Started the waiting game for dx

[Tiggles]

Well Ds1s (8) assessment for AS finished last week. At my last meeting with the school autism nurse she said that they think it unlikely they will need to observe DS any further (seen him once in school) but the final decision on that will rest with the whole team. Apparently they only make a dx on the small number of meetings we have had in clear cut cases.
She did say that they had observed lots of the behaviours I had described when they observed him at school, so although I am still hoping that there is nothing wrong, I am guessing that the next time we meet it will be to get a formal dx :( especially as she said it would be sensible to have DH present. Even just writing that down is making my stomach churn.

I think you should try to see dx as a positive thing, it is what your son will need to access support especially in secondary school.

Thanks Ineed :), that is what my head is telling me, I guess in my heart I know he isn't going to change any either, with a dx.

It's a word on a piece of paper - that might get you more help and understanding [sceptical] , realistically you are right, he is still the same little boy that you love, he hasn't changed, you haven't changed.

LittleMiss Green, how did you go about getting this assessment and is an Ados test not bing done? The reason I ask is that ds has numerous AS traits but Ados was negative. We have been refused any other assessments.

I don't know what the test is called. He was 'assessed' a couple of years ago by a community paediatrician, who drew smiley faces on a piece of paper, and decided that as he recognised happy and sad he didn't have AS, but had school related anxiety. We then moved area, and paed said if he still was anxious in 6months to see CAMHS here. Needless to say, still anxious. Saw CAMHS who after few minutes of assessing him for anxiety, changed to some form of questionnaire/checklist for AS. They said they weren't experts but thought he had AS and referred him to the 'School age autism assessment service'.
I had a 2hr interview going through his developmental history (mainly comparing age 4 to now, so very pleased I still had notes from previous assessments), then he was observed in school by a couple of people from the team, then I completed a further 2 hours of questionnaires. She did say it is only clear cut cases they diagnose at that stage but she didn't think from the info she had, and the observations, that there would be any point causing DS further anxiety by setting up play sessions etc. which they would usually do.