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Original poster

What do I do if I suspect my DC has autism?

39 replies

Ramunea · 22/03/2023 22:51

I have a son who is 9 and whilst he is wonderful is so many ways, I have noticed (and school have too) that he in some ways seems behind other kids his age.
School have not diagnosed him although he does have an EHCP and gets additional help at school and has sessions to help him with his social skills and catch up sessions as he is slightly behind academically compared to others his age.
I think he may be on the spectrum but of course I can’t diagnose as I’m not a medical professional (it’s just a hunch as I have family members with ASD and I currently work with clients with ASD and disabilities), but I feel like I want him to get the best help he can get.

i suppose my question is, what do I do if I suspect he has an ASD? Do I go to my GP or would the school flag it up somewhere once they have diagnosed if he has one?
TIAx

OP posts:
MoveBitch · 22/03/2023 22:57

Talk to the school about your worries, ask them to draw up a list of his challenges.
Book a go appointment, discuss with GP what you think is wrong with evidence and ask for a referral to whomever deals with this in your area. That may be Cahms or another NHS agency

Xrays · 22/03/2023 22:59

The GP was the one who referred our son to the paediatrician who then put him on the autism pathway for diagnosis - in Norfolk this consists of various assessments and tests. Our son was 3 though so it may be different for school aged children (he’s 10 now) but I would start with your doctor.

PurpleWisteria1 · 22/03/2023 23:03

Excuse my ignorance but don’t you have to have quite severe difficulties / barriers to learning to have an EHCP? I’m am quite surprised that the school haven’t mentioned autism sooner with those signs and the EHCP?

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Newjumper2023 · 22/03/2023 23:04

It depends on your area and how they work. I'd ask the senco. Dc1 was diagnosed from a gp referral. We then moved house to a different lea and dc2 was diagnosed from a school referal direct to an asd assessment team. If your happy to post your area someone may have more specific advice. In both cases though we needed to show there were issues in different settings so school will probably need to support you.

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:04

Thank you so much for the helpful advice @MoveBitch @Xrays. I will book an appointment to visit the gp and discuss my concerns.

it doesn’t bother me in the slightest if he has has ASD but I feel like If there’s more help that could be offered to him then I definitely want him to get it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:12

@PurpleWisteria1 Im not entirely sure however from what I think I know about EHCP’s, it doesn’t have to be severe learning difficulties or disabilities. It could be something mild such as anxiety or even mild depression. I could be wrong though as I’m still new to it myself.

His previous school spoke to me just before he left and mentioned that they thought he was autistic and they wanted to follow it up however as we moved house about a week or so later and he subsequently moved school, there was no follow up.

his current school he has been in for around 3 years and they have bought it up since shortly after he started and over the years we have come up with techniques to help him in school and the EHCP was drawn up mid last year and then additional help was put in place, however I feel like I want to know if there is a diagnosis. I have spoken to his teacher and she said she wasn’t sure if he has an ASD or not and that the school will just continue to find ways of helping him which I find great. However I feel if there’s more help I could get, and I’m not talking about benefits or money, but actual help (example; he has social anxiety and I feel maybe if he was diagnosed with an ASD I could get some help getting him into some sort of social clubs and possibly help to pay for that) then I definitely want to look into it as I don’t want him to fall so far behind he can’t catch up.

OP posts:
LonginesPrime · 22/03/2023 23:18

It may also be that staff might have assumed he has been assessed (and may even assume he already has an ASD diagnosis, depending on how he presents) because he already has an EHCP in place for similar difficulties. Which might be why no-one has thought to raise it as a possibility.

If you have a link to CAMHS or an educational psychologist already, OP, I would speak to them in the first instance, but otherwise, the SENCO and/or GP would usually be the first port of call.

strawberryandcreams · 22/03/2023 23:19

PurpleWisteria1 · 22/03/2023 23:03

Excuse my ignorance but don’t you have to have quite severe difficulties / barriers to learning to have an EHCP? I’m am quite surprised that the school haven’t mentioned autism sooner with those signs and the EHCP?

My thoughts too. I would also think OP would know immediately to talk to the SENCO to get the referral

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:20

LonginesPrime · 22/03/2023 23:18

It may also be that staff might have assumed he has been assessed (and may even assume he already has an ASD diagnosis, depending on how he presents) because he already has an EHCP in place for similar difficulties. Which might be why no-one has thought to raise it as a possibility.

If you have a link to CAMHS or an educational psychologist already, OP, I would speak to them in the first instance, but otherwise, the SENCO and/or GP would usually be the first port of call.

Ok I see. That could be a possibility although I don’t think they think he has been assessed yet. I suppose maybe they assume I’m looking into it but honestly I have no clue how to go about it so I have been waiting for them to tell me what to do.

in regards to contacting the SENCO, would that be the SENCO team at his school or I would need to contact the SENCO team for the council/ area I live in?

OP posts:
FloatingBean · 22/03/2023 23:24

In some areas you can self refer, if you can’t the GP or school will be able to refer.

Support in EHCPs is based on needs, not diagnosis, so with a few exceptions such as autism specialist schools a diagnosis wouldn’t automatically mean more support.

