the truth regarding asd dx...???

[mysonben]

I get the feeling that apart from the paed (who gave us a verbal dx of asd and a written report in which she mention talking to me about asd and a possible full autistic assement in the next few months), nobody else seem to agree that a formal dx would be the best route for ds.

Ok his nursery and senco have concerns and he is been refered to an EP. But i was told by the nursery manageress that a formal dx is usually not given to children under 5 (school age) unless they present with very OBVIOUS asd symptoms.
She went on saying cases like my ds who has subtle and not clear cut visible symptoms are usually follow and watch closely but not dx until school!
She also said they had been chocked to learn that paed had given us a verbal dx and shocked by the content of her report. WTF???

I'm confused these words are from the same
people who tell me ds has difficluties with speech, social interactions and play impairment,and they feel he needs extra support.
It seems lots of dc here on MN have been given dx under age 5.

I agree mysonben...I did know about the pointing to share versus pointing to request thing but only because I read an article by the mother of two autistic children which pointed this out as an ASD characteristic. Nothing from the health visitors.

It doesn't help either that in many places the standard 2 year checks etc are no longer carried out, our area for example just sends you out a checklist along the lines of 'are you worried about your child's....speech, eating, sleeping' etc.