ADI appointment today

[debs40]

We've got the ADI today (Autism Diagnostic Interview. It's a standardised test - computerised I understand - which provides a diagnostic algorithm for autism (adding a brief explanation following our discussions last week!!).

Do I need to bring anything - red child development book/diary etc?

Don't know as I have no experience of ADI but wanted to wish you luck. Hope you get the result you need.

When we have our appointment ....sometimes soon or later i will take along my list of milestones and developmental diary which includes 'normal' and unusual things about his developement.

Good luck and let us know what sort of questions they asked (i'm worried about this).

Debs, (even though mine was an ADI as such, just a 3 hour interview about ds) i took my red book to refer to, copies of any early reports i had and a list of my current concerns. They literally started from birth with questions about development.

3 hours is a long time to talk as well, take a bottle of water too! Good luck.

Thanks.Blimey. Lots to remember!! Hopefully the questions will prompt me for what I need to say

They will Debs, it was very flowing and i was surprised just much i did remember when asked specifically.

Red book helped with exact age of sitting, smiling, first word etc, luckily i filled out the sections in the red book, so could be very accurate at what age, he did what.

Oh and also took with me medical history (Ds has had a lot of professionals involved) and copies of all reports.

Blimey Claw....don't think I ever filled out anything like that! Bad mum!

Debs, strange thing is i didnt fill out my older boys red books. A premonition perhaps!

You are not a bad mum, i must be a witch

Thanks. It was carried out by a very nice woman and seemed to be largely based around getting to know what DS was like between the ages of 4/5 and how he's improved since. There were lots of questions about development and all the key social communication issues. Of course, we won't be told anything until after the wonderful 'panel'.

Also, she did the 'well you've clearly done a fantastic job with him' and talked about how his functional problems had receded with help. Mmmmm, I always take this as shorthand for 'we're not going to give you any help no matter what you say as he's coping fine'. I'm not sure whether that affects diagnosis either.

The Ed Psych who is visiting tomorrow will now send her report in to this panel.

I feel teachers are backing off also because although they know there are problems, there is going to be a conclusion that 'everything is being done which can be done'. I wrote a task in the home/communication book today saying I'd asked Nye to ask a teacher about his sweatshirt which he'd lost. Yes, he does ask for help tying shoe laces etc but if you ask him to go in and ask something of the teacher. Forget it. They understandably don't like that.

Of course, I know he wouldn't do it and he didn't. He has terrible problems with working memory too and the sweatshirt came back but another girl had found it. Again no note in the book about this. Teacher yesterday said 'he forgets to hand it in'. She also said she'd get it out if it was really important.

Do you think the whole thing is going to end in a he has ASD but it's being managed wonderfully by parents and school so no problem? I'm kind of thinking it is.

I don't think 'you coping well' will affect whether or not you get a diagnosis.

I would have thought that would more affect whether or not you get a statement.....

Well that's it PeacefulLiz, that's the way I was thinking. May not affect dx but will affect help. As I say, I think it will be he has ASD but no need to do anything as everything is hunk dory.

The Psychiatrist said the panel consider whether there is a dx to be made and then come up with recommendations. I said we could do with some proper SALT input and the response was 'it's all up in the air with SALT as the dept has been taken over'. She did make notes on this though.

Ed Psych comes in tomorrow and we've got the stupid fluffy teacher who always says 'everything's wonderful'. I feel it is such a waste of energy. So I've got another session of justifying myself and my 'fussing' tomorrow.

At the moment, I just feel like telling them all to fcuk off and burning the home/school book and not doing anything to help with this ever again. I feel so pissed off when people say how great we've done as it has ruined my fucking life this last year.

I'm so tired of it all. I really am. I never have anyone to guide me through this save this board as DH justy follows whatever I suggest. I know I'm doing the right thing. I do but I don't know that it has to be this hard.

Debs, it gets right on my tits too!

All everyone ever focuses on is 'functional' ability, no one gives a toss about what the child has to overcome to 'function' and its always the lets wait for him to fall flat on his face before we support him.

Dp is the same!

I just feel it is really hard to keep any sense of proportion. Some decision was clearly taken not to write in the home/school book any more as it was being written in and now hasn't been for ages even today when I set up somethign specific. Why don't they just say? It's so passive agressive!!

I'll keep on writing to no avail. They didn't even ask how his tests went. I have had the Outreach Team's report for the last month and no one has missed it. It's a waste of everyone's time

Debs, where there is no trust there and i am naturally suspicious of the school due to the past, makes me feel like im going bonkers!

Everyone seems to be playing down ds difficulties and i often wonder am i over reacting. I know im not, but its enough to put that doubt there!

I know that is what gets me down sometimes with school as one teacher said 'you worry too much about the future, I try to celebrate all the little victories'.

Cheeky mare. As if I don't and who do you think is blinking well responsible for those victories??

I think they do a bit of work and things settle down and they say 'all cured' until the next crisis and you start from square one again. Poor communication is a problem too. You have to remember that you're dealing with insititutions. They stick together. They support each other. They've got lots of children to deal with and we have only our own and their interest in them is 'are they reaching average grades?' Who cares about anythign else?

I know, if truth be told, I feel he has been written off a bit academically at 7.

It is a very pushy academic school. I can just see them applying for academy status asap!

I think if they can keep him happy to go in and not causing a fuss etc that's job done. I'm thinking - what about his education? what about his life? He is capable of so much with the right support.

When it all kicked off with school, months ago, I wrote to the Head and suggested their SEN policy and Disability Equality Statement be put on their website. We will act on that she said. Is it on there? No. Will it be? No. I just get the feeling it will put off prospective parents

Yet, they are due an Ofsted next year and I understand a bigger focus is now placed on SEN.

Also, at a meeting with class teacher and SENCO a while back, SENCO even asked if I was wanting to get DS into a special school and I said no. I wanted him to stay here. So, why say this if they don't think there's a problem?

Blimey, this post is rambling way off the ADI topic!

Debs if I can reassure you at all in dd's dx reports and dx confirmation letter there is always much mention of the fact dd lives in a family where strategies to support her difficulties are the norm and that dd has had a huge amount of intervention put in place from her earliest days. But it is always noted that although this at times hides the very significant difficulties that she has it in no way detracts from the fact she has autism.So I wouldn't imagine it would make any difference to a diagnosis so long as they are aware that the help you have given has managed ds's difficulties.

Thanks ASDx2 that is helpful to know. The woman we saw today was certainly a cut above the usual CAMHS person we have seen so far and she did seem to listen to us.

School celebrating all the little victories, that is a laugh, more like CLAIMING all the little victories!

Ds's SENCO told EP that she had fought hard to get ASD Outreach to go into school, as this was a 'special' thing she had arranged with them, they dont usually go in without a dx.

I arranged it myself and in writing, so i have proof. Why would they lie about this? to make it look like they understand and are doing something, when they dont have a clue!