Feeling lost in the woods again- diagnisis procedure

[staryeyed]

My son 2.2 saw the paediatrician about 5/6 weeks ago. She said that she was quite certain it was ASD but that we had to wait until Sept for an official diagnosis. She said that she would call it ASD and refer us on to the relevant early years projects in the area. I then had a call from one of the projects who seemed to think my son had a Dx. I had to explain that we are still waiting on it. She didn't know why we would have been referred with out one.

Now today finally we saw a SALT. I thought she would do an assessment. I asked if she would use the information for the diagnosis. She said she would be passing the info on to the paed. I asked if she would be assessing at what level his speech is she said not really. She just asked a series of question apt lasted about 40 mins she didnt even ask him to do anything.

So now I am so confused. I was under the impression that he must go through a series of assessments before a diagnosis is given involving SALT Ed psyc and paed. The salt said that the paed will be making the diagnosis as in by herself. I dont know what to think now but am wondering if they are trying to delay.

Can someone please help me clear this up.

I can't help staryeyed but I'll bump this up for you.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be around this morning.

Hi staryeyed, my son was recently diagnosed and the timetable went like this:

October last year; Referral to SALT instigated by nursery (area SENCO had been involved since some time in the summer).

January; Seen by SALT who has a number of concerns and sends us on Hanen course. She also suggests we contact HV for referral to paed.

Feb: Seen by HV who decides to refer on to Child Development Team.

March: Seen by paed who carries out a series of tests and decides further assessment is needed.

March-June: We attend Hanen course which includes 4 x SALT home visits.

May: 2nd appointment with paed, SALT also there. Paed asks us questions and SALT does play-based assessment.

June: We get draft report and provisional DX.

July: Feedback meeting with paed and SALT to discuss DX.

It does sound like at best there is a lack of communication between the departments where you live (but having read a few other people's experiences I know our borough is unusually helpful and efficient), and at worst they are trying to fob you off.

Thanks Lady G-We haven't been threw any tests just a series of questions.

I really want to get things moving to get the provision in place for my son. I wrote a letter to get confirmation that he will definitely be diagnosed in September because the support is dependant on it. I dont know why we are waiting anyway they should just get on with it!

I really need to think about nurseries as well. I dont have a clue where to start. The diagnosis is important in the decision- need to work out what sort of nursery is the best option for him.

It could be that there will be 2 SALTs involved. Ds1 saw the community SALT locally. When he had his actual assessment the SALT part of it was done by the CDC's own SALT.

The general procedure here (which sounds as though it could be similar to yours) is:

1. Appointment with the Paed where you answer lots of questions and the Paed keeps an eye on whatever your child does in the room. The Paed will then say (if needed) "I think your child is somewhere on the spectrum but I'll still need to do a full assessment."

Meanwhile all the relevant people are contacted. Some will send an appointment. Some will visit home/nursery.

2. About 3 months later you are given appointments for assessments. Ours are done in the space of a week but other areas will space appointments out more.

3. you spend the appointments again answering a lot of the same questions, and your child may be given toys or general tasks.

4. Everyone sends in their reports and the Paed reads through them. The Paed then decides whether a dx is needed.

At ds1's first SALT appointment it was a case of answering lots of questions while the SALT watched to see what ds1 was doing/not doing.

Thanks coppertop.

The thing is no one has even mentioned any appointments for the assessments. The next appointment is with the pead in September. I feel like everyone is avoiding answering my questions-I asked the paed if he would be diagnosed in September and she went all round the houses and didnt answer the question (although she did seem to suggest t that he would be). That is why I have written to her to confirm. I cant see why they wouldnt diagnose him because in her own words "he ticks all the boxes". He is not borderline and doesnt have complex issues. He seems a straight forward case. He is young I know, but everyone keeps telling me that intervention at a young age is most affective but without the diagnosis there is no intervention.

can't answer your questions, but I feel completely clueless too and sympathise! DS is 3.4, was referred in March, and is apparently due to be seen at a "joint clinic" - i.e. SALT/ed psych/paed in Jan/Feb 08. Which is particularly fab given I have to apply for primary schools in Nov 07

Ok now this is a weird one. Just got a call from the pead's secretary to say that she has in fact already diagnosed him and that I will receive the report soon. Im not going to argue because I need the diagnosis but how did she do it without any tests? It is still going to count isnt it?

If you agree with the dx then take it! Having it in writing will make it easier for you if you need to apply for things like statements or DLA.

seeing as a diagnosis will help you access support NOW, I agree with Coppertop, I would accept the diagnosis.