Just had dd2's clinical psychologist appointment for her ASD assesment

[Marne]

I was not looking forward to this morning as dd2 has been a nightmare this week with meltdown etc.

Dd2 started crying as soon as we got in there, luckily i had a packet of crisps in my handbag (as a back up plan) and dd soon shut up when i gave them to her .

The psychologist played with dd2 for half an hour (drawing pictures, playing with shape sorters and lego).

She told me that dd2 shows a lot of signs of being somewhere on the spectrum but feels it is too early to say where, she said dd is very bright and is coming on well, she needs help to learn how to interact with others and to communicate but she feels this will come in time.

She said that dd2 could either be at the AS end of the spectrum or the HFA end, she feels that dd2 will learn to speak as she has already proved (by saying a few single words) that she can talk.

She said the fact that dd2 is getting frustrated when we go out is a good sign as dd2 is noticing we are going out and is wanting to know where we are going and what we are doing (a few weeks ago she didn't do this).

She also said dd2 is begining to use imaginitive play (talking on telephone, making animals walk and kiss etc).

So it just seems like we will have to see how she gets on over the next 6 months and we may have to wait a long time for a formal dx.

Well, it is good to get the appointment over with but I know how frustrating it is to have to wait for a dx.

I sometimes think that the whole dx process is long so that there is a chance for the psychs etc to see how things pan out. Unless your child is very severe which makes a dx easier, they can change so much in the first few years that chosing the right dx must be difficult.

My DS1 has AS and I know that when we first went to see the paed he was only just 4 and they weren't keen on being pinned down on anything but 18 mths later they were happier to make the dx.

How are you feeling about it all?

In a way i am happy for them not to give her a dx, i wouldn't want them to give her a dx of ASD when if she has AS (or the other way around).

We have been here with dd1 (as) she was dx last year (age 4.5) but at dd2's age she had a lot more traits then she did a year latter.

Its just the not knowing, its really frustrating not knowing if dd2 will be talking by next year and not knowing if she will go to main stream school.

In my mind i kind of know dd2 has HFA, i would say its not AS, she has a lot more traits then dd1 and is non-verbal (i thought children with AS speak early?).

I think you are wise to be happy to wait for a dx - it is not good to get it wrong because I don't suppose it is easy to get a second crack at a dx.

I don't think it is always true that AS children speak early. My son was slow off the mark but was better than the average (according to the books) by 2. He certainly wasn't as early as his NT little brother.

I know this has been said many times before but apparently Einstein didn't speak until he was 3 and look how he turned out! Apparently he had AS.

Are you going to get or do you have any therapy lined up, such as speech therapy? They shouldn't need a dx to get things like that sorted for you. My DS had help from the OTs and the SALT before dx but I am aware that not all health authorities are as helpful and we may have been lucky.

We are very lucky because she goes to a sn nursery where she gets Speech therapy once a week and also music therapy (which has really helped with her sensory (sound) problems. They have also taught her to use PECS and a few signs. We are waiting to see the OT. So she is getting a lot of help and seems to be improving but her speech seems to be taking forever, we have had a few words out of her which is a great start.

I call her 'my little einsein' as she is great at solving puzzles, loves numbers and letters. Her party trick is doing a 50 piece puzzle picture side down .

At the moment her speech is my main worry.

Marne, we are waiting for assessment (appt at the end of April) and sometimes I think I'd rather have a clear dx, sometimes I think I'd rather be told 'let's see', so it doesn't sound so definitive IYSWIM. My first reaction when I read your first post was, 'wow, a lot of good things there - a lot that Marne's DD can do, or that she will be able to do with time'. I can see why speech is a worry (I worry about DS's lack of social skills a lot), but if she uses signs and some words, then there's a definite wish to communicate, and, given that she's obviously smart, I think it's not overoptimistic to say that she will come along.