Advice on ASD assessment - refusal to enter the consulting room!

[Chelseagirl72]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum but having seen all the amazingly supportive and helpful posts on here, I think I'm going to be become a regular!

My DS is 2.8 years and we're on the road to an ASD diagnosis.

We had our second appointment with the comm ped last week and it didn't go very well.
The consulting room was a small, windowless room with no toys. (One of DS's issues is small, enclosed spaces.) I couldn't even get him in the room. I had to stand in the corridor with him while he screamed: "NO!NO!", trying to answer her questions.

We're due to go back in six months and even the consultant is saying she doesn't know how we're going to do the formal assessment with him like this.

Is it usual for kids with (possible) ASD to be assessed in rooms like this? Can I ask for a change of venue?

It's so nice to know that there are people out there who are going through similar things as me. DS has 12 people currently helping him with various issues. I have no one! It can be really lonely.

My DS was assessed in a clinic filled with toys, bubbles etc. Are you sure you are seeing the right paed? He played with the SALT while the paed asked us questions and observed him. Even the smallest consulting room can have a toybox and a play mat. However will the paed observe his play skills? It does seem really strange.

Another person here who finds it very odd that they have such a small room
With no toys! I would request another room. I'm pretty sure they have had kids refuse before. Who have you got helping him? Can you ask them for help? They should be at the assessment anyways.

The paediatrician came to us the first couple of assessments and we only went to the hospital when it was a joint appointment with SALT. We took the toys which were his favourite.

Maybe a good idea would be if when you check in with reception you can hand in some of his favourite toys so they are already in the room when you have to go in. They may then act as an enticement to get your ds in.

If her intention was to do a formal assessment at the appointment, why is she waiting 6 months to do another one? Has she given you a dx?
Can you request to be seen earlier in a different room?

It does seem a bit odd, we were seen by the paed in a room which was big and had lots of toys and puzzles for DS to play while she talked to us.