How to get a diagnosis for Sensory processing disorder

[Amithenormalone]

My son who is nearly 3 years old we think has sensory processing disorder so does his support worker and so does his nursery. Now I had mentioned to his pieadatrican about getting him assessed at the request of his support worker to be told that OT use to do the assessments but no longer does and that she doesn't know anyone that does do them now only suggestion she had was to wait till he's in school and she if the educational physiologist will be able to assess him. Now that's OK but the nursery have said that to enable to support and help him properly they really could do with a SPD assessment doing so they can correctly put the right strategies in place does anyone have any more suggestions on how we can get the assessments done we are in North West England.

[MrsSam]

Hi, sorry you are struggling to get the diagnosis you need, I know how frustrating it can be. I'm not sure how things work in your area but where we live I know a number of families who have had Ed Psych involvement from nursery school level. Is this an option?? Can the nursery request the Ed Pych? It's certainly worth asking.

I know nationally the pathways to getting diagnoses for various conditions is changing and my experience of late leads me to believe there is some confusion about who is responsible for what but that shouldn't mean you are left in limbo!

I hope you can get somewhere

[Amithenormalone]

Thank you for that suggestion wasn't sure if getting a educational physiologist in nursery was an option but I will sure ask.

It is all about the changes I think she said OT no longer had the funding to do the assessments due to all the changes.

[lasketchup]

My DD is 2 has been referred through her nursery to a child psychologist due to self harming and behaviour issues so it can be done in nursery. It has also been suggested that she has SPD by our Pead but has to wait to see OT for an actual diagnosis.

[Doordye]

It's generally an OT who assesses for sensory processing, I'm In the NW as well. They dx as sensory processing difficulties rather than disorder where we are, don't know if that's everywhere in the UK or not.

SPD is generally a comorbid is he being assessed for anything else?

[Amithenormalone]

Yes he's being assessed for ASD and development delay. He had an appointment with pieadatrican who I asked how we get him assessed for SPD she told me that it was OT that used to do the assessments but they have had they budgets cut and can no longer do the assessments they only other options she said was it might be a possibility to get the assessments done though the educational physiologist I have suggest getting them involved. I have been told they need an inclusion teacher to agree and then take evidence to panel to get a educational physiologist involved. I am feeling a little frustrated at the moment one minute nursery say he's fine next minute they say he's not. Last week they were shocked that they had been even the suggestion that the inclusion teacher get involved this week this week they are making comments on how his behaviour would make sense if he has ASD. The poor little man fell to the floor sobbing when I left nursery yesterday his key worker said it was like it was just to much for him he kept putting his head in his hands. He sobbed himself to sleep and slept from 1.15 til 3.10 she said it was really strange as he woke up and was like a completely different child. He does this when things are to much to handle. Whoops sorry for rambling.

[ReallyTired]

Its frustrating that diagnoses take a long time. The community paediatrian wants to be 100% sure that there nothing really simple like glue ear hindering your child's development. Three years old is really little and not all children follow the child development books.

I suggest you ask for your child to be assessed by a speech and language therapist and audiologist if you havent done so already.

[Amithenormalone]

All that's already been done nothing wrong with his ears and he has full involvement from SALT.
The pieadatrican does think they are problems she can't diagnose yet as she doesn't have the evidence she needs to take to the panel at the cdc. She explained that to diagnose she needed evidence to back it up to take to the next cdc meeting so that she has the go ahead to give him a diagnosis apparently all of them have to agree before a diagnosis is given. It's hard to get a diagnosis as people are changing there mind on a daily basis depending Wether he has had a good day or bad day.

[imip]

In our area spd is not diagnosed if a child has ASD. It's because sensorial issues now make up part of the diagnositic criteria for ASD. Really it seems to be a way to save money and cut back on OT. It's taken me ages to argue for dd to see an OT, usually I'm just told yes, she does have sensory issues, it's part of ASD . Maybe it is like this in your area?

[Discobabe]

My ds has sensory issues. They are certain there's no asd, there's no funding here for stand alone sensory stuff so he can't even see an NHS OT. I'm still waiting for his report to see exactly what the community paeds say (i suspect it will be 'sensory issues'? or 'sensory difficulties'?) but I don't think we will get an actual diagnosis of spd unless we pay for a private OT assessment.

[ReallyTired]

My son has had a formal diagnosis of dyspraxia at 14 years old. It's been a really long road that started when he was 20 months old. A formal diagnosis has helped him understand that he is not stupid, but it hasn't been life changing. He is still the same person after the diagnosis. Possibly it's made the school more understanding.

[0AliasGrace0]

No OT funding for sensory assessments where I am either. I paid for a private assessment (approx £650) and it was definitely worth it. Very detailed and helped to explain what DD finds difficult, why, and ideas for helping her at both home and school. I found it really helped the school to understand her and things have been far better for her since (fingers crossed).

[Blossom4538]

Imip, we have been told the same thing by Paed. We knew poss of ASD but thought just perhaps anxiety, slight sensory and selective mutism. The Paediatrician basically wouldn't recognise spd alone, said it is part of ASD. I was surprised really! Still under assessment currently....

[Ineedmorepatience]

OT services have been cut to the bone in my area as well. Its such a shame because they are one of the best teams we have used!

Dd3 has a dx of Sensory processing dysfunction! She also has Asd. She was dx'ed with Asd at 9 and SPD at 10.

I downloaded a sensory checklist off the internet to help with our referral.

Your Ds might see an OT as part of his multi disiplinery assessment team!

[frazzledbutcalm]

No services in my area, north east. No funding as part of OT assessment, no facility to assess anywhere ...
had a bit of a when dd's care co-ordination told me dd couldn't have dx of spd, but she could have symptoms of spd

[BackforGood]

Where we are, you can refer to the Ed Psychs pre-school, but in some of the local authorities that border our LA, they don't get involved pre-school. It's a bit of a postcode lottery. However, the EP can't diagnose anything to do with sensory processing - here, they would refer to the OT. I agree with imip though - sensory processing is seen as part of the autism diagnosis now, so if they have autism they don't usually go for a separate assessment for sensory processing.
AET have some checklist and strategies (down the bottom of the list - numbers 40 upwards) which might help your Nursery?