Asking HV for autism assesment

[londonsquirrel]

Hi! My DS is 4 and I’ve had concerns about his behaviors ever since.
When he was 2 we saw a developmental paed, who was worried about my mental state more than about my DS’s peculiarities. He has seen SN HV about 2 years ago and she agreed DS is sensory, but was reassuring me about his other behaviors.
Community nursery nurse sometimes sees him about his development, including visits to the child minder, but she keeps telling me everything is normal.
My concerns are:

• flapping hands when excited (getting less as he grows)
• spinning objects, fascinated with cars passing by
• repetitive play, obsessed with trains/cars. Would play with his wooden railway 24/7 if allowed.
• at times afraid of other children, less of it now, but it takes him a while to get used to children, esp in new environments. Prefers to play alone.
• repeating phrases from audiobooks/books
• wants to watch patircular cartoons over and over

I’m overwhelmed recently with this things, I think it has worsened a bit, so I really need some help from the system apart from reassurance and I would like to ask for an autism assesment.
I’d be grateful if you could help me with the ways I can resist their reassurances, hoping for some mumsnet wisdom! Thanks!

Hi Londonsquirrel.

I can understand your frustration. HVs often have a bit of a wait and see attitude and it sounds like your concerns are being fobbed off.

I would keep a record/diary of behaviours for your ds to take to them. Particularly how often and how long behaviours go on for. Also if your ds is at school/nursery any information from them would also be helpful. You can also go to your GP for a referral if you feel the HV isn't listening.

Something that is quite useful is this:

https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2015/03/4ChildrenParentsGuidee2015WEB.pdf

You can track where your child should be in relation to his peers and could provide extra proof that's he's not meeting certain milestones.

I've found you need to be as informed as you can be and that your gut feeling is usually right. If you feel that your ds needs an assessment be firm with them and use evidence to back yourself up.

I don’t think that the HV is how to access the assessment pathway. In our area it is via school or nursery referral. Alternatively the SALT service might be quickest if they accept a self referral in your area? Defo suggest the latter route as once started at school diagnosis shifts to CAMHS who are not know for speedy and effective service. Good luck

Ask GP for referal. Depending on your area, I suspect they won’t diagnose until 5, but I think you are in the right track in light of your list if behaviours. Make movies if behaviours if you have to.

^^ movies and good records definitely.

Diagnosis before 5 is now commonplace due to the early years research that’s been done since 2010/2011 or so

Thanks for your advice and really useful links.

tartanterror, does SALT refer on the basis of particular behaviours? There is a drop in clinic in our area. We have visited it in spring, because DS resisted speaking English (it is his second language, his first language is brilliant, talks a lot, makes crazy amount of questions, the only thing that might be worrying is reciting books). SALT told me they do not deal with this kind of problem, because DS speaks some language, but not the one we want him to speak when he is outside family. His English is getting much better though since he started pre-school. Any particular advice on reasons for SALT to refer to the autism assessment?

The list in your OP should do it....

Sadly, a pre 5 diagnosis is not all common in my area. Not for HFA.