GP has just diagnosed Littlemad with Autism, on an appt about sinusitis

[LizaTarbucksAuntie]

Littlemad is down with a virus.

Against my better judgement I took him to the Doctors this morning (recently a doctor at this practice refused to accept me saying I was stressed not depressed and sent me away to ask my husband what he thought)

Anyway, GP pokes a digital thermometer at littlemad who rightly (in my opinion) goes 'what are you doing with that?'

Gp says: Does he ALWAYS behave like this? I say no, he's poorly this is out of character...he says hmm and he made a fuss about having his eyes tested didn't he? Have you had any tests done on him? His implication was littlemad has behavioural problems although he then refused to say what sort of test he meant...

I bristle a little to be fair and say no Gpd says, but he's very 'difficult' isnt he. Now Littlemad is a darling and fairly quirky, he's very bright and gets quite focused on things.

Neither he nor I have slept much for the best part of a week.

Now I'm not going 'he's so perfect he can't possibly be autistic' but there is a time and a place for having a conversation of that kind and it's not:

1. the first time you have met us
2. During a consultation about SOMETHING else
3. APPROPRIATE UNLESS I'VE ASKED FOR YOUR ADVICE

Am very cross.

really, very cross, if I wasn't so tired I'd be dangerous me :)

What an absolute arse! How a) unprofessional and b) unthoughtful. Kids can be kids, they have good days and bad days, just plain bloomin rude, I'd be complaining, definitely!

How old is the lo?. I wouldn't have said objecting to being examined by a stranger was particularly unusual.

Now I have littlemad home - incidentally best treatment for this virus is for them to be left sitting around in t-shirt and shorts to keep the temp down...... I have littlemad screaming because he's too cold in a fleece, but obviously I'm just coddling him.

Anyway, I'm waiting for the GP to call me back and explain I've misunderstood him and he meant something else about calcium levels or something otherwise I will be complaining.

You need to find yourself a new GP,where is this one from 1920?

He sent you home to ask your husband?

Words fail me!

Now Littlemad is a darling and fairly quirky, he's very bright and gets quite focused on things.

How old is this child?

I just reread your OP and noticed the comment about asking your husband, words fail me also.

There must be other GPs near you? Or maybe you want to move, my GPs would never dream of acting like this even at their least sensitive moments.

YABU if you think a GP should only treat the illness you are concerned about. I think it is appropriate that a GP looks at other potential health issues.

YANBU re a GP thinking that a child being difficult to examine while ill automatically means they have autism / behavior problems.

But from the way the OP writes, the doctor who suggeste the OP speak to her husband, is not the same doctor she saw this morning anyway.

A GP cannot diagnose autism, a diagnosis of autism would be made by a TEAM of professionals including a community paediatrian. SLT, child pycholistt, audiologist and looking a behaviour in more than one setting. These health professionals would be trying to help the child rather than bunging a label on them.

Autism is far more than being just a little difficult. It is triad of impairments. It affects language, social skills and routine.

How old is Littlemad? Do you or anyone else have developmental concerns? Do you think it would be worth Littlemad having a hearing test to rule out glue ear. Why don't you ask your health visitor to review development.

Serin - no, he was a different one in the same practice, I did say to him at the time, I'm sorry I didn't book an appt in 1954 and I know exactly what my husband will say, he said oooo is he a bit controlling then.... words failed me then

minus237 Littlemad is 5 and has been wiped out for a week feeling crap. not unusual at all really.

Have you had any tests done on him? His implication was littlemad has behavioural problems although he then refused to say what sort of test he meant

So the GP didnt actually say anything about Autism at all.... you have just assumed that.

Typical GP incompetence

Find another one, but I find that most of them are pretty stupid poorly educated these days.

sounds like this GP was familiar with your DS if he knew there was an issue re:eye testing . Doesn't sound like GP was very tactful but YABU to think it's not his job to flag up genuine concerns just because you took him for something else.

It doesn't sound from your account of the conversation that the GP actually did mention autism at all. Is that actually so? In which case you are scaremongering, aren't you?

For the record, GPs cannot diagnose autism spectrum disorders, only a paediatrician or clinical psychologist (sometimes both together). It is actually extremely difficult to obtain an ASD diagnosis: parents often have to fight for years for one. Therefore I seriously doubt that this is really what was going on.

If the GP thinks that your child may have difficulties in a particular area, then it is their duty to raise it, whatever you have consulted them about. That is actually a sign that they are doing their job. After all, you would be pleased, wouldn't you, if the GP had said, 'you have consulted me about sinusitis but on examining your child I see that he actually has a serious heart condition'? It's because it is about behaviour that you are all prickly, isn't it?

I think you are over reactiing TBH. I can't see anywhere that your GP said anything about autism.
IMO, it is the GPs job to look for other stuff besides what you went in about in the first place.
Ask your DH what he thinks

A GP should look at the whole picture and the whole person not just the presenting complaint.

However in my professional experience children of that age tend to object to being examined especially when unwell. So that in itself I don't believe would suggest begavioural problems.

I don't see anywhere in your post that your GP diagnosed him with anything, let alone autism, which no GP would do casually, or indeed at all.

My GP was the complete opposite. Put all my concerns down to her just being badly behaved when it turned out (13 years later) that she was autistic.

Gps can't diagnose autism.
To have autism diagnosed , there is a long drawn out process.
For dd it started when the Hv asked if we had any concerns?. She wasn't hitting her milestones , was a poor feeder & eater ,and hardly slept and screamed most of the time.

Lost count of how many doctors we saw .Genetic testing , salt , ot .
Dd was diagnosed 3 years after initially being investigated. 3 different specialists where at her final assessment and they all agreed she was asd.

I'm still hoping they've got it wrong and one day she will wake up " normal " .

Get a new gp.

Sounds like an arse in some respects. You are right, there is a time and a place. Reallytired is right, Autism is not a diagnosis from a ten minute consultation with a GP. It takes a bloody long time.
Having said that, if he has got a temperature, GP is right, shorts and t shirt to keep temperature down, even if he is creating. Lollies are also good.

Anyway, I'm waiting for the GP to call me back and explain I've misunderstood him and he meant something else about calcium levels or something otherwise I will be complaining.

Eh? complaining about what exactly???

A GP cant DX Autism.
Did he actually say ASD, or did he just say your DS was difficult?

I hope Littlemad is feeling better.

Did the GP say 'I have a diagnosis - your son has autism' ?

Cos if he didn't I think the sleep deprivation may be clouding your judgement a little bit?