Aspergers Testing

[kitakat]

My 11 year old DD was diagnosed with ADHD earlier in the year. We have also completed written tests for Aspergers latest one was GADS (can't remember what it stands for sorry). This showed a high probability of aspergers and physciatrist says he has always thought there is more going on than just adhd. We are now being referred to a special team for further testing to decide for definate, can anyone tell me what sort of tests will be done and is it done all at once or over a period of time - not sure what to expect.

Also have been recommeded to look for any aspergers help books do you know any good ones - preferably parent friendly easy to understand - I need things in simple terms as like my daughter I switch off if its too complicated

bump!

I can't answer for definite as I am still awaiting testing for my DS1, so will write my experience so far and hope someone else can answer more fully.

DS1 is 8 he was initially looked at by a community paed a couple of years ago with suspected AS. She eventually decided he didn't need testing, just as CAMHS were deciding he did. So CAMHS went with her diagnosis (school anxiety) and never tested him.

Anyhow we moved areas and as he still had anxiety after 6months (paed assumed would be gone by then if in a good school which he is) we were referred to CAMHS here. They gave a long questionnaire assessment and decided most likely to be AS, but they don't diagnose. So now on waiting list to see the School Age Autism Team which takes about 16weeks. I phoned them the other day I wanted to prepare DS1 for what was likely to happen - he went to an OT assessment before and refused point blank to be assessed, sat with his back to the OTs singing transformer theme tune, so didn't think would be very helpful to go through that again. The lady I spoke to basically said that initially there will be a 4hr interview, at which DS1 will not be present, that will look at his developmental history in even more detail (previous questionnaire was only about 1.5hrs, and then another AS specific one). Then they will go into school and assess him there by sitting in the background and seeing how he interacts with people.
At that point if he is a clear cut case they will give him an AS dx, if however he isn't as clear cut as CAMHS think he is then they will do further tests - I don't know what yet.

HTH a little bit :)

Oh, forgot to say, I have been recommended to read anything by Tony Attwood by people on here. I read the complete guide to aspergers. It was quite long and although I read it from cover to cover, it is really easy to just dip in and out of sections that look interesting or relevant to you. I got it out our local library.

Thanks for that, 4 hour interview!! that seems soo long. We have been under CAMHS for about 3 yrs and DD had some general tests done took about 1 1/2 and they said only problem was slow processing no ADHD which I mentioned and also another professsional had after observing her in class - she has no attention. Teachers dont think theres much wrong with her but shes not disruptive at school. A GP earlier this year felt there was someting wrong and referred her to a physciatrist and we were seen within 3 weeks (couldnt believe how quick), after tests he diagnosed ADHD with possible ASD. He has now done more tests and thinks she has aspergers, thinks this is more likely to be causing much of the problem than the ADHD and as I mentioned before is going to a specialist team. You mentioned School Age Autism Team, dont recall him saying that but it could that different areas have different names. I'm quite impatient especially after so many years of setbacks with her so 16 weeks seems a long time to me, but Im also in a hurry as she starts High School in 3 weeks and although after speaking to the Deputy Head about my DD and I feel they will be helpful (unlike primary school) it would be good to have some firm dx to go on soon.

Sorry to be so long with the explaining but this is actually the short version of how we got where we are today.

Sometimes you just know somethings not right but when others you consider to be experts in this area dont agree it makes you feel so useless but I know we are nearly there now thanks to somehow stumbling on the right GP.

I will look for the author you recommended as Ive not read much about aspergers but have found other books useful in the past for ADHD and they often help in coping with various situations.

I have bought and read SO many books.

A nice straightforward one is "Can I tell you about Aspergers Syndrome?" by Jude Welton

I agree that Tony Attwood is king, but the book is quite a doorstopper, so your daughter may switch off.

There's a series of written-for-kids storybooks, including one with a female Aspie hero called "Lisa & the Lacemaker".

I'd get browsing on Amazon, as they suggest good books, linking one to the other.

BUT - I suggest you do read the books first before giving to your dd cos some of them may not present the condition in quite the way you want. I once tore out a couple of lines that bothered me from an otherwise excellent book for my ds.

And if all else fails, it is always comforting to throw the books at the wall :)

Im busy raiding the local library at the moment and also ordering from other libraries so I can find a suitable book. Have now found one of the Tony Attwood books and am waiting for it to arrive. Once Ive found a good one I will go out and buy it so ive got it to hand for future reference.

swiddle - thanks for the book ideas for my dd as not sure yet how to explain things to her or her 2 younger sisters. I find it really hard to explain anything to her as if she doesnt like the subject matter, particularly medical she will switch off and gets irritated if anything is mentioned.

I think one of the tests is called DISCO.

Have a look at National Autistic Society web site. They also have a Phone Help Line.

One question they ask is does he or she like climbing trees?

Another vote for Tony Attwood .

Dd1 was diagnosed at the age of 4, it took us a year and a half to get a dx, dd2 was diagnosed at the age of 3 (with ASD) and it took just under a year. I think it took a while to get diagnosis because the girls were so young (so easy to miss-diagnose a younger child).

LucindaCarlisle - do you know why the tree question.

My dd loves climbing anything, always has done, her 2 sisters are the same but they dont quite have her ability to do so or her enthusiasm.

I can only assume that tree climbing is an indicator of a part of the brain which likes and has an aptitude for climbing trees. But it is a question on their list.

My girls can't climb trees ,dd1 can only just get up some steps but dd2 likes to climb the furniture. My step son was always getting stuck up tree's but i would say he's the only nt child out of the 5 children.

Going back to the tree question again, I suppose it could be one of those back to front questions (as I call them) where you think that yes would be an indicator towards the particular problem you are assessing whereas it could really be that if you say yes then children with the problem wouldnt be able to do it - as in they wouldnt have the coordination maybe.

I have found that sometimes they try and confuse you with the test questions by sometimes putting does your child do x answer 1 2 3 4 (1 never 4 always) and sometimes its switched to your child is never likely to do x whereby q1 would give a 4 answer but the other way round gives a 1 answer. I really have to make sure Im awake on these days as I have been known to skim as Im reading or misread if I think it should say something different.

Does this make sense to anyone or am I just rambling. Sorry if it is only rambling but I have only just managed to prize the computer away from dd1 (one of her few passions in life) as she has been using it all morning.

There's a new book out called Aspergirls, available from Amazon.

imahappycamper - just found Aspergirls on amazon. The reviews say its good so might try and get it.

I have noticed there are a number of books aimed particularly at girls, is this because they display different symptoms to boys or just find it much harder to cope. As Im still very new to this no one has actually said it can be worse for girls. Through my own thinking I did think it could be harder for girls as is the case of my daughter,her behaviour is different to alot of the others her age and now she is 11 I feel it will become more noticeble in the near future.

ASD seems to show itself differently in girls, girls find it easier then boys to cope and tend to hide their traits as they get older (which dd1 does now) which is why less girls are diagnosed with as/asd. I think girls find the whole 'social thing' a lot harder then boy, my daughter gets very upset if someone doesn't want to be her friend and wants to be friends with everyone. From what i have read, the teenage years can be the toughest time for a child with AS/ASD (i'm not looking forward to it).

It is very tough for both sexes, particularly at puberty.
For a long time girls were less likely to be diagnosed because as Marne says they can disguise their difficulties better and for a long time it was thought to be a male problem with only a few girls affected.Opinion is changing now and I think that is why there have been more books recently for girls.