Rhi, Mummy of Four

[Dogleggedhat]

I find all the terminology surrounding autism really confusing. High functioning autism is less severe than low functioning,is that right? Like you have difficulties but can do a lot of things that people without autism can do? Sorry,I don’t know the correct way to phrase it. I was surprised seeing the video on Bella that she was meant to have high levels of autism. Obviously we are seeing snapshots of their lives and Rhi has described the meltdowns and how Bella stresses when she makes a mess on paper and has routines she goes through at night etc but all her kids are intelligent and appear to be able to function well socially.

I wasn’t aware of how much more difficult it was to get assessed after five until I saw her video and honestly it started panicking me with my 2.5 year old and I found myself noticing things about her and wondering if it was ‘normal’ toddler behaviour or if there was an issue that I needed to address because I was scared of leaving it too long and feeling like I failed her.

chasing up appointments etc is one thing,but hounding them and tracking down secretary’s email addresses etc is different,I hate when people are prioritised for being pushy/acting like a dick. What about the people who have kids with severe autism who need assessments but aren’t harassing staff for appointments? They are having to wait like anyone else.As was said above she should have gone private if she wasn’t willing to wait.

I am uncomfortable with the way she uses autism for content-informing others is one thing but she looks like she is searching things out for content. It was the same with all the covid testing.

apologies if my phrasing around autism offends anyone,I don’t have any experience of it so am not 100% sure what words etc to use appropriately.

 

[focusdochas]

Yes high functioning/Level 1 is less severe/obvious autism. It’s confusing.

 

[Dogleggedhat]

Yes high functioning/Level 1 is less severe/obvious autism. It’s confusing.

I thought so,as I know a family who are benefit scroungers and delight in any medical condition that could stop them getting a job and the teenager was diagnosed with high functioning autism a while back and they seemed to think this was a golden ticket to benefits for life and i was thinking that they didn’t understand the terminology at all.

 

[Ziggzaggz]

Rhi annoys me, she is pushing for Zara to have a diagnosis (maybe she needs the money!) The school is brilliant at picking up autism and other needs the child has/may have why not wait? Zara starts reception in September let the school do it's job. (My daughter is in the same school)
My daughter when she was in Reception the teacher was concerned about her speech, refered her to the speech therapist and the therapist was in the school in four weeks to see her.
Maybe she is thinking Zara has autism, so she can excuse her bratty behaviour!

 

[focusdochas]

She said previously that’s why she wouldn’t move the primary school and moved to a smaller house instead because the school were so good regarding the middle twos autism.

 

[Ilando]

You definitely have to fight for your child if you suspect/know they have difficulties. Sadly, there are also parents like Rhi who seem to deliberately want to find issues and enjoy labelling their children.

 

[Foolmeonce]

When it comes to a child with any developmental issue, early diagnosis is vital.
It means the child should be able to access therapies (speech & language, occupational therapy, physio, etc) and early intervention is extremely important for the child's subsequent development.
I would advise any parent who suspects that their little ones have any issue to raise it with their GP or health visitor.
Waiting lists for diagnosis and therapies can be very long so the sooner you can get them on there, the better for your child.

 

[focusdochas]

I do agree early intervention is crucial

 

[Monketchops41]

I'm currently going through the process with my 12 year old. It has been years-at first she was only partially diagnosed with social communication difficulties. I pushed back and waited 2 years for a CAMHS appointment to get an ADOS assessment. Due to covid they gave her a shorter assessment in May called a BOSA. I am still waiting for an update now. I looked into going private-it was £1500 which I couldn't afford. :-( I read that some authorities don't accept private diagnoses so that worried me too.. If i could hound someone I would too!

 

[Koobcam]

My son is 16, and diagnosed 12/13 years ago and back then it was just “autism” - we’ve never been told a level or anything. I think that’s why I find it confusing with how Rhi says things. I’m surprised Bella has “high levels” of autism but we obviously don’t see everything. But I would have though someone with high levels would maybe struggle in mainstream school or at least need a lot of support in school. I’m trying not to speculate too much or be offensive, I can only go by my own experience and of course every child with autism is different.

