SALT assessment of social communication skills - ASC?

[hazeyjane]

Ds is to have an assessment done at school (he is under SALT anyway) - would an assessment like this lead to a further assessment for autism, or is it something done for other reasons?

[Ineedmorepatience]

In Dd3's case yes it did lead on to other assessments for Asd because we had suggested that we thought that was what the issue was and the SALT found difficulties in the areas that are likely with Asd!

You can have social communication issues without the other areas of the triad of impairments though!

[hazeyjane]

I haven't got a clue, Polter!

We are in an odd situation really. As he has had a non verbal IQ showing he has slightly above average IQ, and a CELF assessment that shows he has good understanding, SALT has said ds has specific language impairment and that this precludes other reasons for ds's speech difficulties. Mainstream with support or a speech unit has been recommended

However ds also ......
Struggles with social interaction with peers (communicates with adults, but not really interested in children, likes everything to be completely controlled by him - so with an adult wants to play a particular game like he is spiderman, I am a baddie, over and over.)

Has lots of sensory difficulties, hates baths and bathrooms, very sensitive to loud noises, hates having clothes off (especially socks) resists people touching him

Has a very selective limited diet

He is still in nappies (partly a physical issue, but also because he is very resistant to going in a toilet, sitting on the toilet....anything to do with toilets)

Thrives on routine, hate change

Has quirky twiddly things he does (twiddles hair and ribbon all the time), snipping paper with scissors, bounces and bounces, could swing for hours

And lots of other stuff that I guess could be described as 'autistic tendencies'

I think I just want these difficulties (which are fairly all encompassing for him) to be acknowledged alongside his speech difficulties

[pandyandy2]

My son is younger than yours as he is not yet at school however I completely get what you are saying!

My son (3.4) has speech and language difficulties and receives outreach support from the local Early Years SALT unit, however it has taken MONTHS of me saying 'BUT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT BEHAVIOURS BEYOND SLI THAT CONCERN US' (and crying on numerous occasions to the lovely SALT,) until she finally referred my son for autism assessment.

You are mum, you are there! You know the difference between S&L impairment affecting behaviours or behaviours ALONSIDE S&L!

Xxx