What age is sen usually diagnosed?

[Peelingpotatoes]

I know sen can go unnoticed until teen/adulthood and be diagnosed then but I'm not talking about those cases. Where a child is diagnosed in childhood what age does it generally happen? Experiences please.

It probably depends on what the Sen is really, but I think the average is 7 or 8. One of mine has a processing disorder that I always had an incline of when they were a toddler they had an official diagnosis at 8.

My child was diagnosed at 3. It depends on what you’re dealing with.

I'd say as a general rule the school will notice something in reception or year 1 and make a referral. It can then take years on the NHS to get an actual diagnosis though.

Way too many variables.

we knew at nursery age there was something, referrals done when he was 4. Diagnosed with autism at 7 and ADHD at 8.

My friends toddler got diagnosed with ASD at 2.

^this exactly. Concerns may have been raised with nursery already which are then passed on to school at handover, so teachers are aware there may be more to it. I don't often teach the really small ones now, but definitely made a lot of referrals in year R/1. It can then take a couple of years or so to work through the waiting list! So 7/8/9 is a common age. Though if school is aware there is possible neurodivergence they should put things in place to support your child before you reach your time with the specialists.

Depends entirely on the type of sen, how it affects the child and their friends and family, the school they attend, parental awareness of the sen and the ability or willingness to push for a diagnosis.

Essentially, how long is a piece of string?

Ds was 7 when dx with ADHD.

Autism from 2
Speech and Language difficulties from 3
DevLangDis from 5
ADHD about 6-7 earliest
Dyslexia from 7
Slow processing possibly a bit older

My dd was diagnosed with ASD at 2 and a half

Thanks for all input everyone. My LO is 4 and at the beginning of the journey but diagnosis seems far off yet. I was wondering how normal that is.

Unfortunately it’s a long process but being in the system is a good start.

In the system is a good way forward it will be professional and referral dependent probably but you are on the right road.

My DS was 4.5 when I had my "lightbulb moment" and he was diagnosed with autism shortly before his 7th birthday, so it took 2.5 years. It wasn't via the standard NHS route, though, because he masks in school and the SENCO wouldn't refer him - said he wouldn't meet the threshold. I eventually found out about the 'Right to Choose' option and managed to get him assessed that way - the GP referred to a private provider that accepts NHS Right to Choose funding.

As awitch pointed out, it depends on so many factors. I would imagine (hope!) that a child with a learning disability or a more obvious presentation of autism would be diagnosed younger. And I know of plenty of young people whose conditions go undiagnosed for most if not all of their childhood. In my experience the parent has to be aware of the signs and fight for an assessment.

@NameChange30

Would you mind me asking what signs you noticed in your child? I had no idea you could still go for a referral through the GP if the school disagree with you due to masking. Did you have a fight to get the GP on board?

You can look at the Nice guidelines for identifying autism in children, and there are also screening tests you can do. One of the assessment providers I enquired with sent a screening questionnaire and after I completed and returned it they confirmed that an assessment was warranted.

I was lucky with the GP in that I saw a good one and she listened and agreed to refer without a fight (which was a pleasant surprise after some challenging school meetings!) I did go to the appointment fully prepared with my folder of evidence! If you can afford it I would advise getting a private OT assessment (with an OT who has experience with neurodiverse children), it's a fraction of the cost of a full autism assessment and it gives you evidence as well as practical recommendations for home and school.

If you're interested in the Right to Choose route, I suggest joining the Facebook group where there is a pinned post with an up to date list of providers. Then contact one or two of the providers, they will either have the info on their website or send you the info which you can then share with the GP. Not all GPs know about Right to Choose, sadly, which is why it's important to give them the info.

There's not a set age,
in my area the waiting list is 3 years

Completely depends. I knew my son was possibly Autistic at the age of 3, he was 9-10 when diagnosed. My other son is 13 and has just been referred for an ADHD assessment.

Not in my area my son was discharged because the school didn't respond to the questionnaire they sent..

Was that the standard NHS route or Right to Choose?

Totally depends what you are dealing with. SEN is very wide spectrum. None verbal ASD maybe as young as 2.5. Inattentive ADHD or ‘high functioning’ ASD will likely be much later. Later again potentially for dyslexia and dyspraxia. And that’s just the more common diagnoses.

Our very chatty son and non-verbal daughter were both flagged by nursery. From there we have worked with settings on the basis that confirmation will come when it comes and waiting lists allow, but that it makes no difference to the support they should have in the meantime including being on the SEN register.

Our daughter is accessing SALT and support on that basis, so although the process can be intimidating, once the dialogue is there it can make a difference regardless.

My son was more on an obvious diagnosis. He was non verbal but more importantly he had no communication past screams and arm movements, was very behind in his development across all areas, extremely rigid from birth. He was diagnosed at 3 years of age, was under multiple services from 15 months and started the pathway at 20 months. His case file went to panel 3 times before diagnosis was agreed due to his age and wanting to observe any development with intervention from the various services.

Sense organ and motor skills issues by preschool age

Academic issues like dyscalculia and dyslexia by the end of infants.

Social and communication issues like autism and ADHD at whatever stage the expectations placed upon them are too much, often at the very start of Primary or Secondary school

However, lots of Primary schools opt for a 'wait and see' approach so although signs maybe there they wait for them to grow out of it. Often secondary school staff are experienced with a greater range of SEN due to the greater populations so will pick things up previously missed as well as a secondary environment being less conducive for children with SEN who begin to struggle more.

Waiting for state assesment of anything however takes a long time and waiting lists are huge. Going private with appropriately qualified professionals makes a massive difference and the wait becomes weeks instead of years

Ds was dx'd with autism at 2 and a half and had Statement of SEN in place by 3 and a half. Dd was dx at just 2 and had Statement of SEN in place by three. She had dx of situational mutism at 8 and processing difficulties at 10 and hypermobility at 16.

DD, chromosome disorder flagged at birth, went to SEN playgroup from 3 months and nursery at SEN school at 2 1/2.

DS flagged with some difficulties at mainstream pre school nursery aged 3. Issues increased once full time school started. Referred for assessment by the school in Yr 1. Assessed and diagnosed as having ASD by age 7.