My DS has his developmental assessment on Wednesday. What should I expect?

[pinkchampagne]

There have been concerns with my DS since nursery days, and now he is having a developmental assessment (through my pushing) at the age of 7.
The assessment is happening on Wednesday & I am starting to feel pretty churned up about it.
Does anyone have any idea as to what I should expect to happen during this assessment?

Is it being carried out by an ed psych?

I would presume they will carry out some standardised testing(can't remember the name of the test that was used for dd) so that they will have a base line assessment to use in future years for comparison.
Quietly observe your child in classroom, playtime, lunch time, pe situations and make notes to discuss with you, your child and teaching staff.
Talk to you, your child(by himself but in a room with others present-child proection reasons)and teaching staff all on a 1-1 basis to gain information, and then in a teachers and you discussion.
Will produce a long report with all results and reccomendations to school and yourself and lea for how to help your child..

Good luck and let us know how you get on..

Thanks, chatee.
My DS's assessment is being done by the school nurse, after I pushed the SENCO for a referral. Think it is the first step, but it sounds like quite a drawn out process.
I am feeling quite churned up about it all atm, if I'm honest.

I will report back after Wednesday morning.

Good luck PC. Dont know what will happen but my Dt2 is being seen by the paed the following Wednesday . His teacher felt he would benefit from some speech and occ therapy to help develop his listening skills and his gross motor interaction.he has poor concentration and she says he does not have great balance. However he rode his bike without stablisers this weekend for the first time so balance cant be that bad. Let us know how you get on. i expect if its the the nurse she will do some informal assessment and if she feels the need to refer further then he would have to be seen by a paed or maybe an ed psych. Know that churned up feeling well

Good luck with your appt, maggiems.

I know that churned up feeling pinkchampagne! Sorry I can't tell you what will happen during this assessment as my DS didn't see a school nurse, but we've just finished the whole assessment process and I felt like a weight had been lifted once we got a dx and, finally, he is starting to get some help. Good luck with it, you are doing the best thing for your DS.

Thanks, castles.
I know this is the right thing to do for DS, but I get so choked up everytime I have to discuss DS's difficulties.
Pleased to hear you felt better for the dx & that your DS is now getting the help he needs.

Good luck, PC, I remember you first posting about this.
I don't know anything about school nurses doing assessments, as my DD3 was seen at a child development assessment with a multi-disciplinary team. Perhaps that would be the next step if the nurse can highlight any issues?
Whatever route you're going though, all the best in exploring things further. It can only help your boy. xx

PC, are you going on your own or do you have someone to take you?

My 2 were a bit younger so I'm not sure I can help, but I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck.

Thank you all.
Fedup - I'm taking him on my own & just hope I can stay with it emotionally.

If its school nurse, i would have thopught it would be more of a screening to get an idea of where he might need support.

But every health and education region does assessments differently.

Good luck, try not to worry! And dont be afraid to ask questions if they dont explain what they are doing!

Hi all
I've been a bit of a lurker on these boards in the past and had a look today for the first time in ages. I'm a single parent of a 7 yr old daughter, she has dyspraxia. Pink champagne's posts struck a nerve with me as dd is being assessed for ASD by SCADT team this week. Tomorrow I have to attend a 3 hour mtg alone and then on Wednesday I take dd with me for a 4 hour appt. I feel tired and emotional, I need to know if she is autistic but I'm also terrifed. I feel terribly scared and alone right now, can barely see the screen for bloody tears!! i don't even know why I'm posting this, any moral support would be fabulous, even from a stranger, how sad am I

Thornrose, didn't want to leave your post unanswered. Many of us who post on this topic know exactly what you are going through. Although, as a rational adult (remember being one? ) you know that your daughter needs to be assessed to get the help she needs, its still very painful to have others confirm your worries. I needed time off work when my DD3 was diagnosed with ASD even though I knew she had it before we went for the assessment. Don't underestimate the toll it takes on you. And come back and let us know how you get on. I feel I've had lots of support on this site, I hope it can help you too xxxx

Aw, lots of luck today, thornrose. It is so tough having to face up to possible problems with our children isn't it?
My DS has lots of dyspraxic tendencies, but I fear he may be ASD too.
MN is a great place for support, so keep posting.
Will be thinking of you today.x

Hope the meeting went ok today, thornrose.

Hope it went OK, Thornrose.

By the way, what does SCADT stand for?

Wow, thanks for all the lovely replies that's put a smile on my face! SCADT means, wait for it, Social Communication Disorders and Autism Team. Today involved me talking for two hours about my daughter while the doc ticked boxes and did lots of scribbling. On Wednesday I take her to be assessed, then after the "experts" have a discussion they'll tell me the diagnosis there and then . I'm feeling less emotional today because I feel I might start getting some much needed support once we know what we're dealing with. Thanks again.

Glad you are feeling a little better, thornrose. It's tough though isn't it?
Wishing you loads of luck for tomorrow. Keep us posted.

Hi Thornrose, like others on the board I have been there and know how upsetting it is when (and if) you get told by a professional that your child has an ASD.

It took me months to get over it and even now I get a bit wobbly. However it was the key to getting a lot more support for my ds and this is absolutely vital IMHO. I really hope everything goes o.k for you tomorrow. Look after yourself and don't feel angry with yourself if you get upset - this is perfectly normal.

Pinkchampage - you know you have all my best wishes for tomorrow.

Thornrose - welcome to MN - don't lurk, start a thread! People get to know each other very well here, and you will find people who know exactly what you are going through - and with a goldmine of information. I hope you get the right support for your DD soon.

Thank you, Blu.
thornrose - wishing you lots of luck for tomorrow, and agree with Blu about starting a thread. MN is an amazing place for support!

All the best for tomorrow PC, let us know how it goes

Thanks Fubsy.
Things are chaotic here right now (moving house on Fri), but will make time to post on here & let you know how it all went.

how did it go pc?

I was just wondering that too. I hope it all went well. xx