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GP referred to CAMHS?

Custard

Hi All,

Newbie and this is my first question although the threads I've looked at are very helpful already, so thanks to all the lovely, helpful people on here Smile.

We've had concerns about the way my son interacts and behaves at nursery and school for a couple of years but his language is great and he is very able so we kept telling ourselves all was OK. He is now in Year One at school and his teacher (the SENCO) has raised concerns about the same things - the big unspoken word being 'Aspergers'. They buy into an Ed. Psych. service every term and they will have a look at him next term but to get the ball rolling I went to the GP yesterday and detailed all the aspects that concern us.

GP seemed quite intent on making it about behaviour, but his issues around behaviour are because of his difficulties socialising and interacting. Anyway, I asked for a referral to the paediatrician, but she said that the issue is not developmental so would need to be referred to CAMHS. I've had a look but unless this is a multi-agency approach, I'm not sure this is the right route to move towards diagnosis?

Anyone been there and done that who could advise me please? I'm not sure that this will be a dead end?

Many thanks in advance Smile

  • My daughter was only recently diagnosed (she's 13) and although I've known for years it was likely, no one seemed to want to suggest it was ASD until I moved from Lancashire to Dorset.  We ended up going to the GP with my sister, who knew the GP through her work, he referred her to the specialist and although we had to wait ages for the appointment, then ages for the final diagnosis, we got it.  

    I wonder if its different in different counties?  My daughter was referred to CAMHS by the Ed Psych in Y6 - he had mentioned her being on the spectrum to the Senco, she also thought she might be, the woman at CAMHS also thought she might be but none of them would actually come out and say yes.  It was only my sister pushing (I'm not a pushy person) that actually made the difference.

    I'm also feeling slightly disgusted with my daughters current school for not organising a CAF after what I've seen darkside say.  My daughters been on School Action Plus for years and I feel this should have been instigated last November when she started to refuse to go to school.  No wonder the deputy head sent a sort of an apology to me when I went to sign paperwork recently!

    I think the moral of this story is to keep pushing all the way through the process.  If like me, you are too soft, take someone with you.

    Btw, my daughter also saw a paeditrician at the age of 7 who told me her behaviour was my fault because she was a good girl at school and when she went to stay with her dad.  

  • I also meant to say I have through everything held on to the fact that I have, a very bright, funny, affectionate young man who i wouldn't change for the world, yes it is hard work, but the rewards are amazing.  I was so proud when on mothers day he went and made me a coffee without being asked!!

  • Hi,

    Firstly I am a newbie too and loving the forum it is so helpful!!  You are atarting the diagnosis at the right time.  My sons school and gp refused to budge until he was in year4, so he was only just diagnosed as he went in to high school.  We have had a lot of dark times, especially with the primary school ,whose teachers insisted on telling my son that he was just naughty, even though he was diagnosed as Apergers!!  Thankfully he is now at a mainstream high school with a specialist unit.

    Diagnosis wise.  CAMHS can be involved and be a part of the diagnosis, but these days they like to have the multidisciplinary approach that you mentioned, before they will confim ASD.  Don't be fobbed off by your GP, because it ius not a behavioural problem, and you could end up like we did.  We were put on the waiting list for CAMHS and then were told that this was the wrong list and were transferred to the bottom of another waiting list.  The best person to contact is the school nurse, as she wil be the linchpin over the next couple of years.  You also need to get your son on to a school action plus, this is where your son will have a CAF put into place that will result in regular meetings at school with everyone involved.

    Ask if there is a neurodevelopmental team in your area to be referred to, if not ask the school nurse to help you get referred to the peadiatrician, my main advice, is that you havee to be determined and bolshy it is the only way to get things done!  I hope that this helps.  Sorry it was long winded

  • CAHMS are definitely a step in the right direction. This is what you want. my son was referred to CAMHS via speech therapist, and then camhs felt there was enough evidence of autism to refer him to the specialist clinic who diagnose autism. They will also have CAMHS at the clinic, who will be part of the assessment and part of the team who observe and diagnose. As far as I know most kids would be referred to CAMHS, who determine the nature of the problem, and then refer to relevant clinic. So IMO it's definately a step in the right direction, and was a part of the process for us. 

  • CAMHS are able to diagnose autism - when we went we were seen by a community paediatrician and counsellor. They will ask you what you consider the issues to be and you can also explain school concerns to them. If they do not feel that they are the right service they will refer you on.

    Hope that helps.