Darragh has difficulty making and keeping friends

Darragh has difficulty making and keeping friends. His trouble is that he does not understand the subtle cues, nuances and elements of non verbal communication that make up social interaction with his schoolmates or friends. He has trouble understanding his emotions and the emotions of others. He does not appreciate turn taking or when somebody else is no longer interested in what he is saying. Darragh will talk endlessly about his all absorbing interest in trains, even when the conversation has moved on to other topics.

At school when there are lots of different things happening, he flaps his arms. He does this in an attempt to deal with all the excitement or sensory information that he has to cope with. His schoolmates do not understand why he does this and think that it is a bit strange which only leads to further social isolation.
Darragh is also a little clumsy and uncoordinated; this is due to a deficit in the functioning of a system in his inner ear, his vestibular system. This means that he is often the last one to be picked for a team, and when he is picked he can't play football as well as he would like.
After completing a Tomatis Therapy program at Cluas, Darragh's parents notice that lots of new, things are happening. He is more clued into what is going on around him, after misbehaving he said to his mother "you're angry at me, aren't you?" this was the first time that Darragh showed that he had an understanding of how another person was feeling.
While he sometimes still finds social interactions difficult and overwhelming his social skills far exceed what they were prior to therapy at Cluas. He is still fascinated by trains, however when his parents or brothers tell him that they have had enough of trains for the moment Darragh is able drop the subject.
The supermarket was always a very stimulating place for Darragh, the sights, sounds and all the different things to buy, his flapping was often at its worst while doing the shopping with his family. A recent trip to the supermarket his parents were very surprised that there was almost no flapping and that he was able to help.
On the way home in the car he told a joke, which for the first time was genuinely funny and had his whole family in tears of laughter.
Therapy at Cluas also resulted in a much-improved vestibular system; his balance and co-ordination are also greatly improved. Darragh and his classmates have found out that he is quite the goalkeeper and is happily picked for a team at yard time.
The result of Therapy at Cluas for Darragh, is that his social awkwardness has dissipated. He now finds it easier to be around others and others find it less stressful being around him. He has a much greater understanding of not only his own emotions and feelings but also those of others. He has friends calling to the door; his schoolwork is getting better and better, especially maths, which was an area that always, posed a little difficulty. He has developed new interests though trains will always have a special place.
Darragh's self confidence is no longer a worry for his parents; he is happy, and all areas of his life are blossoming