Girls ASD and ADHD assessment help

[MammyandAva]

Help please!!

My DD, aged 8, has always displayed signs one ASD/ADHD from a young age. In lockdown I finally managed to get my GP to refer her to CAMHs.

CAMHs wanted her assessed for ASD and ADHD but passed the care back to her school to arrange.

She’s had play therapy and Elsa and thrive but they’ve all finished now.

She was assessed in school for 40 mins three weeks ago and the assessor has said she doesn’t show enough signs to warrant further testing. The school disagree and want her re assessed but to be honest her behaviour in school is really good and other than her social interaction with kids she does fine.

The school has said she's very good at masking but they can see the traits.

I've looked into private assessments as I'm pretty convinced that her being assessed in a school setting isn't going to get her the support she needs. But unfortunately I've been told that my local authority won't accept any private assessments diagnosis.

Does anyone have any experience or advice please?

I really don't want her to get to comprehensive school without the support in place.

The school and LA cannot refuse to accept an independent assessment just because it is independent. Any assessment and potential diagnosis is less likely to be questioned if the assessment follows the NICE guidelines &/or the HCP also works/ed in the NHS.

A good assessor, NHS and private, should be aware of masking.

Having said that, support in schools is based on needs, not diagnosis, so the school should still be providing support

@SearchingForSolitude thank you for your message.

I contacted the school and they had said that my LA wouldn't accept any diagnosis from a private assessment, so although my DD is having the support in school, there wouldn't be any additional support for me managing her behaviour.

I don't feel 40 minutes to assess two children is enough, especially as my DD knew she was there.

LAs who refuse to accept independent assessments just because they are independent are acting unlawfully.

Having said that, support is based on needs, so a diagnosis won’t automatically result in additional support.

@SearchingForSolitude I will have to look into it as I don't feel any assessments carried out in school are going to be accurate.

I understand with regards to the educational support, but I feel the earlier the diagnosis the better outcome in the long run, speaking as someone who was diagnosed with ADHD in my late 20s

All our assessments were private for the first 3 years. They've all been accepted as valid. In fact our LA has been contracting put OT for a while.

Do use a service that follows the NHS criteria though - ours was staffed by moonlighting NHS medics.

@Phineyj do you recommend a clinic please?

We used one in Kent but wouldn't you want one in your area? Unless you happen to be in Kent!