ASPECTS

March 2000

Contents
Prescription Charges
Applying for DLA
Things to Stress

Prescription charges

Unfortunately it is unlikely that exemption from prescription charges will be extended to those with TS in the near future. In a written reply to Jenny Jones MP for Wolverhampton South West, in response to a query on behalf of a constituent with TS, the Minister of State for Health replies that "I do sympathise with your constituent, but we have no current plans to extend the list of medical conditions which confer exemption from prescription charges to include Turner Syndrome or any other medical condition." If you feel strongly about this please write to your own MP and tell them.

Applying for DLA

[Disability Living Allowance]

Here are some useful tips when applying for DLA

Always describe the worst day.
Compare your daughter to girls the same age, if you note differences, document them in the application
Spatial awareness difficulties affect every day life. Does she bump into things? Knock drinks over? Find it hard to cut food? Include everything.
Fill in all the boxes with comparison stories.
Write down everything even the most obvious things.
Keep a diary over a week.
The DLA are only interested in whether or not your daughter requires extra personal care.
If your daughter gets extra help at school – tell them.
Girls with TS are sometimes immature if this is the case, tell them
It is stressful completing the form because you are looking at all the difficulties your daughter has. Remember once the form is completed, you can go back to positive thinking.

Things to stress

TS girl's development does not necessarily fit in with what is expected. Speech can be delayed, hearing loss due to glue ear, feeding difficulties due to high arch palate. They are often clumsy with lots of falls and bumps. Short-term memory problems make it difficult to follow more than one instruction at a time. Poor concentration and over activity often make even the simplest tasks difficult and stressful for both the parent and child.

Contact the TSSS if you would like help filling out an application form.