12 point asd screening questionaire for gp's

[bochead]

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/newsarticle-content/-/article_display_list/10921430/12-point-questionnaire-aids-gps-to-screen-for-autism

This has been developed to help GP's know when to refer for formal assessment. I thought it might be handy for parents who are getting concerned about their child's development to have a peek at.

Do note:- It's not a diagnostic tool, just a way of flagging which children merit further investigation so please don't panic straight away.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/newsarticle-content/-/article_display_list/10921430/12-point-questionnaire-aids-gps-to-screen-for-autism

Thanks Bochead.

Then perhaps they might want to point out to GPs that autism is an actual medical problem. Our GP refused to refer DS2 to a paed because she said it was a mental health problem and therefore she could only refer him to CAMHS. Lovely lady at CAMHS raised an eyebrow at this during DS2's appointment and pointedly put in her letter back to the GP that he should have been referred directly to the paed, not CAMHS as his problems were not mental health problems, but rather medical and developmental problems.

that is good it would be good if the school had given me that sort of checklist when they were telling me he had it and I was in denial as the stuff I read was confusing, I thought empathy was sympathy and he does not collect anything so cannot have it. how silly was I. i thought no imagination was absolute, and he played at being action man and stuff so he can't have it, didn't realise he had no social imagination. basically the little bit of checklist jargon I read assured me he din't ahve it when reading an actual book on it tony attwoods book, was like finding my son, this checklist woudl ahve had me realising a good 5 years before I did and I wish the Hv had it when he was little when they used to say he can talk fine to we cannot refer him to anyone

Just had a look and wish it had been around when ds was young. Ds would have scored very highly (and at 12 still would) on that list but he was 7 before diagnosed dispite his language and learning delays. Even paeds miss autism using the old ways of looking for silent non interactive children who do not look at them which misses the children like ds who are hyperactive stimulus seekere and attention needy like ds.

intresting but doesnt really cover the high functioning children and those with no speech at all. It seems to focus on the social difficulties only and much of that i wouldnt know how to answer if i was a parent of NT child!

Wow, I wonder if my GP has read that, he has been very supportive in terms of referrals but really has no idea what I am talking about when I tell him stuff.

Dd3 would have an almost 100% score on that list but I do agree with you lisad that it is very much focused on social skills. Did they forget about the Triad of impairments??

At least it is a start though.

magso - that's one big reason why they are still going round and round about DS2, even though he shows some seriously obvious traits (which they've admitted themselves, but still say they're not sure)

Well my son's issues are mostly social and he is undiagnosed (apart from dyspraxia and SPD) but scores 100% on that test

Another ds here with full marks. Would be good to show his teachers who seem to think that because he is articulate and enjoys the company of other children he can't be autistic. Or maybe they just don't care.
He has seen the paed and he has referred us to see camhs, I'm not sure if they're the right place for a PDA diagnosis...

It does have mod poor specificity ( 69%) so could pick up children who do not have autism. However I imagine that some of those 31% who do not have autism may benefit from investigations anyway. It might be the test is aimed at screening for the poorly known signs of ASD or those children who are currently being missed. Ds would have got full marks even as a preverbal child by the way. Now at 12 I think he has learnt some awareness of others feelings - if there is blood and tears for instance, but it is not inate. The other aspects of autism ( such as the sensory issues that are not part of the triad and the lack of flexible thought) are better known I suspect.
Why would it not cover high functioning children? ( Ds is not HF so I do not know) Is it because more able children can learn to compensate?

Thanks Bochead.

DS is another 100% but still baffles the proffs.