Would you test for ASD?

[Ifitsmeanttobe]

my son recently got diagnosed for mild adhd and had quite a hard time accepting it but feel like he’s come round. Paediatrician suggested he may also have ASD. i think it was suggested as he can be very inappropriate with his jokes (a lot of sexual suggestions) he is 11.
Apart from that i don’t feel he has any main traits suggesting asd or anything that he would struggle with or affect his day to day life.
Adhd traits were the main ones that he struggled with at home and school impulsiveness so feel that with the adhd diagnosis he will get the support he needs.
Would there be any benefit getting an asd diagnosis? Is there any different support anyone would get with both ADHD and ASD as opposed to just adhd?

Yes, I would seek an assessment.

An ASD assessment might highlight needs you don’t yet know. Whilst most support is based on needs there are a minority of things where a diagnosis is necessary such as ASD specialist schools or the autism specialist teaching service or some e.g. youth groups.

To be diagnosed one must have “persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction” and “restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests” which “limit and impair everyday functioning” so if DS genuinely doesn’t have needs that affect his day to day life he won’t be diagnosed.

Is he on meds for his ADHD, OP? If so, and he does have ASC, you may begin to see it more?

Is he already at secondary school, or going up next year?

no meds. he is currently on the up and almost unrecognisable to the boy who was deep in struggle 2 weeks ago. his struggles have always been very seasonal from sept-feb. he is starting secondary in sept. his problems at school are always around frustration with socials situations. playground fight (he is very academic so no issues with paying attention) etc but every year feb-march comes and they are almost non existent. i’m just not sure if putting him through more assessments is the way forward for him.

Sounds like DS needs more support at school.

Why don’t you accept a referral and decide when you get closer to the top of the waiting list? Many DC, especially those with undiagnosed ASD, struggle with the transition to secondary and already having a referral in the system would mean you didn’t have to start from the beginning if that was the case for DS.

we have an option to go privately and appointment in march but it would also mean a lot forms filled out a lot of assessments done and just don’t see the real benefits of even if he is diagnosed which i would very doubt he would

The biggest benefit of assessment, NHS or private, would be to better understand his needs.

@JustKeepBuilding is right about the transition, and also the benefits. These would include self-understanding.