could i have 11mo ds assesed for asd privately?

[ditsydoll]

I have posted a few times about Ds not answering to his name and not being able to break his concentration.
I know I probably won't be able to het a diagnosis just yet but I don't want to wait 12 months to have him assesed as I know early diagnosis is key and ABA can really help.
I really am convinced Ds has autism, call it a mother's instinct but I just feel like I already know. I could list all the things he does/doesn't do but I feel like I can already tell that somethings going on.
If I had a private assessment would I be seen quicker/taken seriously at this age?

He is 11 months old? It sounds a bit young to me.

What tests has he had? How is his hearing?

I really don't think it's possible to assess an 11 month old for asd and don't panic about Aba I haven't used it but I don't think people use it with babies

Unfortunately, you wont be taken seriously(not my experience atleast)

What you can however do is:
1 - Record your concerns - In words and video
2 - Keep pushing for an assessment
3 - Try private assessment if possible
4 - Start looking at ABA/VB and treat the situation as if it is ASD. and then if its not, then well and good
5 - Fish oil
6 - Sensory integration
7 - hearing test
8 - Try speech therapy for 6 months, if it doesnt work, then leave it alone till your child starts paying attention

Hugs

It's awful when your instincts tell you something needs looking at but no-one else wants to take it on board. 11 months is very young to conclusively decide on a diagnosis though.

Have you asked for a hearing check? Some children pass their initial newborn screen but then they can get glue ear, etc., and that can impact on their social interaction.

How is the babbling coming on? A good range of sounds?

yes to salondon's post. and in any case, get a hearing test asap.

an early dx won't make much of a difference (I doubt you could get one this young) at least in the UK. It will help once your DS is at school and needs extra support etc. but other than that you won't get much help. ABA will have to be self funded and you don't need a dx to start it.

I would not worry about a dx at that stage but rather focus on helping your DS (Aba, Salt )

Would a 12 month old have echolalia or much language to test

Excuse my ignorance but how do you test for rigidity of thought and social interaction difficulties in a child that isn't old enough to have developed those skills?

I would not have wanted DS to be diagnosed that early. At least i had the baby years to enjoy and have a sense or normality before the autism really started to show. DS showed signs from 8mo but it didnt really affect us until he was 3 so we got to enjoy the first 3 years before the shit really hit the fan!

The nas website mentions two being the earliest age for diagnosis . O p if you do go for a private assessment there's some great advice on here on who to go to

Rigidy of thought/flexibility of thought/lack of social imagination or however they currently word it is part of the triad of impairment so it should be part of the assessment. I just wonder how it would be assessed in such a young child?

Zzzz I completely agree with you , I can't see how an asd assessment at 12 months could work . Dd2 was diagnosed at two and it was very clear

Ditsy i really think it would be good to discuss this with your gp or health visitor, if you haven't already, before paying out a lot of money for a private assessment for such a young child. The health visitor may be able to help with some strategies to improve Ds's communication and interaction and keep a closer eye on him.

DD2 is 6. If you take her to any toy shop you will find her in the aisle with the baby toys, turning the knobs on them. Take her to ikea and you'll see her playing with the toy oven by turning the knobs and opening and shutting the door.

The paed who saw her once declared she doesn't have ASD. So there you go. I'm not sure that a 12 month old child doing what 12 month old children do is a good indicator of a disorder, tbh.

I had the same experience lougle.
Ds saw a paed once for his statement medical. She diagnosed him as 'quirky'. Luckily SALT, EP, OT, Psych and school saw straight away that he has ASD.
When DS was 4 he was referred for ASD assessment. They all said he was high functioning and would be fine and would lead a normal life. At that time he had a 27.5 hour statement and was in a ms school.
He is now in an indie special school. He has significant social communication difficulties, acute sensory difficulties and challenging behaviour but is bright. The last EP to assess concluded that he will probably need residential when he gets into his teens.
Therefore they were all wrong. He is not fine.
It doesn't matter how early you get the dx, you can never tell what path your child will take and neither can the experts.