What provision is in section F of the EHCP? Does it include SALT, some form of MH therapy, social skills support? What did the EHCNA assessments state? You wouldn’t get an EHCP for mild anxiety or mild depression.

CornishTiger · 22/03/2023 23:25

GP but research Right to choose!

LonginesPrime · 22/03/2023 23:27

It would usually be the SENCO at his school, as they would typically be the ones to make the referral (unless there's a psychologist/MH professional involved already) - the council EHCP coordinators aren't usually as hands-on (at least not in our area) and would usually refer us back to the school in the first instance anyway.

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:28

LonginesPrime · 22/03/2023 23:27

It would usually be the SENCO at his school, as they would typically be the ones to make the referral (unless there's a psychologist/MH professional involved already) - the council EHCP coordinators aren't usually as hands-on (at least not in our area) and would usually refer us back to the school in the first instance anyway.

Thank you. That’s helpful. I will speak to the school tomorrow and see what the SENCO team can do.

OP posts:
Jellycats4life · 22/03/2023 23:30

I’m surprised you have an EHCP but no diagnosis of anything. You don’t need a diagnosis for an EHCP of course, just solid evidence that your child needs that support, I’m just surprised that you got the EHCP without taking it further? My kids, for example, are autistic but their schools won’t support applying for an EHCP because their needs apparently aren’t significant enough.

Anyway, school will back you up I’m sure. You need a paediatrician referral.

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:35

@Jellycats4life
I am kind of surprised as-well. When them mentioned he would be given an EHCP I assumed that meant the school and relating professionals had diagnosed him with Autism as that was the thought at first and my initial thought. But when I then spoke to the teacher again to get an answer of what his diagnosis was his teacher said he hasn’t been diagnosed and so I was unsure what to do next.

im still new to this so maybe that was a prompt for me to chase it up but I had no clue. We just had his EHCP reviewed last week and this will happen every few months. I also have additional one to one meetings with the teacher to keep up to date with his progression and there are other things they have put in place for him at school. Just no diagnosis and I feel like I really just want to know if there is an ASD or if he is just socially anxious and academically behind.

OP posts:
FloatingBean · 22/03/2023 23:39

Are you sure it is an EHCP and not an IEP (or whatever you school call the school level SEN Support plan)? Because it would be unusual for an EHCP to be reviewed every few months as a matter of course.

@Jellycats4life you don’t need the schools support. Unfortunately some schools incorrectly tell parents their DC doesn’t need or won’t get an EHCP but the parents go on to successfully apply themselves. If you think one is needed apply anyway.

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:44

@FloatingBean

its definitely an EHCP he has and then he has an ILP which is what we review every few months.

OP posts:
Jellycats4life · 22/03/2023 23:45

@Ramunea I understand. It’s a confusing process and it sounds like you were badly advised.

@FloatingBean Yes, it looks like I’m going it alone with the EHCP. Lucky me!

FloatingBean · 22/03/2023 23:46

So if it’s an EHCP what did the assessments from the EHCNA state? What provision and therapies is in F?

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:47

@FloatingBean Maybe I’m confusing the terminologies but he has an EHCP as this is what they used to get additional help at school.

every few weeks/ term I go in to see the teacher and we review his learning plan and then they set out targets and goals he should be working towards. He also has something called a learning passport (again maybe I have the name incorrect although I remember passport being in it).

OP posts:
LonginesPrime · 22/03/2023 23:48

FloatingBean · 22/03/2023 23:39

Are you sure it is an EHCP and not an IEP (or whatever you school call the school level SEN Support plan)? Because it would be unusual for an EHCP to be reviewed every few months as a matter of course.

@Jellycats4life you don’t need the schools support. Unfortunately some schools incorrectly tell parents their DC doesn’t need or won’t get an EHCP but the parents go on to successfully apply themselves. If you think one is needed apply anyway.

Yes, I agree with this - our SENCO fobbed me off for years saying my DC wouldn't meet the threshold, etc etc, and I eventually applied for EHCPs myself and now my DC have them - they were struggling hugely without support but are thriving now in more specialised settings.

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:48

@FloatingBean

Im unsure. It was last reviewed a few weeks ago and I don’t remember what it said word for word. Where would I find this information? Would the school need to give me a copy of his EHCP?

OP posts:
FloatingBean · 22/03/2023 23:54

If DS has an EHCP you should have a copy and you would know what provision it includes.

The review you have every few weeks doesn't sound like it is a review of the EHCP. If the EHCP was reviewed a few weeks ago it is unlikely you know the outcome of this review yet, as the LA have 4 weeks to notify you whether they are going to amend or not and if they are to send the draft. Then if they are going to amend they have a further 8 weeks to finalise the amendments.

Original poster
Ramunea · 22/03/2023 23:58

@FloatingBean
ive just rechecked my emails sent from the teacher and what we reviewed last week was his IEP.

The EHCP I don’t remember having details of however I will enquire with the school how I could get a copy as it seems I need to see what is written on it.

OP posts:
FloatingBean · 23/03/2023 00:01

The school should have a copy of DS’s EHCP. You could also contact your caseworker at the LA. You would have been sent a finalised EHCP last year when the EHCP was issued.