Who is allowed to diagnose ASD?

[deadwitchproject]

I've suspected my DT2 has ASD since he was 12 months old but the community paediatrician wouldn't see him as he was too young. He also had mild sleep apnoea, glue ear, adenoid/tonsil issues and we are investigating this (although this may be a red herring as his symptoms have improved so much). My GP has agreed to refer him again now.

He recently had a full hearing test with a couple of Audiologists but he failed to comply with the test as he was so hyperactive, no eye contact, not responding to anyone, just generally tearing around the room looking quite deranged.

Later that afternoon, one of the Audiologists called me and suggested I should get him referred for ASD stat as she's seen hundreds of children and she couldn't get to him as he was so "locked in". She also said "we're not having this conversation"

I'm pretty sure she's not qualified to give a diagnosis but, in your experience, would an Audiologist have a pretty good idea about ASD behaviours?

You're doing the right thing. They are saying they don't have enough info so send your letter to the GP and he can forward it onto the paed. Do you have any reports from other professionals or school/nursery that you can also send along? Something from another professional will hold a bit more weight in getting your referral taken seriously.
How old is your DT?

This is so rubbish the way the community paeds can sometimes be.

Keep pushing

How does anyone know when they actually have a 'diagnosis'? My OH is in bits about this issue (re his DC).

I'd appreciate any advice to pass on to him. Thanks.

I'm not sure what you mean linerunner?
Once all of the assessments have been done you get a letter stating what your child is diagnosed with. Sometimes the clinical lead for the assessment will make an appointment with you to discuss and formally give you the diagnosis. Is that what you mean?

Yes fairgame, thank you so much for replying. That's what I imagined must happen. OH's DC had testing done two years ago, OH was told Aspergers/ASD, and yet he appears to have no paperwork of the type you describe - which is now proving an issue regarding schooling. (Whole other thread, as they say.)

The testing was done by a CAMHS person.

So he doesn't actually have a diagnosis? What does he actually call the testing result, then? It was sufficient to lead a medium rate DLA award with the lower mobility allowance.

I'm bewildered. So is OH. I have known him 18 months (he is lone parent) and this has just got more and more unnerving.

P.s. he has put in DPA request to the local authority for a copy of his DC's file.

The DLA thing is a red herring as it's awarded on need not diagnosis.
The DPA is the right way to go, there should be something in writing somewhere.
Has the GP got anything at all?
I have known one family in the past where CAMHS said the child had attachment disorder and never bothered recording it anywhere. I was working with the family as a professional, it was a possible Muchausen's by proxy case and the only proof we had to back the parent up was that the CAMHS worker had mentioned in a phone call to the health visitor. The health visitor had made a written record of the phone call. I went to view the CAMHS notes and there wasn't anything mentioned in there either. Awful practice and completely unfair for the poor parents.

Thank you for your replies, fairgame and Frusso. (Sorry for the delay, I got called into work.)

As you can see I am a complete novice. I find this board incredibly helpful - I'm trying to read as much as I can. OH seems a bit overwhelmed tbh.

fairgame my DS is 20 months old.

linerunner hope you get the "official" diagnosis you need.