left feeling I was lazy about my appalling hand writing, spelling and punctuation.

As for anyone with a disabilty they were kicked off into sometimes pretty rubbish special education.

The children with what is now encompassed by the neurological conditions such as ADHD, Aspergers etc now can get much better help within the early years at school. The ADHD pupils were referred to under the educational lable of "Malajusted" or "Educationally subnormal."

I was very happy at 50ys old when the OU "labled me" as Dyslexic. I then realised I was not stupid.

It's that kind of attitude that made my DD take her children out of school to home educate them. She had to fight for a diagnosis for her eldest son, as the school head teacher was determined that he was just an anxious angry little boy. He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged five. He's a delightful boy apart from his meltdowns, and the school had no idea how to teach him. He has two brothers, one has high functioning autism, the other has ADHD with a lot of the elements of Aspergers. They moved to a small country school when GS 2 started. They were just as mystified about how to teach them! They are flourishing now, and learning well. I am immensely proud of my daughter and her determination to give them a good education.

With an attitude like that Lisalou YOU should not be a teacher and in charge of children!!!

I can't actually be bothered to respond. I sincerely hope the OP isn't really a teacher.

I will let someone more eloquent than me reply to this.

We also now have groups of "high achievers" in our classes, who get extra input - which I think is great, but also leads to an even more competitive attitude to results among the middle group of children who may not be as bright (the high achievers are treated as if they were super children) but who have to work hard to get average to good grades.
Is it me, or is this worrying? I can see it killing the love of learning for so many.