Finally got appointment!!! what happens now?

[lisad123]

We finallly got appointment for DD1 (age 6) for cdc for possible ASD. CAMHS agreed with GP and school that she may be on the ASD spec, but cdc are the ones that carry weight and do dx.
They told me it will be us, teacher, dd1, salt and Dr. What will they do? say? ask? they have saidf wil be an hour and half atleast! do i take anything with me? do i make lists of concerns?

I'd certainly take along anything you think would help them to make a decision. A list of things you've got questions about, a video that shows what she's like if you happen to have one from parties or whatever else - anything that might give them a better clue. What's life like at home, at nighttime, at parties, at school, on holiday, with friends? What are her hobbies and interests? How is she with understanding strange expressions? What about if her routine changes all of a sudden? Is she able to tell what your mood is just by looking at you, and 'say meaningful things' with her body language and face expressions and eye contact?

They could do, say, or ask, just about anything between them, but they'll certainly be looking at a diagnostic checklist of some kind for each of them, then comparing notes, then deciding if they need follow-up appointments to make up their minds or not. If you search online for "Autism Research Centre" Cambridge you'll find lots of tests you can look at online to see what sort of general questions they'll be thinking about.

Oh, and take sandwiches and a drink and something to read! Amazing how delays happen with these things...

When is it??

also they are likely to ask lots of questions about your DD's development, from PG and birth onwards.

i made list of concerns how he reacted to certain things his routines etc

anything and everything ds was sensitive to sound had to dictate direction to town couldnt communicate became very frustrated held no eye contact

didnt sleep, constipated , absolutely everything that bothered no matter how small interests etc obsessed with numbers letters shapes the computer

they asked family history anyone on either side of family with any mental illness or ASD

asked about my pg about how the birth was when did he meet each milestone etc

take some snacks and a fave toy for dd although when i was being asked questions the SALT was doing tasks with ds

ds also had limited speech so had to ask in family if anyone had speech problems as they asked me this also

I don't know if speech is a concern, but I made a 'language diary' of the sort of things that DS says, what type of sentences, if the child repeats sentences, etc. for the SALT

Its the 1st June, I dont want to go in and make them think im maiking it up and done loads of research to make her "fit" the dx, do you know what i mean?
Things I can think off top of my head are:

PE and placental failure at birth, low borth weight, screamed for hours with anyone, was better for me but not much, loads of bowel problems, late sitting (10m), late walking (2yrs), early talker, loved cars and trains, never one for imag play, obbessive about art (to the point nursey put her on timers as she would sit of 1-2 hours at art table at the age of 2/3), hated loud noises (especially rainmakers), doesnt have "best" friend, happest on her own or with adults, doesnt get saying like "get off my back", miles ahead in reading and maths, "selective hearing"?? hates dirt, will not eat hot lunch (hot food is dinner time thing), hate change, panics about new things to the point of mass panic and tears, pains in legs, and not very co-ordinatored apart from with art.
Doesnt even worry if see's mummy or daddy crying, but does her sister
Crys but cant tell you why
Family history of dyslexia, adhd, possible asd.

thanks for link, looksed at test and scoring for asbergers, lowest cut off is 15, highest is 31, she scored 22. I wouldnt be surprised by any dx tbh, shes still her, but have always been slightly "odd", really doesnt matter to us, just be good to know how to best help her.