4.5 yo, HEPAC assesment & OT referal ???

[fish1234]

Hi, new to this site today & new to assesments on my son. started Primary last week & teacher feels he needs 1-1 support all day. GP refered him for HEPAC (not sure of SP, just have found out today) dont know what this means for him/us, have been told long wait. hell of a week so head in spin to ask GP details. also waiting for response from OT for assesment. Just wondering if anyone has been through the same process and was it worth it? We think could be ADD/ADHD, school think Autism.

Welcome!!!! :)
..whats HEPAC? ...Im a bit dim and quite new to it all.

What has school said to think it is Autism?
How do you think ADHD?

Were in the process of full dx for ASD for my DD, nearly 5, also just started MS school, weve been waiting since last xmas for various appointments. MN was invaluable!!!! :)

Umm...if it's the HEPAC I'm thinking of, it's county specific but means multidisciplinary assessment of developmental issues/disabilities, but I could be wrong.

OOOHH. Thats what were doing. Thanks snowmarsh. :)

Woolytree: no problem, different counties/PCTs call them different names, and some don't name them at all.

Thank you all. The reason we think ADD/ADHD or somthing similar is that he has probems with following instructions, has attention issues in general, sensory issues, langauge problems, can be restless, finds loud noise disturbing and in general is not great with conversation to adults or children. you may see this as somthing very different, thoughts welcome. The schools idea of Autism is very premature as he has only been at school 2 wks. It seems that it is the defination of HEPAC given, i was under the impression that it was an overall assesment. How have any of you got assements for ADD? It is such an imporatant stage to get as much help/clarity as possible. thanks again.

Overall assessment should cover both what you and the school wonder about, plus any other possibilities.

I hope you get clarification soon.

are you in/ near oxford?

hepac is a local assessment centre, so if you don't want everyone knowing where you are, you might want to delete this

hepac is hugh ellis paediatric assessment centre - dd2 had her assessment there about 4 years ago (hadn't heard of hepac since we moved lol)

the hepac assessment is run over the course of a week normally and is VERY thorough. you'll get a call forward and you'll be given a personalised assessment plan - so you'll know which days/ times you'll need to be there, and who you're seeing on each day. the assessment finishes with a wrap up at the end of the week where they'll talk through the different assessments that were done, and the referrals/ way forward needed for support.

they are very lovely. there is a nursery/ playroom - lunch is taken there (can be part of the assessment too), and there are qualified staff supervising so you can go and speak to professionals without trying to cope with children too. there's also an option for you to talk to a psych too, often.

anyway - it will be well worth the wait, i promise you.

but like i said - it does kind of give away whereabouts-ish you are.

Nickintime has expressed very thoroughly and eloquently what I was trying to get at - the location issue, and the fact that it is 'the' service around here...

Thank you so much for this, i dont mind anyone knowing, esp if it helps someone else. feel much better about waiting. Thanks again, glad i asked!

HEPAC is brilliant..my son was hepac'd years ago. Such thorough assessment and it's brill to see ALL the therapists/experts in one spot, and it really helps for getting educational placement needs met too.

Whereabouts in Oxfordshire are you?

That place does sound great. :)

I agree with Starlight...preparation and research do help. We kept a diary for a month too, listing daily issues and the frequency of wetting/waking/tantrums. I made a big list at the back of general traits, obsessions, fears, sensory issues as I recognised them...It can be quite negative but helped me focus on DDs difficulties.

Good luck.