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Original poster

Have you heard of an autism assessment being done this way?

88 replies

Purpleturtle46 · 31/01/2025 17:39

I have suspected my daughter (8) might have ASD for a couple of years. Struggled to get anywhere initially as she masks at school so they weren't supporting a referral. She has been attending speech and language therapy for the last few months and her speech and language therapist asked if she could refer her. I agreed and we filled in the referral form together a couple of months ago.

Today my daughter had her usual speech and language appointment and at the end the S&L therapist dropped the bomb that she had been given a diagnosis. She said the report is currently being written and she will arrange an appointment with me to discuss it. I couldn't ask any questions as I didn't want to discuss it in front of my daughter and she also caught me totally off guard.

I have never heard of an autism diagnosis being done in this way and was gearing up for a 2 year wait for diagnosis. She said the meeting was with her team leader and the ND lead I think but the conversation was a bit of a blur. I would have thought she would need to have seen a specialist for a specific autism assessment but apparently that's not the case and from the information I have given and the S&L therapist has given that is enough?

Has anyone had a similar experience that can confirm this is correct, it all feels a bit strange?Please be kind as I am a bit overwhelmed.

OP posts:
wizzywig · 31/01/2025 17:54

Are you surprised at the speed of the diagnosis or is it the way it was delivered to you? I know I felt at odds with other parents of sen kids as I have had no issues in getting an ehcp nor any diagnoses. I thought 'god they must have it severely then'

SmileEachDay · 31/01/2025 17:54

Purpleturtle46 · 31/01/2025 17:49

Thank you. Yes I have people I can talk to, I am waiting for my husband to get in from work so we can discuss it. Even though I have obviously suspected she has autism I was not expecting anything to happen for a long time. I am in the UK, yes. She did say that sometimes the ND lead would need to meet if they were on the fence but this seems to have been an open and shut case which I am surprised by given she is coping well day to day and at school.

Show quote history

It could be that your LA is doing this to try and deal with the insane wait times. I’m very surprised its been almost rubber stamped through - in my area, most of the referrals we’ve supported with where the children are “coping” have been rejected.

Does your kiddo have some very “obvious” traits?

SpeedyMcNobhead · 31/01/2025 17:53

2 x DC diagnosed with ASD. Both diagnosed after 2 appointments with a paediatrician with my history and a school referral taken into account. So not quite as quick as yours but certainly not the 5 year slog some people have to go through.

Twosidesalways · 31/01/2025 17:53

My eldest dd got a diagnosis after 2 1 hour appts at camhs. They said an ados wasn’t necessary as it was clear she had ASD and diagnosed them discharged her the same day

Original poster
Purpleturtle46 · 31/01/2025 17:52

Bobbybobbins · 31/01/2025 17:50

This is surprising. With my DS it was a paediatrician who diagnosed with input from speech therapy and educational psychologist

When I brought up my concerns initially with the educational physiologist she didn't seem to see any evidence of autism and also seemed to imply that it wasn't her remit to make a diagnosis.

OP posts:
Spongebobpatrick · 31/01/2025 17:52

My DS SLT definitely drove his assessment, made the process faster and got his name out there, but he did have multi disciplinary assessments before we got the diagnosis. I think he was referred for first appt at 2, saw SLT for first time around 2.5 and was diagnosed just after 3yo.

Bobbybobbins · 31/01/2025 17:50

This is surprising. With my DS it was a paediatrician who diagnosed with input from speech therapy and educational psychologist

wizzywig · 31/01/2025 17:50

I was given the diagnosis each time by the pediatrician immediately

Original poster
Purpleturtle46 · 31/01/2025 17:49

SmileEachDay · 31/01/2025 17:44

Are you in the UK?

I’ve not heard of it happening this way - particularly with children who are “coping” with mainstream school. I’m the inclusion lead at a secondary, so am involved in lots of ASD referrals.

Could you email the S&L therapist with a list of questions- you really should not have been blindsided like this, I’m sorry.

Have you someone there you can talk it through with?

Thank you. Yes I have people I can talk to, I am waiting for my husband to get in from work so we can discuss it. Even though I have obviously suspected she has autism I was not expecting anything to happen for a long time. I am in the UK, yes. She did say that sometimes the ND lead would need to meet if they were on the fence but this seems to have been an open and shut case which I am surprised by given she is coping well day to day and at school.

OP posts:
BendingSpoons · 31/01/2025 17:46

This is not best practice. Ideally the assessment should be multidisciplinary e.g. a Paediatrician and an SLT and should use an assessment e.g. ADOS. Some trusts are trying to manage long waiting lists by offering different pathways e.g. my trust have brought in that the Paediatrician can, in some cases, diagnose alone but with reference to the SLT notes or following a discussion with the SLT. I can therefore accept varying processes but the main issue to me is this process hasn't been explained to you before and you haven't been given the opportunity to discuss and ask questions.

Bristolinfeb · 31/01/2025 17:46

You should be able to look up the NICE guidelines on autism assessment.

SmileEachDay · 31/01/2025 17:44

Are you in the UK?

I’ve not heard of it happening this way - particularly with children who are “coping” with mainstream school. I’m the inclusion lead at a secondary, so am involved in lots of ASD referrals.

Could you email the S&L therapist with a list of questions- you really should not have been blindsided like this, I’m sorry.

Have you someone there you can talk it through with?

FoxtonFoxton · 31/01/2025 17:43

Honestly, no I haven't. It's not necessarily a bad thing -at least you don't have a two year wait. Don't be scared to ask questions though.