Does anyone know roughly how long?

[ShabbaLabbaDing]

DS (7) is now is the system to be assessed for ASD. Us and the school suspect he has Aspergers.

The referal went through in Jan. I have only just filled out the questionaire they send us through the post (last week) and sent it back. We have been told that there's quite a waiting list.

DH is in the army and we are due to move next month (posting). We are asking to retain our house in our currently location until we hopefully get a diagnosis. Is this wise? We would only be able to retain the quarter for a possible 4-6 months. Is it possible to get a diagnosis in that time frame? We don't want to be unrealistic and are wondering whether it would be worth moving to our new posting next month and having all of DS files transfered over? Any help/information would be appreciated. Thank you.

I have known it take anywhere from 10days (school organised it completely, including paed for meds) to around 7years. it all depends on where you live and who's involved and what they need to get out of it unfortunately. In my area, its an average of 2yrs or so to get Dx. i think 4months is extremely optomistic in many areas...but maybe im wrong - i would hope so. Good luck. xxx

Is this referral for ADOS? DS2 waited 8 months for his but all info had been collected since his original referral to comm paeds in 2012. He is complex though. His ADOS scores did not indicate diagnosis despite triad of difficulties and he now has an appointment for second opinion at GOSH HFA clinic.

Just want to qualify my last post - here we used to have a paed who didnt bother with testing or referring, so no ados, disco, or anything else, he would hand out Dx practically on post-its. Hence the 10day turnaround for meds and Dx.

Depends on area I think.
I live equidistance between two hospitals (bit don't get to choose), at the one we didn't go to, there is a 6 month wait from initial contact until assessment, so the whole process takes 7 months.
The hospital we did go to had a 2 year waiting list, but then trained more staff over the summer, so for us it was exactly a year.
But ds didn't get a diagnosis (despite meeting the criteria grrr) so we have been put on a two year hold (still within the system and seeing paed every 6 months) until we find out if ds will be referred again for assessment.
Could you ring the autism team and ask how long the waiting list is?

Hi, we were a forces family - I would be inclined to take the posting and make sure you get a letter from your current area re concerns then once you get to your new area get all the referrals put in place. Even if you did wait where you are to get a dx you still have to move at some point and then depending on your new area, would still have to be referred into things anyway.

Thank you all kindly.

Bjkmummy, you're spot on. Thank you for confirming my thoughts.

It's so hit and miss, and a bit like how longs a piece of string, sadly. It depends on so many factors like how big an area you live in, what professionals they offer and how they manage themselves, how severe they consider your child to be, what setting they are in now in terms of education.

From first raising concerns, to getting diagnosis was 5 years for our DD. From actual correct referral being started by someone who was actually prepared to do what was needed: jan 14- April 14 complaint being dealt with April 14-sept 14 waiting to see the person we were referred to as a result of said complaint, sept 14 to feb/mar 15 for assessments etc to be completed and diagnosis given at the end.

Has the school talked about applying for an Education Health and Care needs assessment? If they do, the LA has to make a decision within 6 weeks and the assessment has to happen within 10 weeks after that.

I wrote to CAMHS to get my son's assessment prioritised as the referral was "forgotten". It's often a case of he who shouts the loudest, so lay it on thick. I got a cancelled appointment 2 weeks later. If it is your first referral though you may not get the diagnosis you want as they usually reply on the results of an ADOS assessment to give a diagnosis. x