ASD diagnosis NHS Lothian

[Griefmonster]

Hello - I don't live in Scotland but seeking help for my SIL who is recently widowed. They live in East Lothian area and have thought for a while that DN has autistic traits. Nothing impacting school so school are not interested but all coming out at home. Suspect masking etc. I have been searching online but can't work out how they can start the process to get him a diagnosis. He's 11.
Thanks

I'd get her to speak to the GP if school aren't being pro active.

Where I am in Lothian, children are referred to the child community health team then it goes from there.

Thank you. If you don't mind - Does she make an appointment for my DN and go with him? She hasn't really talked to him about her thoughts. Or go alone?

I referred my DC via the GP - I booked an appointment for me, explained why I thought my DC needed referral and that I didn't bring them for precisely the reason that if I'd taken them, it would've stressed them out enormously and resulted in a meltdown for no productive purpose.

GP was happy to do the referral without seeing my DC BUT I recommend phoning first to check that your GP is happy for your SIL to do what I did (and explain the reasons) because it's a grey area.

I hope your DN & SIL are registered for bereavement counselling & support with one of the charities that help with children and grief? If you need recommendations, there's a bereavement section you might try posting in (lots of charities are local). Good luck!

Thank you so much. Yes they have been in touch with a place for the DC (there's another NT DN) It's been an extraordinarily hard time for them.

I hate to say it but the current NHS Lothian waiting time for ASD diagnosis is 18months - 2 years.

And even after you’re referred it takes an age we with nhs forth valley and it’s been a year since we started the process after taking 2 years to get to see someone, so getting referred as soon as you can is a good idea

Oh yes, awful waiting times. A friend gave me some good advice - if you suspect they have autistic traits, start putting strategies in place as if they do and see if it helps.

The diagnosis itself is only so useful (I don't disagree with getting onto the wait list ASAP though). If you stop expecting them to cope it can help. So I don't expect my dc to cope with parties or play dates or after school clubs or holiday clubs as other kids of their age might. I don't expect to get through a transition of any kind without a meltdown or a lot of mitigation to try and prevent one.

There are lots of useful books out there - one thing I've found is that books aimed at ASD kids are often helpful for anxiety if that is the main issue the autistic traits cause.

Thank you all. Will be good to give her a realistic picture. Seems sooner the better to speak to GP.