My daughter is being acessed for ASD tomorrow at home. How should I prepare for it?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughters speech therapist has asked another speech therapist who also specialises is ASD to come and acess my daughter at home. I've had concernes in the past that she might have a mild form of it, but the consultant said it was nothing to worry about. The speech therapist was supprised by his reaction, and thinks she should be acessed.
I'm going to make a list of her behavours ect so that I don't forget to mention anything.
I'm not sure what to do about talking to the specialist with my daughter there. She is always listening and loves the attention. If she hears me mention the things she does, it's almost like positive re-enforcement to her, even if I talk negetivly about it. Obviously she needs to be there so that she can be acessed so I'm not sure how to work arond it.
What sort of things will she acess her doing? Should I get some toys or other activities ready?
I am a bit nervous about this meeting and I'm not sure why. I suppose I don't want her to be diognosed with ASD, although I realise that if she does have it, then I'd be able to get advice as to how to deal with it better, to get the best out of her.

[Rosebubbles]

My son was assessed by a Psychologist so I am not sure how the Speech Therapist will assess her. When my son was assessed it involved a lot of discussions and filling out a lot of questionnaires. We had meetings both with my son and just us as his parents on our own, However, it was a long process. We wrote all our concerns and his behaviours down in letter form to the person we were seeing if our son was going to be their so we could relay all info without him hearing about it. It is surprising how much children hear even if they appear distracted by toys around them. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

[IndigoBell]

MLL - I think this sounds like a positive step for Lucy. Often kids are initially dx with learning difficulties or developmental delay when they are young, and that is later changed to a dx of ASD.

Hopefully they'll be able to assess Lucy, and then talk to you separately in diff room so that she doesn't overhear - although I think if she overhears it's not the end of the world. Or I guess if you're really worried about her overhearing you can write down what you want to say......

Making a list of all her quirky,odd, or challenging behaviour is certainly a good idea.

Remember that ASD is hard to detect. Especially in girls.....

[mummyloveslucy]

Thanks everyone, we don't have any footage as her behaviours tend to come out of the blue, like hugging a stranger on the bus or saying to a shop keeper "Nanny was sick, then she died. I don't want to be sick before I die". and
I don't know why she comes out with these things or acts this way with strangers. She also loves routeen and repatition. I read her a chapter of her bed time book the other afternoon and when I'd finnished, she insisted on going to bed as she was tired. I think it's because it's her routeen to have that book then go to bed. (I could seriously make use of this)

[Eveiebaby]

The SLT will probably acess her through play - they make bring their own toys etc.. but it would probably be useful to have have some of your DD's own toys on standby just in case they need them. They will probably be looking to see how your DD's joint attention, eye contact, receptive language and play skills etc have developed. I agree that maybe you should talk about your DD in a different room. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[mummyloveslucy]

I think it'd be a good idea to get her to do something while she's being acessed, like a speech therapy work sheet. She's always at her best with an adult one to one, so unless I try to get her to do something she didn't choose to do, she'll probubly be a little angel.

I could also ask my mum to come around, then she can take her up to her play room while we speek.

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi everyone, it went well. Lucy was her usual self and I read my list and was asked loads of questions. Someone observed and played with her.

They do want to refere her for a full ASD acessment. It's a multi disceplinary acessment I believe. There is a waiting list of 10 months though.

I just wanted to let you know how it went. I'm off to ballet with her now.

[IndigoBell]

Well done!

The thing to do for the next 10 months while you're waiting is to assume she does have ASD, and to read up on it, and see if you can find out any useful strategies to help..........

[Ineedalife]

Glad it went well .

When you get your appointment you could try ringing and asking about a cancellation appointment, if you can go at short notice it can sometimes bump you up the queue..

[mummyloveslucy]

Thank you both. I will ask about a cancelation appointment, that would be great if I could. Lucy's home educated, so we wouldn't need much notice.

I will read up on it and see if there are any sugestions that might help.

[Eveiebaby]

Thanks for letting us know how things went - sounds like they got lots of useful info from you which will help a lot with the ASD assessment.

[mummyloveslucy]

I did make quite a detailed report but even now I'm thinking of things I forgot to mention. Oh well, I'll jot them down for her next acessment. At least she's going to be seen by the specialists.

[TotalChaos]

write down the stuff you forgot to mention, send it in a letter to the salt who assessed her, say it's go with the referral for the ASD assessment as that way the people who assess her will hopefully get to see it.

[mummyloveslucy]

Thanks, I'll do that.

[LIZS]

Sounds as if it went well. Hope you can get an appointment soon , but since she is already in the system maybe you will get through quicker anyway.

[mummyloveslucy]

Thanks LIZS, that would be good.