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SN teens and young adults

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DD17 diagnosed ASD today

3 replies

Misseeeee · 31/07/2024 22:45

Not a huge shock to any of us really but I can't help but feel a bit traumatised by the appointment that led to the diagnosis.

Neither DD or myself warmed to the doctor. She was very abrupt (almost aggressive) and could be very hard to understand (heavy foreign accent) leading to DD getting confused and flustered as we often had to ask several times for questions to be repeated, leading to the doctor getting irritated with both of us. While I don't doubt the diagnosis, I feel at times she was putting words into my mouth. Most of the questions related to when DD was very young. We never had any concerns about DD until she was about 14 (when we thought she had post lockdown social anxiety resulting in CAHMS involvement) so my recollection of how she played with toys for example is very hazy. She kept repeatedly asking how she played with dolls and whether she would put them to bed, change their nappies etc and I said I wasn't sure/couldn't remember, which she took as a No. I mentioned she loved Sylvanian Families and had a huge collection which she noted as obsessive collecting but not playing with - I didn't say that! At times I felt like I was on trial and like a failure for not remembering such details("did she or did she not put her dolls to bed?!"). DD was clearly intimidated by the woman and became more quiet and withdrawn as the appointment went on, making less eye contact than usual. The doctor commented how timid she was, which she actually isn't usually!

As I said, I don't dispute the diagnosis but it wasn't a pleasant experience. DD says she's glad she knows but that's it really as she won't get any help seemingly especially as she's almost 18. Oh well....

OP posts:
DarkChocHolic · 01/08/2024 11:23

Sorry to hear of your poor experience.
Some appointments leave you so frazzled.
Hope the diagnosis puts your mind to rest.

Misseeeee · 02/08/2024 14:51

DarkChocHolic · 01/08/2024 11:23

Sorry to hear of your poor experience.
Some appointments leave you so frazzled.
Hope the diagnosis puts your mind to rest.

Thanks. Yes, these appointments can wear you out I agree but at least the doctors are usually nice, unlike this one! She made DD appear worse than she actually is and by the end seemed really uncomfortable, on the verge of tears and was almost whispering her answers to which the doctor barked "you're going to have to speak up!". I was quite scared of her too 🤣

OP posts:
RappersNeedChapstick · 03/08/2024 09:50

DD received her diagnosis this week and is also 17. I'm sorry that you've had such a bad experience. We had a detailed triage appointment with a Nurse Practitioner, then an appointment with a Speech & Language professional and then then their findings were taken to the Panel and fed back to us via the Nurse Practitioner.

DD hasn't once spoken to a Paediatrician but we are pleased to have finally got a diagnosis. It's taken many years for anyone to actually listen to us and to get a referral. At the triage appointment we were told that a diagnosis shouldn't come as a shock.

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