Skip to main content
Close Button
Donate
  • Replies 4 replies
  • Subscribers 82 subscribers
  • Views 1484 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Diagnosis without formal assessment

Monkeej
over 2 years ago

Hi all

we finally got an appointment with a community paediatrician at the start of February for my 12 year old daughter who we have suspected is on the spectrum. We spent 1 hour with the CP where my daughter was uncommunicative and teary. The CP then asked me to come in separately to my daughter so we could speak more openly. This took place about 2 weeks later. In this meeting after further questioning regarding my daughter she said that her suspicions were that my daughter was on the spectrum and she would proceed with the ASD assessment. Nearly 3 months of chasing up I speak to her again and she tells me she will be sending us a letter confirming the diagnosis and that a formal assessment is not required. Are we being fobbed off here? My understanding is that autism is diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team? Any help would be much appreciated. 

  • over 2 years ago

    Hi Monkeej,

    Thank you for sharing this with us. You may like to look at our information about autism spectrum disorders:
    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism

    You may also find it useful to have a look at the following link for further information about diagnosis and the benefits of getting one: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis

    Furthermore, it is important the professional you see has experience of autism spectrum disorders. You can find details of diagnostic services on our Autism Services Directory in the Assessment and diagnosis section: http://www.autism.org.uk/directory.aspx

    Regarding post-assessment, which you might want to have a look after receiving the letter, you may find the following page our website useful: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/post-diagnosis-support

    Hope this helps.

    Best,

    Eunice Mod

  • over 2 years ago

    Seems a bit quick. Could just be they're super busy & your daughter was so obvious they thought they'd save on the whole process. In that respect, you could say you got lucky. I'd assume that they took your daughters case to the team & discussed it prior to coming to the decision.

    My youngest was almost 12 at dx, but it took almost 6 years to get to that stage, so while I'd be puzzled at the speed & asking for a full report, I wouldn't be overly concerned if you gave a full & frank history. When my daughter had her ADOS she only saw one person, but it was discussed by the team, so I take it this is what they mean by multidisciplinary.

    My eldest was 18 at dx & saw 2 people for her assessment meeting. Don't even know if it was an ADOS or not, but in this instance, it wasn't taken to the team & she was dx there & then. They were quite angry that she'd been failed when I'd first had her seen 10 years ago & she was fobbed off as "just shy". I'd be interested to know others opinions on this too. 

  • over 2 years ago

    Hi,

    I might be wrong but I believe they should be experienced and qualified to recognised if a child is in the spectrum. My son has seen a Cp in the past but was referred for a formal assessment because he is "border line" and the CP was not 100% sure about the diagnosis and needed to be backed up from the team. It is my understanding the CP is also part of it. Of course, I can be wrong but this is what has happened to us. 

  • over 2 years ago

    Hopefully the moderators will answer this for you if nobody else can.  It seems a bit confusing if they mentioned an assessment but then felt it not necessary.