r/AusParents • u/MadMonkTZ • Jun 27 '25
Sons been having trouble at school. They want him to see a pediatrician
Basically the title. My eldest son is 6 years old and in first grade. At the beginning of the current term we got a phone call because he bit someone and started lashing out. Me and my partner after trying and failing to get some changes out of his behaviour decided to see a psychologist. The psych has been wonderful and has helped us address some shortfalls in our parenting that has lead to some positive outcomes and he is opening up much more at home. My partner got a phonecall from the school because they want us to send him to a pediatrician but I don't understand why. Anyone else have experience with this? What would be the goal of sending him to a pediatrician when we are seeing positive results from the psych?
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u/CatLadyNoCats Jun 27 '25
Sounds like school want a diagnosis.
If they get one that can get extra funding for support in school
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u/MadMonkTZ Jun 27 '25
The psych has stressed and emphasized that she doesn't think he has any underlying issues and I don't think that he needs that kind of support
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u/WhatAmIATailor Jun 27 '25 edited Jun 27 '25
I don’t think he needs that kind of support.
I’d support the teachers opinion there. They’re stuck with him all day and potentially disrupting the rest of the class. If they think he needs additional support, which is a huge pain to get, you should follow their advice.
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u/MadMonkTZ Jun 27 '25
I would be inclined to agree but there is a communication book where we get daily updates on his day and it has been largely positive. Please don't misunderstand he has bad days but it has been moving towards improvement. When I get home I'll have a discussion with my partner to see how we want to proceed.
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u/CatLadyNoCats Jun 27 '25
I’m just guessing.
Why don’t you ask them why they want it?
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u/MadMonkTZ Jun 27 '25
My partner got the call and said that they said that he could benefit from seeing one. When I get the chance I'm planning on asking for clarification on why
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u/amylouise0185 Jun 27 '25
Sounds like they want an assessment most likely for autism, maybe ADHD, or both. Best do it now while you're still eligible for early intervention funding. Waitlists for services are atrocious.
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u/Sweaty_Section7307 Jul 29 '26
We went through the exact same thing with my daughter's school when she was 7. Initially, we saw a couple of psychologists, but neither provided any real insight. Felt like they were just rephrasing our own concerns and thoughts back to us without giving us any actual answers. Furthermore, they offered various techniques + sessions which we were hesistant to take part.
Eventually, we found a clinic in Sydney that offered a joint assessment that involved a Developmental Paediatrician and a child psychologist.
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u/amitscorner Sep 17 '26
Seeing a paediatrician doesn’t mean the psychologist’s work isn’t helping. They look at different things, and a paediatrician can consider developmental or medical factors as well. I’d ask the school what specifically they want assessed and take that information to the appointment.
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u/Kiwitechgirl Jun 27 '25
I’d make an appointment to see his class teacher and discuss it with them. Ask what they’re seeing at school which has prompted the suggestion of a paeds appointment, and explain your point of view and what the psych has said. Does the school have access to info from the psych? I’d just explain that you’d like some more information before you take any further action.