Autism video assessment with parent (through Cambhs) - what to expect

[MGMidget]

We are booked for a video assessment with parent (not child) as part of an autism assessment for our DS. They advised it can last for up to two hours. What should I expect this to cover? It will probably only be one parent (me) as our younger one needs constant supervision while home schooling and this isn't the type of conversation we want to be having in from of either of our DC, I suspect. Do I need to have entire medical history to hand and lots of anecdotes on behaviour etc? Or are they looking to assess me/parenting style? Two hours seem like a long time! They haven't assessed DS yet. That apparently happens later after lockdown with a face to face appointment although I suspect this appointment may be a filter appointment to decide whether they proceed with the next stage?

How far in the process are you? Who has DS seen upto now? We never saw CAMHS. How old is your son and how did they become involved?

Yes, it will be incredibly helpful to have anecdotes and descriptions.

As much as you can try to have 'measurable' examples and descriptions. So rather than "he is a poor sleeper" think " a typical might he will......" . Or rather than "he is a fussy eater" say "he will eat foods he can pick up with fingers, but not anything like a casserole or curry or cottage pie" or obviously whatever the truth is.
They will have a whole list of questions, but the more points / notes you have made before hand, the less likely you are to be thinking afterwards "Oh, I didn't mention X, Y, or Z"

This might be the 3Di or similar. It is very detailed and you'll be asked so many questions about your child's early life, etc.

I found it really helpful to have specific examples of times when DD2 had displayed behaviours that I thought showed one of the 'triad of impairments'. For example, when asked about rigidity, I recalled a time when, after a dance class, DD2 had a complete tantrum because she didn't want to put her tights on (too hot) but couldn't cope with the thought of wearing shoes without socks. What she wanted was for me to produce socks. But I didn't have any. For an hour, we went backwards and forwards over the options. None would do. I ended up having to carry her out to the car (a long way away!).

So I'd think back to when you first started to think 'hmmm.... Could there be something else here?' and list all the things that you can think of that made you think that. Each example on its own might seem quite insignificant -there was a time when DD2 would only wear a certain skirt because it had 3 buttons and she was 3; she was obsessed with repeating patterns; she asked the same question at a particular point in a particular film every time - but together they build a bit of a picture.

Yes sounds like the ADI, we had ours by phone and it ended up as 4 hours
They are very much looking for examples of behaviours. I had a list of key things I wanted to mention and found it useful but other things will come to you as you go along.

Thanks everyone! This is very helpful. They told me up to 2 hours so I’m worried now as I have another hospital appointment on the afternoon so cant overrun by much! I timed both. For the same day for efficiency as DH took a day off work). I hope I dont have to cut the session short!

@sendhelp30 DS is 13 but was first referred by a paediatrician at about age 8 when also being investigated for ADHD. Each time he gets part of the way and he’s filtered out. Then he gets referred again by another expert/consultant!

@MGMidget that’s awful. Must be so difficult for you all. We were lucky, my son was seen really quickly and diagnosis was also quick but I know that’s not usually the case.

Hopefully this time you’ll finally get somewhere! Good luck to you.

Thanks! It looks like I needto find the time to get a lot of stuff together before this call and try to remember lots about early childhood!