Possible autism and academic assessment not matching ability

[VirtualLearning]

We’ve been asked to speak to school about DS who is 9 and very happy and settled but his school test results were really low and not what they expected, he’s always been bright.

Does anyone have advice please - I think it might be time we assess him for ASD in case this explains something I don’t understand yet about how he learns or writes his work down? I wonder if he needs extra time or just doesn’t focus.
I think he has dyspraxia as his movements are quite different and he’s very focused on certain things. He’s had bad anxiety in the past which is very ok now but I imagine can resurface unexpectedly.
He’s always been good at maths but even this test result was really low. I wonder what it is and how to help support his learning , but guess a diagnosis would be a start to check if he does have ASD ?

I would maybe be looking at some kind of specific learning difficulty if his academic results are poorer than expected. Have you thought about dyslexia?

It may well be ASD but that would probably be evident in other behaviours as you say he is happy and settled. Does he have difficulties with communication and Interaction, rigid behaviour patterns and sensory sensitivities? An ASD assessment would be looking at those things. He could of course be masking at school but you would probably still see some of those behaviours at home.

I really appreciate your reply, thank you. He is extremely articulate and sophisticated verbally, reads easily and always has. He finds interaction quite hard but mainly from low confidence I think as he’s full of fun playing with friends at home.
In terms of sensory, he used to be noticeably noise sensitive but it seems much better now and I don’t notice it. As a toddler he’d cry if someone at playgroup sang out of tune for example.
No rigid behaviour patterns although he suits his school as it is very organised and predictable; he felt less safe as his less structured school previously and had obvious anxiety there.

He can be slow taking in a question or remark and need extra time to answer I have noticed - so slow verbal processing is possible. Often people think he isn’t answering when he is actually on the case if you wait a few extra seconds !