13 external teacher suggested Austim : what are the steps we need to take to explore this

[FabulousFebruary]

As above silly question maybe but could it be docs ? Elsewhere

Sorry 13 year olds extra curricular teacher .

You can ask for a referral through your GP. But in my experience the wait is very long - DS got his diagnosis as an adult after 4 months, having been on the child waiting list for 4 years.

Have any other teachers raised concerns?

No but I wouldn't expect them too because they are not trained.

She did have a very rocky start at school.
No sensory issues
But can be very stubborn
Most of all overly self conscious and shy etc

Is the extra curricular teacher trained in autism or other neuro diversity?

@Buscobel no I don't think so but she said other students with ASD show them same traits

Do you have any other concerns?

I would start by asking for a meeting with school SENCO and asking them to find out how they present in school. In our area even with a list of traits which fill an A4 piece of paper request for ASD assessment from GP will be decline and you’re offered a parenting course.

Teachers, and extra curricular teachers (sports? chess?), have no business telling a parent they think their child is autistic. Please ask to meet your school SENCo.

(Teacher of 25 years here, 15 of those leading special education).

I think that a teacher, particularly the SENCo in your child’s school, will have more knowledge and understanding of neuro diversity, than the extra curricular teacher you’ve mentioned. You don’t say what this is for, but if it’s sport or a specialism of some sort and this person doesn’t teach in a school, I don’t think he/she would be a reliable source.

Your child’s teachers in school, whilst not specialists, have the SENCo to refer to, who does have more specialist knowledge. I would be wary of someone ‘diagnosing’ who says that they have seen others with the same traits. People who are ND have a wide range of differences and similarities and an even wider range of needs and support, just as people who are NT do.

Thanks .

She didn't diagnose she was asking whether DD has it so she could list any send for the examiner and said she is presenting like some other students with ASD.
I have concerns around stubbornness, rigid in some ways painfully why to begin with etc

What will the senco do ?

Schools often fail to pick up autism in girls, especially if they are not causing problems. Girls are extremely good at masking.

Three girls in my daughter's primary class were eventually diagnosed with autism - no thanks to the school. My daughter was diagnosed in year 5, through CAMHS - her year 6 teacher confidently told me he didn't think she was autistic at all.

Teachers are not trained in autism. They may have assumptions about what autism looks like and tell you your child isn't autistic with no basis for it.

Imo an extra curricular activity teacher is in as good a position as anyone to ask the question.

First step is probably your GP. However, you could also ask school to involve their speech and language service and see if that shows any concerns.

Do you have concerns?

All teachers have some training in SEND. Not much in many cases but definitely some. They'll do lots of internal training too. However, teachers do not diagnose as they aren't medical professionals or psychologist.

Most teachers do have training in autism. All teachers have SEND training.

@Lostsoultrip well I know they don't !

How do you know this because I've been in the sector for over two decades and I don't know any ITTECF training provider who doesn't include SEND - It's part of the framework. Even back 25 years ago when I qualified it was on every ITT course. There might be some teachers who qualified 30/40 years ago who didn't get training in it when qualifying but having supported hundreds of schools over the last few years I don't know any who don't do regular SEND training for staff internally.

@Lostsoultrip sister in teaching they don't and that's why...the gov is making them do it

You don't trust teachers' opinions, but you're happy to take the word of someone who runs an after school club?

@Shinyandnew1 sorry which teacher opinion am I supposed to be trusting?

Someone has thought my DD may have ASD because they think she's presenting like other students they know have it.

I'm asking for next steps .

It's not an after school club either

If you don't have anything positive to add or help please dont comment thank you .
It's an upsetting time.

You'd be best learning about autism and seeing what traits fit your DD, that way, if you feel like she needs a diagnosis you'll be able to say exactly why ( autism isn't a one shoe fits all, my dd is nothing like my friends autistic son )

I learnt so much about my DD through learning about autism, things she did I wouldn't of ever thought were autistic behaviours until I read about them,

Years ago school mentioned to me they thought my son was adhd, I went home, read up about it and was actually quote horrified to realise unrecognised a lot of myself in it. I ended up being diagnosed with adhd and then later autism too. That teacher saying that to me led me to realising that me and both my children are ND, we are all so much happier now we understand ourselves more and know how to help ourselves ( me and dd diagnosed, ds still waiting )

Next steps would be either right to choose via your GP or cahms ( right to choose is quicker ) or private if you can afford it

Honestly though, there isn't that much support offered from services once diagnosed, the best support comes from home and maybe school depending how clued up they are

@Namechangwbillionthtime thanks.
Funnily enough I have read about it ages ago and there is nothing there like clothing issues or food stuff.

However there is an element of oppositional defiance or being strong willed.

And this intense shyness.

No sensory seeking behaviour im aware of.

Thanks this is what I'm wondering about whether it's severe enough to get diagnosed and whether it would help or hinder .

I know that even with ehcp many DC get no real meaningful help

There's a huge social side to autism too, which usually impacts girls more than clothing / food issues. Girls are generally better at masking than boys too

I never realised until I started learning more..... my DD doesn't tend to actually hold a conversation. She information dumps. Even if I try to steer the conversation, she will go back to her chosen subject. She does have sensory issues but it was never an issue for me because I understood, certain clothes don't feel nice 😅

( there's a lot of comboridities between autism and adhd ) extreme shyness is a sympton of innatentive adhd

If school are mentioning it, I think it's worth investigating, they don't tend to mention things this unless they think the child could benefit from support. I'll always be grateful to the teacher who spoke to me, it's completely changed our lives and my MH

It depends on your DD if you think it will help or hinder,

I masked my entire life.... I thought everyone pretended to be okay and struggled silenty on the inside 😅

I've said to people in the past I think later diagnosis depend on how supported you are. I had no support for my undiagnosed autism and adhd in my childhood, therfore I didn't know how to support my own child with autism and adhd - ( I thought she was as broken as I was )

She is so much happier now she is supported and knows how her brain works

My dd doesn't have an ECHP as I felt primary meets her needs suffiently, high school may be a different story though

Sorry but you need to do some research.