DK appointment next week-what to expect?

[osospecial]

For those of you who have seen Dr Keen, what can I expect from our 2hr appointment next week please? Should I take lots of notes with us, does she ask us lots of questions? Does she just observe dd play or set tasks? Was there anything else you took with you to the appointment or wish you had? How much feedback does she give you on the day on what she thinks or do you have to wait for the report? Was the report helpful to you in getting necessary help for your dc? Been waiting so long for somebody to do a proper assessment of dd, feeling nervous about it now though! TIA

I'm not sure about other people's experience but we had quite a bit of literature on ds before we went and she had clearly read it all.

She looked at him and in about 3 minutes stated that she could give a clear dx or ASD, that he was affected fairly severely, but that we also should have high expectations of him.

The rest of the appointment was about me trying to figure out questions to ask to fill the time and justify the fee.

Though the justification of the fee was that we got the dx then instead of 2 years later and without a lot of faffing around of course.

The report was excellent and given her position undisputed by the LA and NHS.

Thanks starlight, I have sent the school questionnaire back along with reports from paed, salt, ot, ed psyc etc so she will have background info before she sees us but think I will take some notes of my concerns aswell.

I'm glad to hear the report is good, I'm hoping it will help get dd the support she needs in school

She does seem to be able to diagnose very quickly. Right from when she comes into the waiting room she observes the how the child (DS1 was 11) behaves and their use of social and non-verbal communication. Initially she addressed her comments to DS1 but he did not respond so she then spoke to me (asking me was he mute which I was a little that she had asked in front of DS1 - he might be selectively mute but he is not deaf!). DS1 spent the rest of the consult silently sitting on the sofa next to me playing with fiddle toys.

I had taken down all my paperwork to date and she took a thorough and detailed history.

Her report was excellent. She will tell you the content of the report at the consult. At the time DS1 was undergoing SA and had just finished a boarding assessment at an independent specialist school. It was her opinion that DS1 had too complex and diverse needs to attend m/s and this was what she wrote.

One comm paed completely ignored her diagnosis and focused on diagnosis by MS (SALT) arguing that this was not sufficient (largely because teaching staff at his old primary school thought he couldn't have ASD because he had friends).

Another comm paed accepted the diagnosis and I have NHS confirmation of the diagnosis without DS1 needing to do ADOS. This is not totally useless in a practical sense as parents are referred on to their county advisory service and can access courses etc.

LA tried but failed to challenge the diagnosis as their own experts confirmed the diagnosis. Didn't stop the little tykes from trying through right up to during the tribunal hearing

I don't think she will specify what 'educational' support he will need as it would be disputed anyway by those in education determined to point out that she is not an educational professional.

But she should give an accurate and detailed description of his difficulties that you can then use to argue for support iyswim.

A dx doesn't ever lead directly to support, sorry. It's like getting a key to the entrance of the labyrinth where the provision is hidden, rather than the key to provision.

"I feel that in this unusual situation he is a boy who would merit a highly specialist educational provision, recognising this may not be available within ordinary local educational authority resources. Until an appropriate setting has been agreed, I strongly feel he should not attend a mainstream school."

DS1 had just failed secondary transition as term had started the previous week so it might have made it relevant in this case.

Wow Keep... DK rocks!!

That's ok, I would be happy with an accurate and detailed report that would help me fight for the right support, and to help me know exactly what to fight for as well

That is great Keep, it seems definately worth the cost of seeing DK

We have had such different opinions from proffesionals on whether or not dd has asd or not I'm really hoping we will find out once and for all either way next week

We saw her about our son, and I emailed over a really really long list of my own notes and thoughts before the appointment. I was worried I would forget to say things otherwise, and knowing we weren't going to be able to easily afford another appointment, I wanted to make sure I didn't come out kicking myself. She read it all, along with reports etc from school, and it informed a lot of our discussion, so I felt that was useful.

She spent time talking with all of us, and we had also taken my mil with us, so our son could wait with her in the waiting room for some of the time. That was very useful too, as there were things we didn't necessary want him to hear. He also found the appointment very stressful (not because DK wasn't lovely, just because it was stressful for him, and anxiety is part of his diagnosis). She told us that she could diagnose aspergers, but had a discussion with us about whether that was what we wanted, and whether that was useful. (we decided it was!). She then asked us if we'd like her to discuss the diagnosis with our son. She did that very very sensitively - I was really impressed with how she related to him - and although I'm sure he didn't process it all that day, it opened the door for us talking it all through with him gradually at a later date.

I would say that the more info you can get to her before, the more flexibly you'll then be able to use the 2 hour appointment. Good luck. She really is a nice lady, and the office she works from is nice too - has a lovely calm atmosphere.

Thanks singysongy that's a good idea, I am worried ill forget things as like you said this is not something we can easily afford to do again for a while and so want to make the most of it. I usually end up remebering things I should have said after the event. I think I will start writing some notes on my concerns tonight

good luck oso, hope it goes really well for you!

Thanks Marchduck