Preparation for assessment - any advice?

[Whatcouldpossiblygowrong]

Posted this also on the original thread where we were considering going for an assessment:
Hi all
We have an appointment for a private assessment (part one of a two part process) next week- it was November but a cancelled appointment came up
Just wondering if anyone had any advice in general about preparing (eg making a list of Qs or examples of what we see at home) and also about how to explain it to my son without him feeling there is anything wrong with him or that we think that.
Feel a bit underprepared emotionally and practically cos we expected a longer wait
Thanks in advance

For me, having notes really helped. I had examples of behaviour that caused me concern. I thought about specific examples of social communication problems.

The paediatrician we saw was very good at asking specific questions. Some of the things they brought up I would never have thought were relevant and other things obviously were.

Thanks/will try to make a list before we go. It’s all such a swirl of emotions. I feel one minute I’m imagining it all and making something of nothing- then the next that I’m doing the right thing for him

For my son we have said that we are trying to help him with the problems he has at school and he was very accepting of that . Good luck it's such a rollercoaster . What kind of assessment is it ?

I don't tend to file / remember names of posters, so I don't know wat he is being assessed for, but absolutely agree with SpringerLink to make some bullet points / notes on what your concerns are. I would add to try to be specific with times / amounts / measurements, and try to avoid 'sometimes' / 'quite good at' / 'fussy' / 'a lot' / "always" / etc.

So - just as an example, if you want to comment that he were a poor sleeper, actually write what a typical night would look like...... how he settles, how long he stays asleep, how often he wakes, what he does when he wakes, how long he is then awake for.... etc.

If he is 'fussy' with food - think about what food he does eat and what he doesn't. Sometimes we get used to 'making allowances' and forget that most other similar aged dc would be eating exactly the same as adults or whatever.

Try to describe what he does when frustrated / angry / annoyed rather than using words such as 'meltdown' or 'tantrum' which tend to mean different things to different people.

I took a list of observations and incidents that had really rung that things weren't 100% OK with me for ours (she's dyspraxic but she's got some real sensory issues as well). All the professionals have been really glad I've done that and added it to her file and it's cut down the "answering all the questions you've answered 9 times before" element of the conversation.