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Rushed autism diagnosis?

6 replies

Arrowmoon · 05/10/2022 13:28

Hi 👋

My 3.5 year old has been diagnosed with global development delay with speech and communication. He has had one appointment with a speech therapist and maybe 2 appointments with 2 different paediatricians. Which lasted about 15 minutes, he’s had one play assessment which again didn’t last long. This has happened over the last year and the last time I saw the paediatrician, I was told there would be assessments at our home and and his nursery. These have never happened, I have had a phone call today to book him in to see another paediatrician for 2 hours and I’ll have a diagnosis at the end of it. When I had mentioned that he hasn’t had his other assessments yet, she didn’t seem concerned and just booked the appointment. I always thought it was quite a long in depth look for autism? The only things he struggles with is his speech and communication. He doesn’t say many words and will take me to show what he wants. He has no behavioural issues and has never cared about a routine. He’ll eat most things and isn’t bothered by smells or anything like that. Does this seem rushed for a diagnosis? Or is this normal? I thought there would be more appointments and assessments first. I haven’t got a problem if he’s on the spectrum, I just want them to get him the help he needs. But so far all I’ve been told is that if he’s diagnosed he will go to classes to help with his behaviours? But he doesn’t need that and just feel not listened to at all and they aren’t giving us any help or advice.

OP posts:
LucyJ2023 · 11/08/2023 11:13

Hello, I am in a similar situation to the above and intrigued as to how your son progressed?

TheOutlaws · 11/08/2023 11:16

This is standard; DS1 had a play assessment with a clinpsy and a Speech and Language assessment, plus forms. He was 7 at the time.

cyncope · 11/08/2023 11:23

A play assessment (ADOS?), speech and language assessment and a couple of paediatrician appointments sounds quite in depth and not rushed.

polkadotdalmation · 12/08/2023 20:30

I assume theyve ruled out hearing problems

Ohthatsabitshit · 14/08/2023 17:20

I think it sounds like enough eyes to diagnose but I’m intrigued by so far all I’ve been told is that if he’s diagnosed he will go to classes to help with his behaviours? as I’ve never encountered that!

Arrowmoon · 14/08/2023 20:37

Thank you for the replies, @LucyJ2023 they said he was borderline and would review it again in 6 months. He has started to sing and hum along to songs and has started to say more words but it isn’t all the time but it’s definitely a lot more than what he was saying before.

@polkadotdalmation He passed his hearing test and they couldn’t see any problems with his hearing.

@Ohthatsabitshit no I haven’t either, I’m not really sure what that means and haven’t had any further details.

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