My son is suspected ASD. The Community Paediatrician referred him and I received lotsof questionnaires yesterday. They are all filled out, and will be posted very soon. (Need to print a photo!)
But what happens next? And how soon? Are the questionnaires assessing if he needs assessment or are they part of his assessments?
Sorry, but I am very new to the actual assessment part. We have been fighting for 5 years to get to this point.
You're very kind 
Yes, the appointment will be the result of them examining the questionairres. After returning my own, it took them only a very short time to tell me that the indications were there, but the same letter also told me that at some point in the future they would send me an appointment. It was then a case, for me, of sitting there in my usual state of confusion, wondering what was coming next.
I carefuly avoided looking at any information about the condition. I am aware of the self-diagnosis risk that has arisen since the internet started carrying information. The reality is that people search for their symptoms, find conditions and illnesses that their symptoms hint at, then convince themselves that they've got the illness in question. GPs are getting a lot of people now, telling them 'I've got so-and-so' when in fact they haven't. This is a nuisance, and a nonsense!
I had to wait 12 months for mine, so I think that 4 months is relatively good. I think that a maximum 4 weeks would be better, and 4 days proper, otherwise the danger is that p[eople will use the same method of self diagnosis to make themselves fit the condition.
I am taxed by the lack of child assessment, and even more taxed by the poor assessment of girls, I'm talking on another thread with a lady on this very subject. From my own experience I know just how important early diagnosis is. As I said to someone else recently when she was 'filled with fear' over her (17yo) nephew possibly getting the same diagnosis. She thought his life was going to get harder, but I told her firmly that his life will actually start. Finally, an answer for him to the difficulties his life was presenting him with, plus being able to get the 'right' advice and support.
I wouldn't choose NOT to be an Aspie, even if I could, becaus ethat would mean choosing not to be me, but there are certainly a huge number of things in my past that would have been vastly different and infinitely less painful if I, and my family, had known sooner.
It sounds like you've been chosen to have the care of a very special child, and that makes you a very special parent. Enjoy the ride!
You're very kind
Yes, the appointment will be the result of them examining the questionairres. After returning my own, it took them only a very short time to tell me that the indications were there, but the same letter also told me that at some point in the future they would send me an appointment. It was then a case, for me, of sitting there in my usual state of confusion, wondering what was coming next.
I carefuly avoided looking at any information about the condition. I am aware of the self-diagnosis risk that has arisen since the internet started carrying information. The reality is that people search for their symptoms, find conditions and illnesses that their symptoms hint at, then convince themselves that they've got the illness in question. GPs are getting a lot of people now, telling them 'I've got so-and-so' when in fact they haven't. This is a nuisance, and a nonsense!
I had to wait 12 months for mine, so I think that 4 months is relatively good. I think that a maximum 4 weeks would be better, and 4 days proper, otherwise the danger is that p[eople will use the same method of self diagnosis to make themselves fit the condition.
I am taxed by the lack of child assessment, and even more taxed by the poor assessment of girls, I'm talking on another thread with a lady on this very subject. From my own experience I know just how important early diagnosis is. As I said to someone else recently when she was 'filled with fear' over her (17yo) nephew possibly getting the same diagnosis. She thought his life was going to get harder, but I told her firmly that his life will actually start. Finally, an answer for him to the difficulties his life was presenting him with, plus being able to get the 'right' advice and support.
I wouldn't choose NOT to be an Aspie, even if I could, becaus ethat would mean choosing not to be me, but there are certainly a huge number of things in my past that would have been vastly different and infinitely less painful if I, and my family, had known sooner.
It sounds like you've been chosen to have the care of a very special child, and that makes you a very special parent. Enjoy the ride!
