Image by fleur-valest from Pixabay
The Benefits of Neurodiversity Profiling Children (for Parents)
Jen Blacow
10th December 2021
Children’s services are possibly one of the most important and valuable aspects of the modern western world.
The right interventions at the right time during a child’s development can significantly change the outcomes for children as they grow into adults.
Many children who have difficulties with social, emotional, or physical (eg not being well wired together) development will fall under the category of ‘neurodiverse’ (often autistic) and will receive some form of clinical assessment, testing, and observation.
They will often receive many reports from specialists who have seen them (none of which seem to talk to each other). Some get an ECHP (Educational Health Care Plan) that should be implemented at school. Often parents have to fight their council for an EHCP plan, often taking the issue to tribunal.
We’ve often seen parents complaining about these reports because they are simply a pile of all the difficulties their child faces and a set of disjointed recommendations which may or not help the child to thrive. Often the recommendations are stereotypical one size fits all solutions rather than tailored to a child’s specific difficulties.
What is a neurodiversity profile, and what are the benefits?
A neurodiversity profile is a clear and detailed explanation of how a child thinks about, feels, and perceives the world, usually written in a report format.
It explains a child’s experiences, traits, strengths, and difficulties. It then provides unique recommendations based on the child’s fundamental ways of being, tailored specifically to help them and their environment.
Our neurodiversity profiling and support has helped parents to:
- Help their children thrive at school
- Reduce a child’s anxiety and tackle difficult behaviour
- Help children to cope with transitions as they grow up
- Remove barriers and increase the likelihood of their child living a happier, more fulfilled life
- Receive benefits and support their child is entitled to.
Why is neurodiversity profiling a leap from the current offer?
The process of doing a neurodiversity profile puts the child at the heart of the matter.
It has not been unknown for us to ask permission of the child to talk about them to their parents while we find a way forward to help them.
The process itself, on the surface, may look similar to a psychological assessment or personality assessment, but what is happening underneath that is far more nuanced and complex.
A child does not need to be diagnosed with a neurodiverse condition like autism to take our neurodiversity profile. We understand that some parents do not want to seek a diagnosis for their child for many reasons.
We also understand that depending on where you live, getting a diagnosis or support can be problematic. Both because of how a child is treated once they have been diagnosed, and because the health services aren’t always equipped to give accurate/timely diagnoses.
A child’s need for help does not diminish as they wait for a diagnosis, even if you are willing to pursue one.
Unlike a specialist’s assessment, a neurodiversity profile is a scientific approach to understanding fundamental underlying issues that affect a child as a whole.
For example, a child may score low on an intelligence test, but elsewhere in their reports, it has been identified that they show slow processing of incoming verbal information. Currently, specialists and schools treat these things in isolation. It is as if the child’s slow processing of verbal information, for example, does not have a direct impact on the child’s results on an intelligence test!
It sounds obvious when you say it, but the practice of completely ignoring connections like this is common.
The scary thing is, is that a child’s reasonable adjustments at school, are based on these various disconnected tests. Meaning, many children are being completely misunderstood and therefore being excluded from an appropriate education. This exclusion will have a severe knock-on effect on their later life.
A neurodiversity profile gets behind the symptoms and considers all of the child’s underlying issues. For example, sensory, cognitive, executive function and connects them to create a coherent whole. Then, the recommendations provided will work for that particular child’s profile.
Parents have commented that what we do joins all the reports together into a coherent whole that makes sense!
If you are interested in finding out more about our neurodiversity profiling for children or have any specific questions, contact us now at info@aspiedent.com