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Most effective ASD diagnostic tool?

7 replies

debs40 · 25/11/2009 13:34

Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts/knowledge on what is supposed to be the most effective diagnostic tool for ASD?

I am seeing the head of the multidisciplinary team tomorrow and wanted to quizz her about processes and procedures.

OP posts:
mysonben · 25/11/2009 20:26

Had a chat about asd dx toolds with ds's paed, she said the ADOS combined with the ADI-R are very good. But then that's what Camhs down here usually use for dx....so i guess she wouldn't say it's rubbish, iykwim!!!

daisy5678 · 25/11/2009 20:42

I really rate the ADOS. J had that and the ASQ/ SCQ (autism screening questionnaire/ social communication questionnaire) and it really made sense.

WetAugust · 25/11/2009 23:15

Tools are no substitute for a competent ASD specialist who has the courage of their convictions and really understands how to apply the diagnostic criteria to ASD's very diverse manifestations - without prejudice.

Not a fan of tools over experience.

debs40 · 25/11/2009 23:53

Mmmm, competent specialists...where are they then?

I completely understand what you mean but they all go through the diagnosis process using a standardised tool of some sort. I can understand why as the whole process is hugely nebulous and subjective and they're trying to add a tinge of objectivity to it.

I wondered if one tool was considered better or more effective than others.

OP posts:
WetAugust · 26/11/2009 00:12

DS's dx (actually all 3 of them) were tool-less (if there is such an expression)

After the initial Mis-dx the private Prof spent 3 hours with him and us, just chatting and asking questions of us all (and obviously observing DS's behaviour, responses etc) then issued formal dx of aspergers.

2nd dx by NHS Consultant Psychatrist was impartial - he hadn't seen Prof's written dx - and all he did was ask about behaviours, interview us and son, run though the Gillberg criteria etc. About 4 hours over 3 weekly sessions. Formal dx of Aspergers.

3rd dx was by Clinical Psychologist over 6 months of seeing him 4 days a week all day long. No tools used. Again Aspergers.

Ist private Ed Pysch tested him using WESCII (or somethinglike that) which she said indicated an austistic profile.

2nd private Ed Pysch who was also a trained Clinical Psychologist interviewed him and us and he had to fil out questionnaires. That was the only time his dx was borderline for Aspergers.

At his specialist Further education College for Aspergers students all the trained staff immediately recognised he had Aspergers - just from the initial meeting at his initial suitabity assessment (half a day).

So you can see why I am not a fan of tests. I do not believe that a condition that presents with such a diverse set of bahviours can be diagnosed by tests alone.

Having said that, the only reason his 2nd dx took all of 3 weeks was because the Cons Pysch coudln't get his head around the fact that sone has a good sense of humour [hmmm]

debs40 · 26/11/2009 08:03

'Tooless' like it

I see precisely what you mean. As you go through the assessment process, it seems obvious to all the paediatricians, the SALT, the OT etc, yet still we wait on a long waiting list for the 'formal test' to confirm what we've all known for years.

Very frustrating but then I suppose these tests might save some from incompetent practitioners who think they know what they do not know....

OP posts:
jasdox · 26/11/2009 09:09

We had a 3Di interview, lasted about 2-3 hours. it was a pc based multiple qu, but you felt the qu was not quite appropriate you could add additional info. i thought it was ok and allowed me to describe ds well at the time of the test. it came back with pdd-nos as it is an american test, being tried over here. luckily the paed seems happy enough to dx with pdd-nos based on the interview. but now i'm thinking as more sensory issues are presenting themselves and his demands as items be in the correct place or used in certain ways, issuing us rules etc (at only just 4!), food, I foresee more problems ahead then i thought and think aspergers/hfa. but aleast his in the system and i guess which asd label is not that impoertant as long as he has access to support.

what is so annoying is he knew he was asd in 5 mins but still took nearly 2ys, but now the paed is saying he needs help with transition for school but not a statement, hmm.

how did the meeting go debs40?

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