Going for a diagnosis for Asperger/autism - Support and advice needed

[LadyInDisguise]

Hello all.
I am going to go and see the GP at the end of the week to ask for a referral for ds2 re possible asperger.

I have thought about it long and hard before doing so but now that the 'date' is looming, I am not sure what I am supposed to say to the GP. It really is more about a lot of little things that, on their own, perhaps wouldn't be that much of an issue but put together with the fact he obviously struggles socially, are more of an issue if that makes sense.
Also, should I ask for a referral to a development paediatrician, to cahms? completely new on that and I don't know what to ask for (but know by experience with the NHS that if I can't ask for the right thing/person, I won't get anything).

Any advice would be great.

When I did it I made a list of all the things that were concerning me and gave them to the GP. Fortunately it is noticeable that he is different, she could tell even in a brief appointment he wasn't like other children his age so I didn't have to work too much at convincing her.

I didn't know who to ask for a referral for, neither did the GP as it happens she wasn't sure if a paediatrician or CAHMs would be more appropriate due to his age (he was about 21 months at the time).

He ended up being referred to a paediatrician.

Just to warn you every thing takes ages, and even when we got a paediatrician all the additional support and services she recommended for him too ages to get sorted out. Lots of phone calls and bugging people.

Good luck.

Hi - Just make a list of all the things (no matter how small or irrelevant you think they are) that concern you before go and run through them to your GP.
And ask for a referral to a specialist. I'm not sure who to ask for as I think it largely depends on your DS's age. With DS2, we were initially told by the Speech and Language therapist to ask GP for a referral to the Community Paeditrician when he was 4. But this wasn't for a formal diagnosis, just an initial assessment. The Paed then if we wanted to go down the diagnosis route (which we did), we'd need to go back to the GP and ask for a referral to CAMHS for a diagnosis (he was 5 by then, and I know in my area CAMHS don't deal with under 5s). But this two step referral process may be specific to my area, and also because DS2 was in that 'in between' age, so may be different in your situation?

Best of luck

WWx

In my area we have specialist paeds that DX in a clinic with a SALT. A community paed may not be a developmental specialist. CAMHS don't deal with ASD in my PCT, but it does seem to vary from area to area.

Have a look at the NAS website at signs and symptoms while you write your list so you don't miss out anything that may be relevant.

ds2 is 7yo so older. That means that CAHMS would be the best place to start with?

And that's the thing, I don't think there is anything completely obvious. School thinks 'he is fine'.
The list I would do would have:

• struggles socially with peers (no friends, not going and talking with children his age)
• doesn't know how to react in some social settings (eg he will see one of the children in his class in town and will obviously not know what to do, much to the surprise of said child).
• Has very specific interests. Last year has been spent on playing with match attacks and nothing else.
• Has some communication issues. So his db will point to something saying 'It's there' and ds2 will not understand what his db means, resulting in meltdown, screaming, partly out of anger that his db hasn't answered (on his pov), partly out of frustration re lack of understanding.
• Will take things very litterally
• Seems to be wary of any 'unusual settings', ie new place, especially if there is a lot of people/noise. Will look scared.
• Language issue. Struggled to be understood by adults until end of Y1 (he starts Y3 now) and can still be difficult to follow (sentences make sense but the whole doesn't if that make sense. It can be difficult to know what he is talking about because he doesn't say what it is in the first place). However is able to write complex sentences with complex vocabulary.

How does it sound?

I think I am getting scared of what the GP will say tbh.

Lady, I think you have enough there for the GP to take seriously. And if not I would be annoyed with them!
Write everything down in advance. Even if it makes ds sound worse then he is...

I think it's normal to have collywobbles when it comes down to doing something about your concerns. If it is something, better for DS to have a label for services. Good luck

Lady, we were referred by our GP after DS1 had been excluded from school for a week due to his aggression towards other pupils.
He had had 2issues2 since the age of 2 and it manifested itself for the first time when we walked through a car park full of cars.....he just glanced at each car and told me the make and model of every car he walked past. That freaked me out completely as he was only 2 and I had no idea how he did this. He just seemed to know each car.
He also lined all his toy cars up at home from a very young age. He still has "obsessions" and at the moment it is James Bond. He can reel off all these facts and he is only 11.
School called in the Ed Physchologist on a regular basis, so I was aware that things were not right from the start.
I decided to push for a dx as I felt I needed to know one way or the other. We had alll the usual tests and when the dx came through I was relieved because it meant that we could access lots of different sources of help.
Sorry, am waffling, but I really think you need to push for a dx as it will be in your DC's best interests.
Good luck.

I hope it goes well.
Make sure when you go to the GP with your list that you have specific examples of issues. DS1 had anxiety issues and when we moved areas the paed in our first area (who thought they were all related to his school) said if he was still anxious in 6months get him re-referred in our new area.
Went back to GP (who I already had a good relationship with due to DS2 and 3 having asthma and regular doctor visits) asked for referal and he said "But all kids are anxious". This was despite him seeing on DSs notes that I had been told to ask for a re-referal if necessary.
It wasn't until I gave explicit examples e.g. he worries what to ask for for Christmas, then he worries he has made the wrong choice, and then he worries that it won't come and then he worries that ...etc etc and when worrying he has chewed the arms completely off his school jumpers, and his pyjamas etc and the GP went "Oh,.... .... he really is anxious, no that isn't normal is it" and immediately referred him.

Thank you all. I will think about examples for each case to it makes more sense to the GP.
Good reminder about writing everything down. I know that's what you need to do, have done it in the past (cue for a puzzled look from the consultant) but it works and.... I had completely forgot about it.

ds2 started went back to school yesterday. I watched him from outside the playground. He was there in the middle of the kids but not with them iyswim. He didn't interact with any of them, didn't speak to anyone. On the first day back day school when they are normally only too keen to see each other again, talk about their hols etc....
Sorry not really about the initial post but it made me so sad :(