who diagnoses asd?

[chocjunkie]

2nd appointment with DD (s&l disorder + autistic traits) coming up. somehow, we are pretty sure that DD is on the spectrum.

just wondered who is giving usually an asd dx? is it the dev paed? I always though it would be the paed but after some googling I am under the impression that in our area, children with suspected asd are referred to camhs...

does anybody know?

thanks!

Definitely seems to vary. For my DS it was the developmental Paed with a SALT in a 'communication and interaction' clinic. For others it seems to be CAMHS or Paed or multi disciplinary teams, sometimes using ADOS. Clinical psychologists seem to be able to DX also, but not EPs.

in our area its dev paed, camhs wont touch them with a 10foot pole here

In my area it's the dev paed (with reports by the school EP and OT), and CAMHS won't touch them (which seems right to me, because it is a developmental problem not a mental health issue).

I do know other people on this board have had CAMHS dx, and not a paed....

In my area its a multi disciplinary team, Paed referred to clinic, team were made up of a SALT, EP and Associate Specialist.

To me it seemed that Paed raised concerns and the SALT basically confirmed dx. Associate specialist, just signed the dx.

In some areas, CAMHS dx.

Specialist development pead in this area who diagnoses after multi disciplinary assessments including ADOS Bit of a long process but very thorough.

In our area its just a Paed, we live in the County
Within the City Boundaries its a Multi-Disciplinary team that makes a DX.

I would say it also varies by child my son was dx by paed at 3 as being autistic, but parents I have met who are under the same paed had a dx ASD traits/symptoms and have been referred to ados. It is sometimes if it is clear cut or could there be other factors leading the ASD traits.

thanks ;)