Learning difficulties in 8 year old?

[Flobalob]

I've posted this on the SN board but posting on here for traffic too!

My DS is awaiting an assessment for autism and, as part of the assessment, he's just seen a SALT.

She assessed him using the BSVP3 vocabulary test and he got a score of the 3rd percentile.

She also did a test where he had to repeat back sentences to her word for word. He struggled with this and got a score of 9th percentile.

Then she read out short stories to him and he had to answer questions on them. Again, he got a score of 9th percentile.

She told me these scores over the phone so I don't have the report yet but can somebody please tell me what this means for him?

A friend said that it meant he might have learning difficulties. Google indicates it could be GDD and someone else said that it probably confirms autism.

Has anyone been through this and had similar scores? What was the outcome please?

I know that school will deny that there's any problems so no point talking to them until I know what I'm dealing with!

I’m a SALT. These scores indicate he has difficulties in several different areas of language processing and formulation. They only assess language so can’t give an indication of what his cognitive ability and learning levels are. Children can have difficulties with language without learning difficulties.

Similarly, these scores don’t give information on whether your DS has autism or not. The SALT should have been looking at his social communication and social interaction skills for information around this question.

Thank you for your response.

I thought it was odd that they didn't ask him to look at the picture of faces like they did with my daughter. Her test was completely different so I assumed that's what he was seeing the SALT for. We did have some concerns over the way he speaks so I guess that's why those tests were done. Thank you.

I wish you all the best with his assessment. I also have a DC on the Autistic Spectrum so I understand the torment of waiting on the opinion of various different professionals

Thank you. I've been through it all with my little girl so thought I could handle what was coming but these results have really knocked me for six!