Autism assesment GDD

[PlumRobin]

My son is 2 years 3months and we've just done a referal for a paediatrician for signs of autism. I seen and read alpt of Gloval development delay, is this a diagnosis prior to seeing the autism paediatrician? Were on 18week wait see the community paediatrician, do they say this or is it part of the autism diagnosis altogether? Also if anyone from Norfolk on here been through simalr, how long am I looking 😩

I’m not from Norfolk, so unfortunately can’t help with waiting times. My dd is a few years older than your ds. Global developmental delay was never mentioned before or after the ASD diagnosis.

GDD isn't part of an autism diagnosis but it is something that might be looked at (I would say should be looked at unless it's clearly not in play) as an alternative diagnosis (i.e. it might be concluded that your child is not autistic, but signs you see that are suggestive of autism are actually caused by GDD) or he might have autism AND GDD. In effect, GDD isn't needed for an autism diagnosis but it is possible that that your child has both.

Can't comment on the way the process runs (my DC are diagnosed privately), but the pediatricians can't (formally) assess for autism so I suspect they are likely to look into more detail around GDD first, or at least discuss the possibility during the appointment. If they don't bring it up, you should if you have concerns.

An autism assessment is a multifunctional team assessment - often led by a psychologist. Exactly who is involved varies a bit, both normally psychologist, speech and language therapist/occupational therapist, and sometime a psychiatrist. Not sure if pediatricians are commonly involved, but they can't (or again, shouldn't!) diagnose alone.

My child was never seen by a psychologist or psychiatrist. She wasn’t seen by OT either. A paediatrician saw her in a Zoom meeting, but not in person. It seems the diagnosis was made on the basis of information from me, the paediatrician’s observations at the Zoom meetings, nursery reports and SALT reports. It’s interesting how the diagnosis process differs.

For autism? Really interesting.

Just went down a rabbit hole and it's more varied that I thought. Very surprised on a zoom meeting assessment for a child though.

OP, having now read the NICE guidelines, GDD should be considered during the autism assessment under NICE but it's not part of the assessment technically i.e. it's a separate assessment. They may bundle it all together.

Yup! I contacted a health visitor when my DD was very young and after doing some questionnaires (they never saw her either) they referred on to the child development team.

The zoom meetings were due to Covid, but to be honest, I was surprised that she wasn’t seen in person at all by a paediatrician. The first time we saw a paediatrician in person was when the diagnosis has already been made. I appreciate this sounds like I may be making it up or mid-remembering, but it’s the absolute truth.

Not doubting you!

The GDD is considered during initial assessment to rule it out especially for children younger than 7 because often times, the 'autism signs' are really just developmental delays which straighten themselves out by the time they're older or in their early teens, either naturally or with support.