Wrong private autism diagnosis

[Stripeyunicorn]

Just wondering if anyone ever got a wrong private autism diagnosis i.e. Dc being diagnosed on the spectrum and later turned out to be speech delayed

Oops posted too soon.

The thing is, techniques that can help children with asd can also help for speech delays and NT children; clear structure, now and next boards, visual clues, pecs, sign...
putting things in place isn't going to do any harm.

Two things have stuck with me over the years behaviour is communication and give them a language to communicate in.

I don't agree with 'save your money for private therapy instead of the diagnosis.'

What 'therapy' is this? ASD is not a disease - 'therapy' won't make it go away.

Also - often the diagnosis is a huge aid to understanding and to getting adaptations in place. That's worth a lot more than 'therapy.'

you don't have therapy for ASD to 'cure' it but to teach a child vital skills.

we certainly need more than understanding and adaptations.

Nope Mesh therapy won't make the autism go away. What a ludicrous thing to say. Therapy would teach my son specific skills...how to communicate...better ways to manage behaviour... sensory strategies / tools I can use... ways I can adapt my environment so DS does not get overwhelmed.

If it wasn't for therapy, I wouldn't of known or think to use Makaton...visual supports... alternative communication systems... sensory tools / strategies...timetables...structured environments and routines etc etc etc.

Of course, a diagnosis is important to obtain ! But often...and I hear it from these boards... our DC's get assessed and diagnosed....and that's about it... no recommendations...no further support...just pamphlets about ASD (which I already knew about) .We are left back to square one again. This of course depends on the borough but this is what I experienced. OP should definitely push for a diagnosis via the NHS...private I'm not so sure unless the OP has gotten nowhere via this route.

I was dealing with a very frustrated non verbal child who couldn't communicate, was having frequent tantrums, didn't know about sensory overload and what tools I can use to help DS or manage it. Are you really suggesting I should of left him like this ? Therapy taught me a different and alternative way I can parent my child with ASD. Structured routines, limiting language etc etc etc

We have chased a dx and paid because we needed to know what we are dealing with and as such how to help. Nothing has worked but now with a dx we can hone in and tailor support around the correct dx if that makes any sense.

meesh but OP has had 2 private assessments done, They conflict each other, (She is also waiting on the NHS one. And what if she gets another private one that says no, and then the NHS one that says yes, she's then again in the same position of uncertainty she is now.)

The private assessments do both agree that there is a speech delay. Therapy (salt/Aba/avt etc) to help her ds learn to communicate and help her learn how to communicate with him, is going to help whether her ds has autism or not.

No of course it won't "cure" the autism if he has autism, of course it won't make it go away, but therapies can help him, and her.

Frusso agreed, there won't be clarity even if I seek another opinion now. I will have to assume the worst case, monitor his progress and give dc all the support he can get. Nursery have not reported any issues with him. What is your experience, would they normally pick up on these situations?
The ASD diagnosis was very distressing for us. We paid a fortune for a private consultation and were basically just told that dc was on the spectrum and that our time was now up. No information or advice whatsoever. I then sent a follow up email to the consultant seeking guidance on next steps and all I got back was a link to autism.org

re nursery - it depends on the nursery ime. DD's ASD & learning diffs are at the more severe end yet nursery noted nothing other than speaking late. We changed nursery at 3 as the first nursery refused any help (after all, there was nothing wrong with Dd's development in their eyes). Second nursery was appalled & put 1:1 support in place etc (we were still waiting to see the paed at that point).
some nurseries are just better than others in picking up things but friends also had the experience where nursery turned a bit of a blind eye - after all if all is fine they don't have to put extra support (costing £££) in place

but as I said, our second nursery was great (was council run though, not private but this could be coincidence).

Depends on the nursery. In DS case... his nursery and reception class reported he was "fine"...as in... no behavioural issues, compliant, quiet, not... "well he lacks social skills....speech isn't coming on :... has limited developed play skills...".

If I went back a few years, I would of found a specialist nursery setting ( which has a speech therapist and and occupational therapist coming in some days of a week) which he would attend part time and a mainstream nursery part time also.

Can you plz share your experience about ABA...

Hello op, this sounds very difficult and a lot of uncertainty for you all. I echo the pp who said there can be a lot of overlap between different neurodevelopmental and speech disorders and they can be particularly difficult to differentiate so early as your son is.

Speech therapy is the best area to focus on at this age I Believe , as communication unlocks so many of the other areas.

The detail is important, whether diagnosed ASD or not, imho.

That is the value to me of a diagnosis, an in-depth look at the struggles and strengths so that we can help.

A rubbish over general ASD diagnosis may be less helpful than a very in-depth, specific but no confirmed ASD diagnosis.
Speech
OT needs
Behaviour.
Understand of the world, theory of mind
Level of independence
Other specific details e.g. pica, physical health, constipation, diet, sleep etc.

Soumia please stop bouncing up old threads