DX assessments at last

[debs40]

We now have our dates for ADOS and ADI. The ADOS is supposed to be an hour long and the ADI 3 hours! Both will be later this month

I cannot see DS staying in a room with two complete strangers for an hour for the ADOS. How does it work? Do we leave him in a room with the 'experts'?

We are both going to both appointments but I haven't a clue what I'm going to tell DS about what is happening.

Three hours for the ADI - my God! Did you guys find it gruelling? Do I need to bring anything? List of examples, prepare history of DS??

bumping this one

Well, I always think that if your child freaks out when they are doing the test that's not always a bad thing...you don't really want them to see your child being a little angel - you want them to see your child finding it difficult!
GOOD LUCK. Big fingers crossed for you!
(and no, can't comment on specifics as I'm not in UK so different tools used here).

The ADI does take hours and hours - mine did - it had to be spread over 4 visits!

I would do the history/ examples list because I couldn't remember half of what was important e.g. age of first words etc. that I knew I had written down in baby book at home but hadn't brought ! It was gruelling but easier spread out, I guess. I kept saying 'is that normal?' and the psych kept saying 'yes...for children with autism' which made me start to accept things more as I was in denial about ASD at the time.

The ADOS letter we had said I could stay in the room if essential but that it was a better, more accurate assessment if I didn't. I prepared J for it by saying a nice lady was going to play with him and talk to him - that is what it seems like to a kid - and that I wouldn't be in there but would be able to see him on a TV (which is what was supposed to happen, but the TV was broken and so I could see him through the 2 way mirror...didn't stop him screaming 'hi Mummy' at the camera every 2 minutes .

J found it hard to cope with an hour in a room and couldn't concentrate at all (he has ADHD too) and kep trying to leave and running around. But it wasn't stressful for him in terms of the demands made on him and the play bits stood out most to him as he doesn't really do conversation.

I think it's a really accurate, subtle test and the feedback and report, combined with what I'd seen, helped me to accept the autism and how it affected him, with some useful things identified for the school to work on with him.

Hope it goes well.

Thanks. We have a three hour appointment for the ADI - so they'll be doing it in one go!!

I have to say I'm really rubbish at remembering things with DS1. I think this is mainly because there didn't seem to be any problems until he started school. He seemed so quiet and gentle and able to play on his own. It is only looking back I think 'aaah I see why that was'