Mother fears her son could end up with brain damage
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A MOTHER fears that her two-and-a-half-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with autism and frequently bangs his head on the ground in frustration, could end up “seriously brain damaged” if he has a bad fall while waiting for HSE treatment.
Georgina Daly (34), from Castle Park in Tallaght, sought help for her son Jackson, who is nonverbal and struggles with coordination and spatial awareness, last July and, after being told there would be a two-year waiting list for the young boy to be seen in Tallaght Hospital, took him to see a public health nurse.
Georgina Daly with her son Jackson
The nurse referred Jackson for an assessment of need, which the HSE should carry out within 90 days, however Georgina was informed that there would be a nine-month waiting list for the assessment.
Georgina contacted Minister Katherine Zappone, which led to Jackson being assessed within a 90-day period and then being diagnosed with autism last November, and since that initial hurdle the mother-of-two has struggled to get timely help for Jackson.
Georgina told The Echo: “Jackson has no speech and is totally uncoordinated – I can’t wait for a few years when he keeps falling over and doesn’t have his words.”
Following the diagnosis, Georgina met with the HSE’s Early Intervention Team who advised that Jackson may benefit from going to Beechpark Services, a Tallaght-based service for children on the autistic spectrum, and his file was then forwarded to the service.
Georgina was told that Beechpark carry out their own assessments when deciding to admit children to the service, and that the waiting list is approximately a year long if he’s accepted, however if Beechpark doesn’t accept Jackson he will be reverted back to the HSE and put on a waiting list, which will factor in the time he first came into contact with the services last July.
Stuck in limbo
Georgina said: “Now I’m stuck in limbo with Jackson.
“Yesterday I sat him at the door of the house while I opened the door and he faceplanted the ground.
“He can’t save himself, and he can’t shout out for me.
“All it will take is one bad fall and he could be seriously brain damaged.”
She added: “Nobody’s listening to me – we need to get help. I’m at a loss as to who can help him, waiting for a year is too late.”
Jackson requires a multidisciplinary approach, including the assistance of a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist and a psychologist, and, in the meantime, Georgina is trying her best to help Jackson with his day-to-day difficulties.
The young boy gets triggered by people raising their voices, for example, if his mother tells him ‘no’ or tells him to stop what he’s doing, and Jackson will then bang his head on the ground in frustration.
Georgina explained: “He uses his head in frustration, and has done since he was a baby.
“And he walks into things constantly, he has no spatial awareness.
Trying to get some help
“It’s draining. I’m making phone calls every day trying to get some help.”
Georgina added: “I know Jackson is lucky to have gotten his assessment of need, but children like him need the help and they get pushed under the rug.”
Jackson was referred to Beechpark last month and has not yet been assessed by them, it is expected that he will be assessed in May.
The HSE was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for print.
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