ASD/CAMHS appointment. Neuro assessment.

[BarryShitpeas]

Ds is 5 and we have been asked to come for a neuro assessment at the LA CAMHS.

I want to make the most of the appointment, as it's taken bloody ages a long time to get.

Have you been for one and have any tips for me?

Is this the appointment where a doctor will say "yes Mrs Shitpeas, your son does have autism, but the good news is at least he will have a label now, and more secure funding for school!" Do I need to buy in extra gin for afterwards?

If it isn't, who actually did rubberstamp your child's diagnosis?

We have had an initial meeting with CAMHS, and the ed. pysch. has done 3 reports on him. He has also had a block of sessions with the ot.

School have requested a statutory assessment last week, so it feels like it's all happening at once. They are being brilliant, but I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

I am making notes about his behaviours under the triad of impairments headings, I think I read that from Justa when I did a search of old threads. It is making me feel more prepared.

Hi Barry. TBH, my DS2 was DXed by the neuro specialist paed and a SALT in their communication and interaction clinic, so I never got involved with CAMHS. It does seem that different areas have different pathways for DX. My DS was seen initially by the SALT due to language delay, who suggested I get him assessed by the HV, who referred us on to the paed and the same SALT! At the first paed appt she took a detailed history and observed my DS, all within 1 1/2 hours. She was thinking ASD immediately, but observed him again a couple of times at his SS and DXed him within 5 or 6 months.

I would agree with getting all your concerns down in writing, take your red book etc and have any questions in writing, too, because these appts can take an emotional toll and it's easy to forget everything! I've seen keeping a diary of behaviours recommended, and people have taken videos of behaviour as well, which has helped with getting a DX.

I'm glad your school seems proactive. It is great when you meet professionals who truly care.

Hi barry, we went to CAMHS for assessments for Dd3 who has ASD, we had quite a few appointments over a period of time.

However we did not have any ed pysch reports and we had lots of conflicting information from school which slowed the whole process down for us.

In my area Camhs is set out in tiers, the initial appointment is tier 1, if the person who sees you thinks your child needs further assessment they move you on to tier 2 where the assessments a done and collated. Then if there is enough evidence for a diagnosis your child's case load is passed on to tier 3 to a psychiatrist/psychologist for a diagnosis to be made.

I am not sure if all CAMHs are like that though.

Good luck with your appointment

Thanks all. I didn't know about the tier system. I will ask if is like that in my area. The appointment has been such a long time coming. We had an initial appointment with CAMHS who took a detailed history and wrote on their report that he needed to return for further assessment.

At school he is on SA+ and has 9 hours one to one. This was paid for out of a fund from the council's pot, aimed at vulnerable children (ironic as it was only when he bit a child that they found the money for it). This is only available until Easter. He has a CAF and we have had a tAC meeting in which it was agreed that applying for statutary assessment was the next step.

Concerns are things like sensory seeking, anxiety, aggression, very literal, underperforming academically, attention difficulties, very controlling at home and with siblings, verbal tics, no school friends (but seeks out adults), obsessive about things like hairdryers and hoovers.

I've done a list of examples of his behaviours around these areas of concern.
I will also do a bit about birth and early development.

Thanks, just writing it down is helping me to focus.