 

[focusdochas]

How much stuff do you need to buy for a 3/4 day Disney cruise? Admittedly I don’t watch the videos and a new outfit is nice for holidays but they also have wardrobes full of beautiful clothes. Just because you are going on a Disney cruise cruise doesn’t mean everything has to be Disney theme clothes and accessories

 

[Dogleggedhat]

It does make you wonder how much of this would be done if it wasn’t for YouTube? Would they even be going on the cruise?

 

[Zoepenguin]

Oh the Disney community is ridiculous for this crap. Themed outfits, personalised t-shirts, snack boxes for the plane, elaborate reveals where the kids are overwhelmed and confused half the time, the list goes on...! I mean if you genuinely want to do all that stuff then fine but I do think a lot feel pressure to buy/do it all to fit in.

 

[Dogleggedhat]

So many kids going to Disney must feel massively overwhelmed because their parents go far too over the top with everything. Nine times out of ten from what I see the whole thing is done for the parents under the guise of ‘doing it for the kids’.

 

[Peaches_xox]

Sorry going back to the Autism thing, whilst i do agree that early diagnosis is good and it’s a longer wait after they’re 5, I do think that children change so rapidly and I do understand why people wait it out and see. Schools are amazing at picking these things up and if you’re in the right school they can put things in place prior to diagnoses.
I also think Bella is ‘high functioning’ which is less ‘severe’ But Rhi has really dramatised it to make it seem like it’s worst case (sorry if that’s the wrong terminology!)

 

[Timeforlove]

Sorry going back to the Autism thing, whilst i do agree that early diagnosis is good and it’s a longer wait after they’re 5, I do think that children change so rapidly and I do understand why people wait it out and see. Schools are amazing at picking these things up and if you’re in the right school they can put things in place prior to diagnoses.
I also think Bella is ‘high functioning’ which is less ‘severe’ But Rhi has really dramatised it to make it seem like it’s worst case (sorry if that’s the wrong terminology!)

Yea I definitely think that Bella is high functioning. My son has autism and is 6 and starting in a specialist base for September (Yr 2) as he wasn't able to cope in mainstream but I would classify my son as high functioning as he can talk he is behind but can talk, dress himself although always back to front and inside out and on the wrong feet ect but in school his emotions regulation is not good and finds it difficult to understand why certain things can't be done. I honestly think Rhi panics to much and add to much drama to her kids having autism. I defp think she will play as much as she can for zara to get a diagnosis but it annoys me as my son went threw speech and language, CAHMs, educational psychologis, ot, early intervention team and Autistic advisory team and developmental paediatrics before his ADOS assessment which was with a speech and language spesalist who went to visit him 3 times at school before his appointment. So I don't understand how Rhi just sees one person who does the ADOS and then a diagnosis

 

[Koobcam]

I definitely think Bella is high functioning too and Rhi has either mixed up the terms or is just making it sound worse. I went back and rewatched some of the video where she talks about Bella’s results and she’s definitely making out Bella is at the severe end. She said there’s a scale of “mild, moderate and high” and Bella is high. It annoys me as she acts like an expert but she really doesn’t have a clue.

 

[focusdochas]

I think there’s a little bit of playing on the fact that a lot of people don’t understand that high functioning is actually milder in most cases

 

[Peaches_xox]

I remember watching her original video about Bella and she said ‘high’ and at the time I knew nothing about autism and thought bleeping hell I didn’t expect that. Skip to now where my son (in reception) has been assessed by an educational psychologist due to struggling with his emotions at school who suspected ‘high functioning autism’ and of course since then I’ve read loads, & now it made sense. We haven’t done anything on it yet as it’s the summer holidays and I don’t know how I feel about it all as it’s all very fresh but I’d never make him out to be more severe or worse then it is?! I think Rhi does it for the views tbh.

 

[Linnyloo]

I can't watch this woman anymore. She is so full of her own self importance. Her getting up at crack of dawn to catch up with work and get stuff done before she goes - why doesn't she just give it a miss - noone would give a crap or miss it. Her views etc are so low anyway.