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Assessment outcome - Would/did you take your child?

NAS24981

Morning all. After some advice please? My son's 13 and, if he is autistic then he is pretty 'high functioning' (though I do struggle with that term).

He's been through assessment via Clinical Partners (NHS are using them to cut down waiting list) and we've been offered a feedback appointment next Monday evening. When I asked if our son should come along too they said it was up to us! I've not done this before and I now don't know whether it's best to go without him.

He's not met the psychiatrist who will be delivering the verdict: we saw her and he saw a psychologist (who started the assessment with "Do you know anyone autistic? do you think you're like them"? And then I had to leave.). It feels like it's his life so he ought to be there, but at the same time discussion can be more frank if he's not.

I'm interested to know what others with older children have done in this situation?

Thanks

  • in reply to NAS24981

    Thank you very much. This is helpful.

  • in reply to NAS71792

    Hi. I don't really have anything to compare them against so I'm not sure how useful my opinion will be. We got a diagnosis (level 2 autism!) so I suppose in that respect they were good. The process was quick but I did feel that it wasn't as in-depth as I might have hoped for. They just assessed whether he was autistic or not rather than looking at any other issues as well. This might be standard, I don't know. Good luck whatever you decide. 

  • Hi NAS24981.

    Do you mind me asking for your opinion of Clinical Partners? We are considering using them for a private assessment. Thanks.

  • in reply to NAS24981

    Glad it went OK for you, hfa has always just been a description used for individuals without severe cognitive impairments it was never in the icd 10 or dsm5 for diagnosis (at least that's what I've been told)  

  • Thanks so much everyone for your replies. I've been unable to sign in for a week for some reason so only now can I respond. I asked my son what he wanted and he was keen not to go as "I already know how I work, so you can talk about any problems they saw without me". As it was, the appointment only lasted about 20 minutes anyway, the last 5 minutes of which was me asking for more clarity about diagnosis now that autism/HFA are no longer used apparently. She seemed to be saying that the diagnosis is now a blanket term of autism for all levels which seems odd.

  • Hi, I understand that this is a really difficult decision to make, I personally would take him. I fully intend to include my daughter when her assessment is complete. She is 8 and we don't use the term asd to her at present we just discuss her quirkiness. But when she is diagnosed I don't want her kept in the dark 

    Your son is older and may have questions of his own to ask, offer him the choice explain you are going to be discussing the outcome of the session he had and see if he wants to come or to discuss it with you later 

    I'm sorry I can't be more help I haven't got to that stage yet

    I wish you luck with whatever decision you make

  • Interesting dilemma.

    How much does your son know about the assessment process?  Does he know why he's been assessed?

    Perhaps you should ask your son if he wants to go.