Appontment on Tuesday with consultant paed to decide if DS will be refered to CAHMS...kind of worried!!! (sorry long)

[mysonben]

It has taken us a year to get to this point, from the first concerns raised by nursery last october.
Some of you already know this, but here is a recap of where we are now:

DS is nearly 4, he has been in the system with SALT since age 2.
His community paed was the first one to mention ASD back in april. Although we have felt for a long time that DS was 'a bit different'.
DS has made very good progress regarding language in the last year (but he still needs SALT and has recently been accepted in a language unit), he usually gives quite good attention with professionals and rarely shows behavioural problems during appointments.

Of course it is a different story at home where he insists on the same rituals for weeks on end, likes to ask the same questions for months, and has limited play and interests (vehicles and dvds).
His anxiety goes through the roof when faced with some unexpected changes.
DS also is difficult with eating hard foods, getting dressed/undressed and bathtime.
DS has a few sensory issues with loud noises and a few obvious vocal stims.

At nursery he struggles to join in interactively in group activities (although this has too improved when compared to last year where he played solely alone).
He tries to join in now, and does 'parralel play' we were told by Senco.
DS's reactions are often imature when compared with his peers.
He struggles to follow instructions that are not directed specifically at him, and gets anxious when asked questions or put on the spot socially.
Although his speech and understanding has much improved he has great difficulties forming clear sentences and hold a simple conversation.

So DS is to be reviewed by this consultant paed. who hold the 'key' to the referal to Cahms.
And we are worried that he might say 'no your DS's issues do not warrant asd dx assesment, let's wait and see,...'
We have been waiting for DS to 'snap out' of his issues and quirkiness for two years now.

DS is also having an assessment with the ED.Psy at nursery in two weeks time.

I would love to hear from the experts 'your ds has not got asd', but at the same time i know all is not well with DS, i want some answers and i'm scared to be fobed off, and worried about no help or support being given if no asd dx, iyswim?

I really hate all this waiting and not knowing what will happen.

If it is any consolation, we have been in the SN process since last year, and DD hasn't seen the Ed Psych yet, despite needing 1:1 at preschool, etc. Hopefully we will see them now that DD is going to be assessed for statement. Email away

Good luck tomorrow. I think the video is a great idea, i don't think it is pushy it's just an easier to visualise then to explain - well that's how i see it.

Our ds's seem to be the same age, mine's 4 next month, seeing the paed the day after. I had a 3Di interval over the summer, it was 3-4 hour interval, almost like multiple choice questions, but you could expand which ever you felt required more explanation. Still not been told results, but I found it interesting and revealing - the way the interview developed and I think gives a good rounded picture. I am hoping it will speed up the process. Might be worth seeing if they do them? It's an interval for you about you ds.

My concern is that we all DS's early intervention his done so well they will obviously delay the dx, which to me is ridiculous, as we all know he has asd, but his just learning coping techniques..

I know someone who is filling out a statement, his says he had a lot of v. helpful insight from supportive parents (they checked it all added bit - see if you have one in you area, or some useful links), been through a first draft, and he has no dx yet, in fact has his first paed appointment in jan.

Thanks Jasdox.
Who conducted the 3DI interval for you? I 've never heard of it, and it sounds interesting.
We were told if DS does get to be seen by Cahms , they will do observations in clinic, ADOS and ADIR, which is a sort of questionaire for parents if i undetstand it right.
Thanks Lou, coming right away.

It was another pead at the hospital I'd not met before, but she was conducting three that week. I think it relatively new, research shows a v. high confidence level as an assessment technique. all i found on the NAS website was: The 3Di, the Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic Interview, is another diagnostic instrument which uses computerised analysis of answers to interview questions. I was expecting ADOS, but we shall see.

I see. Thanks for info anyway, and good luck with your results.