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Concerned our high functioning child will not be diagnosed as autistic because his traits aren’t severe.

NAS78326

Hi,

As parents we are in the middle of having our 7 year old boy assessed for autism. In the last consultation they are happy to continue to assess him but aren’t sure if he is on the spectrum, this is because they only spoke to him and watched his interactions for an hour, whereas at home there are so more signs of definite autism.

We are wondering if anyone else has experienced doctors not believing your child is autistic because they are high functioning and if there’s any way to have them tested for longer than a short doctor’s appointment, other than going private which we cannot afford.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give us.

Parents

  • Hi, 

    I'm afraid I have no advice as we are at the very start of the referral/assessment process with our almost 8yo daughter, but I just wanted to say I share the same concerns. Our daughter is very academically able, and is also very reserved/introvert so I worry that not enough will be picked up within the confines of the assessment. 

    I agree with Catlady31 though, and think the best thing we can do is to go to appointments armed with as much information as possible about our child's behaviours/areas of difficulty (including specific examples if possible). The SENDCO at the school approached us and I get the impression she thinks there is enough there to suspect autism - but I'm not sure if this counts for anything when it comes down to the actual assessment?

    Do you mind me asking what prompted assessment for your son? And did the school pick up on signs or did it come from you? 

Reply

  • Hi, 

    I'm afraid I have no advice as we are at the very start of the referral/assessment process with our almost 8yo daughter, but I just wanted to say I share the same concerns. Our daughter is very academically able, and is also very reserved/introvert so I worry that not enough will be picked up within the confines of the assessment. 

    I agree with Catlady31 though, and think the best thing we can do is to go to appointments armed with as much information as possible about our child's behaviours/areas of difficulty (including specific examples if possible). The SENDCO at the school approached us and I get the impression she thinks there is enough there to suspect autism - but I'm not sure if this counts for anything when it comes down to the actual assessment?

    Do you mind me asking what prompted assessment for your son? And did the school pick up on signs or did it come from you? 

Children
  • in reply to Raegan

    Hi, and thanks for your reply.

    In answer to your questions, there is autism in one side of our family so our sons grandmother has a lot of experience with autism and so saw all the traits, signs and behaviours, so we were really lucky in that respect. 
    We have had to and are still really pushing the school to understand and take it seriously. With it being a hidden disability, and with children acting differently in school to how they act at home (as with your daughter being introverted), we feel it has been missed, or they aren’t taking us too seriously. 
    We are putting more pressure on the school now to force them to help and send assessments to the doctors etc, and are making ourselves a nuisance, but we’ve found that’s the best way to get through to them and be heard!