Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, just wanted to say hello to everyone! V long story short, been trying to get one of my twin daughters an ASC diagnosis since she was 2 1/2, (she's now 7). we saw numerous professionals, the most helpful of whom were the SALTS, who indicated that there was definitely something that needed assessing (they aren't allowed to state a diagnosis)! whereas everyone else seemed to think I was being a fussy mum. Saw several Community paediatricians who kept leaving so we had to go back to the start of the process again. Moved schools because they weren't supportive and finally had an ADOS a few months ago with a very inexperienced CP, which she passed with flying colours given how high functioning she is. Also had to fill in a Connors questionnaire, ours showed her above 70% threshold in all but one category and because she's v well behaved at school, the CP completely disregarded them. School have said her twin is also showing autistic traits but she presents very differently. School is trying to get info together to do a re-referral themselves. I just feel SO frustrated as everyone just seems to pick and choose the evidence they use ie school's, not me as the parent who is coping with daily meltdowns. Times two. I can't fault the school, who are being so supportive, it's the diagnostic system that feels like a brick wall to be broken down. Anyone got a magic hammer?! What's worse is, I'm probably going to have to go through all this again with the other twin! Sorry to go on but it's just a build up of 5 years of frustration.
If it ever becomes such an issue that your daughter becomes a legitimate danger to herself, or threatens it - one way you can immediately get on the radar is going to A&E and asking for the child to be admitted for their own safety.
My son kept writing suicide notes, and tried to act on it a couple of times when he was 10. That resulted in us admitting him to hospital for his own safety following a major meltdown that we couldn't manage. In the emergency CAMHS meeting that followed the next day, he admitted lots of things we weren't aware of that were a major concern. We got a same day referral to a psychiatrist at the local CAMHS, and they immediately raised him up the priority list and arranged follow up appointments. After that we had appointments at least once or twice per month - whereas before the incident we were waiting 6 months+ and just felt dismissed as parents