I think my child may have autism what do I do? Expand If you are worried that your child has autism then the first thing to do is book an appointment with you GP. If you have school aged child you could also speak to the schools Special educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and if your child is under school aged, speaking to your health visitor can help. When you visit the GP for the initial appointment take a list of things that are causing you concern, to discuss with your doctor.
Are there other options other than going to the GP? Expand There are many professionals and organisations that can provide private assessments for your child. Parents sometimes opt for these as waiting times can sometimes be lengthy. Costs do vary and can be considered costly. It’s also important to note that some local authorities may not accept the results of private diagnoses. They might insist upon an NHS diagnosis before they will provide services to you and your child. For this reason, we suggest that you stay on the waiting list for an NHS assessment even if you also decide to go privately.
What can the GP do? Expand At the appointment the GP may ask you about: Antenatal and perinatal history Your child’s development Factors that are associated with an increased prevalence of autism Medical history Information about previous assessments Based on the information you give and the observations made the GP may refer your child for an autism assessment. The NICE guidelines do state that you should get an appointment with 3 months but waiting times for assessment can vary dependent on where you live and what services are on offer
What happens at the assessment? Expand The Assessment process may involve many different professionals for example Physichiatrist, Occupational therapist and Speech therapist. People who have been involved with your child should be involved. The process could involve: Meetings to collect information regarding your child and family history Observations of your child in a variety of settings Collecting reports about your child from all settings Medical examination Each stage of the process should be explained to you, and you should be given time to ask any questions. During the process diagnostic tools will be used, these are to help identify autism within your child. Some of the more common tools used are listed below, but please note there are others : The Autism Diagnosis Interview-Revised (ADI-R) The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G) The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) The Diagnostic Instrument for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) When conducting an autism assessment there are guidelines which must be followed, please click here for more information.
There are all these people involved with my child, what do they do? Expand Child and adolescent Psychiatrist: A doctor who specialises in children and young people’s mental health. Clinical psychologist: Someone who can assess your child’s psychological functioning and emotional wellbeing. Educational Psychologist: Someone who works to help your child overcome learning difficulties and behaviour in an education setting. Occupational Therapist: Someone who will support your child with their sensory differences. Paediatrician: A doctor who specialises in children’s health. Paediatric Neurologist: A doctor who specialises in the brain. Speech and language therapist: Someone who helps support speech and communication.
What will happen after the assessment? Expand After the assessment process the team will make a decision to whether or not they believe your child has autism. You should be given a diagnostic report which outlines the formal diagnosis and ideally how their autism effects them. It should also include recommendations for support. This report will be given at the end of an appointment or will be sent through the post. Often a member of the diagnostic team will make a follow up visit within six weeks of the official diagnosis.
What happens if I don’t agree? Expand As the child’s parents you may not agree with the findings, in which case you can request a second opinion. You can do this by: Going back to the GP – Tell them that you are not happy with the findings and that you would like your child to be referred elsewhere for a second opinion. Ask the diagnostic team to refer you on to a ‘specialist level of healthcare’ also known as a tertiary level service. This usually happens in ‘complex cases’ and does require additional funding. Seeking a private diagnosis.
What are the signs and symptoms of possible autism? Expand Primary school children (age 5–11 years). Secondary school children (older than 11 years). Adapted from ‘Autism: recognition, referral and diagnosis of children and young people on the autism spectrum’ (NICE clinical guideline 128).