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Should I have my daughter assessed?

Shlohe

Hi, my daughter is 7 and hook school showed concern about her social interaction. At school she doesn't mix well with her peers but has friends to play at home and loves going to play at friends houses. she loves playing schools, dancing and other make believe games.she has no problems with routine change and met her milestones as a toddler. Her eye contact is good once she knows people. She is shy but this is improving. She had speech therapy as she struggled with certain sounds such as 'ch' but this was possibly down to her hearing. her pre school showed no concern about her mixing. The educational psychologist wanted her referring to be assessed but I am not sure if this will really upset her. My brother has Asperger's syndrome which I know increases the chances of family members having it but I also feel I know the signs after growing up around it. I am aware my daughter has traits but i don't feel she has enough to be diagnosed. I don't know what to do for the best. Any help will be gratefully recieved. 

  • No Problem.

    I just hope it's not to much of a hassle. I have heard lots of people struggle for ages to get tested, or to get results. But personally I found it all really quick. Whatever you do I hope it goes well and your daugter gets any support she needs.

    Amy

  • Thanks Amy. I think your right- an assessment will help either way and she is a bright child so I can explain everything to her. I think it will help me too as I know a diagnosis now would help her if she had an ASD but her teacher and several other people stated they thought she probably hadn't so I have kept waiting. There is obviously problems with her social interaction which need addressing regardless so I think I will contact the educational psychologist the start the process. Thanks for your replies, they really helped, 

  • I am no expert on it but I think getting tested would be a good idea. From my experences I know it is important to do this as early as possible. 
    Their are lots of parts to the test, so they test different things and social interaction is only one part. From what you say though she does sound to have more mild problems than me, but that does not mean she will not qualify for a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome. Although I know the rules on diagnosing are changing soon so I am not completly sure on this. 

    Think about it like this. She does not get tested and you spend lots of time thinking about it. Or he gets tested and their are two results: 1) You are told she does not have Autism or Aspergers syndrome and can carry on life knowing this. 2) she is diagnosed with Autism or Aspergers syndrome. If she is diagnosed then she would be able to get support. I am not sure exactly what but it is all the support I never got-and that is why I am struggling so much now. 

    I can not see any harm in being assesed or any reason not to. Just make sure you are completly honest with her. The person that sent me for the test was amazing. She explaind why I was having it and what might happen-but she could not say everything. But, she explaind why she could not answer all my questions about what would happen-because part of the test is how I react in unknown situations. So I think it would be important to explain what will happen and why, and give her a way to ask any questions and then to answer them. Also please don't not tell her the result.  I was the last to know I was diagnosed-made me feel horrible! 

    Finally-just a last thought. If the diagnosis is negaive, or you do not decied to be assesed you could think of being tested for related conditions. Not sure exactly what but it could be something to think about. 

    I hope this helps. 
    Amy 

  • I forgot to say she also attends musical theatre classes and yoga classes both of which she really enjoys.

  • Thanks for your comment. when i observed her play she seems to play a variation of school games and dancing games. another game she likes to play is hairdresses/beauticians which involves her doing my hair, nails etc and she makes conversation up as to why I am there eg a pre wedding hair appointment! To be honest I am torn, sometimes I think she probably has a ASD and then will spend time with her and I am convinced she hasn't. Is it possible to be diagnosed on the social interaction problems alone or would she need other criteria? 

  • I can't say whether or not your daughter has Aspergers or not, but what I can say is that I used to play 'make believe' games as a child, and this does not necessarily mean you can't have autism. Like your daughter, I struggled to make friends at school, but I did play with a group of younger children outside of school. I played teachers with them (I always had to be the teacher), teddy bear tea parties, mother and baby etc. However, I did not really 'play' with them because it was all on my terms, and qualitatively speaking I had poor interaction skills. They were more tools of my own play than actual friends.

    Is she really being imaginative in her play or is it all on her terms, and is it repetitive?