Newbie: Child with several Autistic Traits but not Autism???

Hi, I'm new here. I have a 10 year old boy who has struggled with social interactions and school for years, alongside out of control angry meltdowns. His school are convinced he is on the Autism Spectrum due to his unwillingness to communicate and his struggles to form friendships with his peers etc. He also suffers from social anxiety and doesn't like to go to school, refuses to try out of school clubs etc. We are currently in the process of trying to get a diagnosis. We attended our local CAMHs, and received a letter from the Dr there saying that in her opinion his difficulties were due to ASD, and she referred him for further assessment, BUT, we've been warned of a 18 month to 2 year waiting list! As he's due to transfer to secondary school next year, we felt a bit desperate, and have used our savings to pay for a private assessment. The result of that is the Dr saying that he has several autistic traits, which are the reason for his struggles at school (his anxiety leads to him shutting down and then these traits come to the foreground), BUT, because he was able to communicate and make eye contact with him, and because he showed an ability to use his imagination in their play session, he says he doesn't think he is fully autistic (he does change in the summer holidays when he's more relaxed and not stressing about school). This is slightly confusing news to us, and I wonder if anyone here can explain it? Basically we're being told that he has several autistic traits, and that these traits are enough to cause significant problems at school, and he advised us that the best way to deal with this is to see advice on the NAS website, but he doesn't have an autism diagnosis. Not even on the spectrum. Not aspergers. Just 'traits'. I'm confused, because I feel if he has enough traits to cause significant difficulty, surely this means he is on the spectrum, albeit at the high, functioning end of it. But the Dr says the fact he could communicate and showed imagination means he isn't. Please help me make sense of this. On the one hand, if he doesn't have autism then great, but on the other hand, where do we go from here in order to help him with what are nonetheless significant difficulties. Sorry for the waffle, just trying to work out what being 'on the spectrum' as opposed to 'having autistic traits' means.

Parents
  • The 'experts' can get it wrong and there are any number of books and online sources saying that ability to make eye contact and evidence of imagination do not preclude autism.  I would stick with your instincts and fight to still get the NHS assessment I really don't believe it's possible to be 'a bit autistic'.  I agree that the wait is unbearable though, for me as an adult and you as parents.

  • Yes, I feel a bit arrogant to say I think he's got it wrong, especially as we paid money for his consultation, and yet what he's saying is that he behaves like a boy with autism (sensory issues, communication & social issues, meltdowns etc), but because he demonstrated a willingness to make eye contact, and used his imagination, it doesn't matter how many traits he's got, he can't be on the autism spectrum ... but to me that just puts him at the high, functioning end of the spectrum (but then, I'm no expert!). I have kept us on the NHS waiting list, but it is a notoriously long wait. In the meantime he will transition to secondary school with no support in place, which worries me greatly. Thanks Spotty Tortoise.

  • My SD16 uses her imagination to escape from reality and has learned pretty passable eye contact.

    Screening tools commonly used for kids include ADOS but there are others. Adults have AAA.

    I would speak to the teacher in charge of supporting kids with specific learning needs even though he's only traited. You could also get sneaky and ask if they can get a SPELD assessment for Dyslexia in the interim, which could give him just enough support until he's properly assessed :-)

    Another thing worth trying is to contact the NHS unit who does the assessment and say you can do a cancellation appointment...other parents may do as you did and go private canceling their NHS screening...but it requires you to be willing to drop things and attend with 24 hours notice.

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