Referral for autism

[digitalpaintartist]

I've posted about my DS a few times and had some great support. I collected my DS from pre school yesterday and was taken aside by SALT who had observed him, that afternoon. It has been recommend that DS is referred for an autism assessment. SALT believes that DS being non verbal and his lack of interest in other children is enough to go on. So, I'm just wondering what happens next and after intervention, some stories of hope? I'm scared for DS' future and just want to read some of your stories where your child has come on leaps and bounds.

[FrayedHem]

How old is your DS?

I remember being quite taken aback when SALT said my DS1 was of concern, despite it being me who'd asked for the referral it felt very "out there" when a professional agreed.

Not all areas do things the same. Mine referred to the Multi Disciplinary Team, who then meet and decide whether to accept the referral. Then after acceptance was the wait for the actual assessment. For DS1 that wait was 12 weeks (9 years ago). Currently for DS3 we are looking at a 6 month wait.

I seem to remember SALT doing a few home and preschool observations and assessments ahead of the diagnostic appointment.

We were given DS1's dx on the same day (sent off for 30 minutes). It triggered a referral to Ed Psych and additional preschool funding for 1:1 but that took a few months to come through. We were also referred to the Specialist Teaching team who have been massively supportive throughou.

As I'd found mumsnet by then, I applied for a statement (though now they are EHCPs) which he got in time to start school.

He has made good progress but he does very much still have difficulties. But we've grown and learnt together as a family and his ASD isn't the scary thing it once was.

[MrsSam]

Hi, DS3 is currently being assessed for ASD, it's his second time around as his previous school wasn't very supportive and their report was a work of fiction. This time however, we have the full backing of his school.

As far as the assessment process goes in my area it is referred to as SCAP - social communication assessment pathway, we have the paed report, the SALT report, ed psych report, school report (usually from connors questionnaire or similar sort if questionnaire) and parents report (similar process to school) - the different reports and assessments are all gathered together and the SCAP make the diagnosis from there. That's the basic pathway.

I have known something was wrong with DS3 since he was 2, and for a long time I was told I was being silly etc. His primary school were not very good with him on the whole, he had one great teacher who originally raised concerns but when she left the school they were no longer bothered. Bad news over, his current school are so fantastic I could literally kiss each and every one of the staff on a daily basis if it wouldnt be so inappropriate the strategies they have put in place for my son have made him in to a different child! He is much more comfortable in himself knowing there are 'safe' zones in school and people he can go to whatever the problem may be. They, and his medical team fully expect an ASD diagnosis to come from the current SCAP and the school will be able to bring in outside help from the specialist school nearby for him when that happens.

Although it can be devastating and overwhelming at the same time as relieved someone is listening to you when you hear an ASD assessment in in the works it's important to focus on the positives, and the positives are definitely there. During the assessment everyone should get a better picture of what can be done to help your DS, I found over all the process helped me understand my DS3 better.

I hope things go really well for you and you get all the answers and all the help you need.

[digitalpaintartist]

DS has just turned 2 and has been at pre school since the start of September. I was shocked but I supposed his being non-verbal was a strong indicator and perhaps I should have been more prepared.

[FrayedHem]

He's still very young and getting into the system early means you should get access to the support he needs.
It's always a shock, stick around the SN boards as there's a lot of posters who've been there and can give advice and a few going through similar (which I found made me feel less isolated).

[MrsSam]

As freyedhem said 2 is young to be staring the process and so you should be able to access help at every stage of education for the best possible out come. Just a thought but have you had a full hearing test done? DS4 passed his newborn screening test but at 2 was non verbal and disinterested in other children, I worried about him a great deal but no one took my claims seriously and at 3 and a half he started speaking although not properly and he made an effort with other familiar children. We found out when he was 6 he has a serious hearing problem which had probably caused the problems when he was little as he didn't hear so couldn't join in. It's just something to think about.