Being tested for ASD - is it true that you have to wait till they're 9?

[Psipssina]

Ds2 has some traits that I associate with the possibility of an ASD and I asked the SENCO recently if we could have him assessed, and if so how.

She said they don't generally do it until the child is 9. He is nearly 8.

She said the only way to do it sooner would be to take him to the GP and ask to be referred for assessment at the hospital.

I'm concerned that this might make him feel as though he has something wrong with him, though of course the school process might do that too.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the best thing to do? He has been a little 'different' since he was a baby and scored a few red flags on the M-CHAT, which our HV told me not to worry about.

He is very anxious, generally, has a stammer, is shy, and the way he moves is unusual. He has already had a bit of bullying at his primary.

I suppose I'm worried he may suffer more, socially and with his anxiety, if he isn't diagnosed before long, that's assuming these issues are caused by what I suspect and not something else.

He's not in a desperate situation - he is anxious though and also seems to be very bright (completing a times tables sheet well before the rest of the class, and 100% correct - not having really learned them yet AFAIK, he just figures them out). I don't know if it would change anything to have a DX in any case?

Thank you for any thoughts.

Oh thanks Dixie that would be better I think, if our HV will see ds2 as well.

I'll ask her when we see her.

Just to update, I spoke to the GP yesterday on the phone, and he took it very seriously and made notes as we spoke. He said he is happy to fire off a letter to community paediatrics to get the ball rolling.

He is very sensible - he said there would be no point bringing in Ds as ten minutes observation would teach him nothing, and I know him best.

I was so grateful. He said it's a bit difficult to write a referral unless school or someone else has flagged concerns but we sort of bodged it between us, I gave him a lot of info including the HV stuff from when Ds was 2, and he seemed to think it was sufficient.

He's epic. I actually am a little bit in love with him He said they will send me a questionnaire initially and then decide from that whether it warrants pursuing, I spoke to the SENCO today who confirmed this (and said it may take a while) and she said once that's done, they'll write to the school with something similar, and she said that not knowing him very well, she would still be happy to speak to them on the phone and say that she thinks it warrants investigation.

She says she's spoken to Ds a few times but didn't specify whether or not she had any concerns. I told her a few of mine and she was sympathetic - she said sometimes it does present in a very subtle way.

She is brilliant too - we haven't been at this vast primary for very long but I feel in good hands already. Compared to our old school where SEN was brushed under the carpet a lot of the time.

Thanks again for all the info, it's been invaluable.

I know, he is German, maybe they are just very sensible generally

Thank you Polter.

Ah brilliant stuff. Well done.