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refused referral for autism

loulabelle42

Hi all, i am new to all this and im just wondering if there is any parents out there that are having problems trying to get their child seen for a autisic referral?

my 13yr old daughter has moderate cognative learning disabilities but she also has some weired and wonderful traits!!

however even through primary school she never liked change and had real anxiety issues about leaving me at the school gates especially after half term holidays etc.

she couldnt cope with other children falling out and would get very overwhelmed at loud noises, the constant meeting with the school led me to a brick wall and although i kept raising my concerns the teacher (senco ) said there was nothing wrong with her and that i should exept thats just how she learns!!

so we are now in mainstream school and my daughter is finding it harder and harder to go to school. pleading to be home tutored, i went in and yet again raised my concerns and the senco said she has autistic traits ... finally someone is listening to me!!

after endless visits to my gp we finally got a referral back in 2016. obviously the doctor had contacted the school and they go on points score... and it went down hill fast from there. because my daugher is so quiet once she is in school the teacher had said that although my daugher has low self esteem there were no other concerns so we were told my the paeds doctor that they would not put her through any assesments!!

one year on and things are getting worse. my daughter says her head hurts in class because the kids are talking!! she is like a pressure cooker about to go either before going to school or after. she will kick off if we are doing something different to the degree we end up not going and then a hour or so later she comes and apologies but she isnt sure what she has done wrong!!

i have begged my gp to help and twice he has sent referrals off and twice they have cancelled our appointments saying they wont see my daughter and she is how she is because of her learning disabilities!!

sorry to go on but do i push to see a doc or accept what the doctor is saying?

Parents

  • I cannot pretend to be affected by autism in the same way as your daughter.  However, I am aware that a diagnosis opens up many doors that would otherwise be shut.

    My feeling is that however much one thinks that autism shares traits with other conditions, if autism is the cause of one's difficulties, other conditions which may be present are merely masking the root cause of the problem.  I hesitate to say that autism is a 'problem', but if autism is the root cause, understanding that is the case is of immense importance.  Yes, autism cannot be cured (in my case, many years ago the 'treatment' was severe physical punishment.)  I was considered 'naughty' and was subject also to bullying.  This has had an effect on me throughout my life of chronic anxiety and depression.  I may have come through the education system at least to the end of secondary education with some qualifications that were considered very good at the time, but I did not have much success in job searching, being in my late forties until I actually managed to get 'permanent' employment.

    I know, in retrospect, what a diagnosis means, and the earlier a diagnosis can be obtained the more help that can be obtained.  Do not give up on this.  You want the best for your child and you are receiving second class (at best) service.  It should not be some sort of lottery as to whether your daughter gets assessed and diagnosed.  And even if your daughter turns out not to be autistic, at least you will then be aware that there are other reasons for her being the way she is.

    I am unclear as to whether the refusal to give your daughter a diagnostic assessment is because of some sort of problem your health authority has.  This is one problem your MP may be able to help you with when the election is over.  Usually MPs are very interested in the problems their constituents have with authority, whatever their political affinity.  And it is often amazing the results that can be forthcoming.

    There is an expression 'The squeaky wheel gets the grease'.  Being autistic, I might interpret this differently, but the more you keep putting your view over, the more you are likely to get results.

    Good luck!

Reply

  • I cannot pretend to be affected by autism in the same way as your daughter.  However, I am aware that a diagnosis opens up many doors that would otherwise be shut.

    My feeling is that however much one thinks that autism shares traits with other conditions, if autism is the cause of one's difficulties, other conditions which may be present are merely masking the root cause of the problem.  I hesitate to say that autism is a 'problem', but if autism is the root cause, understanding that is the case is of immense importance.  Yes, autism cannot be cured (in my case, many years ago the 'treatment' was severe physical punishment.)  I was considered 'naughty' and was subject also to bullying.  This has had an effect on me throughout my life of chronic anxiety and depression.  I may have come through the education system at least to the end of secondary education with some qualifications that were considered very good at the time, but I did not have much success in job searching, being in my late forties until I actually managed to get 'permanent' employment.

    I know, in retrospect, what a diagnosis means, and the earlier a diagnosis can be obtained the more help that can be obtained.  Do not give up on this.  You want the best for your child and you are receiving second class (at best) service.  It should not be some sort of lottery as to whether your daughter gets assessed and diagnosed.  And even if your daughter turns out not to be autistic, at least you will then be aware that there are other reasons for her being the way she is.

    I am unclear as to whether the refusal to give your daughter a diagnostic assessment is because of some sort of problem your health authority has.  This is one problem your MP may be able to help you with when the election is over.  Usually MPs are very interested in the problems their constituents have with authority, whatever their political affinity.  And it is often amazing the results that can be forthcoming.

    There is an expression 'The squeaky wheel gets the grease'.  Being autistic, I might interpret this differently, but the more you keep putting your view over, the more you are likely to get results.

    Good luck!

Children
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