Will the Ed psych be able to??

[ilovechoc1987]

My 4 year old daughter finally has her educational psychologists assessment at nursery in may.
It's always been questioned whether she has autism, as she has all the traits.
Will the EP be able to get a better insight into her behaviour and maybe diagnosed autism?
What will happen in the appointment exactly?

Amy thanks

Sorry i meant MANY thanks

I'm not sure if EPs diagnose as such, rather assess where they need more help.
I think you'd need to go to your boroughs child development centre for a formal diagnosis. I'm guessing this is only accessible through a referral from HV or GP. That's how it worked for me anyway. My son waited 2 years to be seen by an EP so sounds like your on a good trajectory to getting the extra help she may need x

No. Psychologists can't diagnose anything as they do not have a medical qualification. It needs to be a medically trained Dr to give a diagnosis.
In our LA, the Nursery can refer to the CDC (Child Developmental Centre) as can the HV, as can the GP, as can a SaLT (Sp & Lang Therapist). You need to be assessed at the CDC for a diagnosis here, but I've read on MN that in other areas they have CAMHS involved, so it seems it is not consistent across the country. Except, that is does need to be a medical Dr.

Yes, they will be able to give an 'insight', and may, or may not offer an opinion, but the EP will offere strategies, and (again, in our LA but not always the same everywhere) they will lead on a request for an EHC (Education, Health, Care) Plan, if it is felt that is needed.

In Nursery it will usually consist of observing the child from across the room and talking to the staff who work with the child. They are aware that dc this young often won't respond 'typically' if a stranger interacts with them and may not try to engage them like that (tho depends on the child and to an extent on the EP).

No single professional should be making diagnoses alone as it doesn't follow NICE guidelines. These are:
"In each multidisciplinary group....the core membership should include a:
-paediatrician or child & adolescent psychiatrist
-speech & language therapist
-clinical and/or educational psychologist"

You don't need a medical qualification to diagnose autism. Clinical psychologists and SaLTs don't have a medical qualification but are often part of autism assessment teams.

EPs can diagnose and there are some that do who work jointly within NHS teams, but the profession is more concerned with giving advice to schools on how they can support children. Having said that EPs signpost when they feel a child may be autistic and this hasn't been picked up (in particular children who are masking in school) and provide advice either through consultation or training. They sometimes carry initial assessments such as the CARS which then contribute to the diagnostic assessment at CAMHS.

Clinical psychologists do have medical qualifications, they require 3 years undergraduate degree in Psychology plus experience just to get on the 3 year practitioner doctorate program based in uni and the NHS in order to gain a Doctor of Clinical Psychology (D.Clin.Psych).

In my LA the autism team who diagnosis ASD (or not) is comprised of a clinical psychologist and a SALT who specializes in social interaction disorders.

IME the EP visits the child in school, does an observation sessions and has a chat with the teacher. They may then say that they have observed xyz which may be consistent with ASD and refer on the ASD intervention team, but usually the EP does not make that diagnosis.