ASD diagnosis - why such a lengthy process? - Page 2

JASMAK · Apr 14th, 2012, 00:43 AM

My daughter's assessment took about 10 months and was diagnosed at almost 3 years old. They said it was a fast diagnosis!! Felt like forever! There was always people over, assessing her, plus the Child Development Centre came twic a week at least for speech and infant development (therapy). I believe it all helped, even rhe assessments, at least a little. Its waitlists, but most importantly, the various professionals need to get to know your child and do their full assessments properly for an accurate diagnosis. My daughter had Classic symptoms so it went very fast. I have heard of some others taking forever.

BabyJ'sMummy · Apr 14th, 2012, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASMAK

My daughter too about 10 months and was diagnosed at almost 3 years old. They said it was a fast diagnosis!! Felt like forever! There was always people over, assessing her, plus the Child Development Centre came twic a week at least for speech and infant development (therapy). I believe it all helped, even rhe assessments, at least a little. Its waitlists, but most importantly, the various professionals need to get to know your child and do their full assessments properly for an accurate diagnosis. My daughter had Classic symptoms so it went very fast. I have heard of some others taking forever.

Do you mind me asking what the symptoms were that you noticed initially? Ours have been not pointing/showing things of interest, not shaking head no or nodding yes, only responding to name sometimes, speech, no pretend play, not really interested in other children (although he showed some interest in his cousin yesterday), doesn't hold gaze for long. Sometimes I wonder if we're making too much of things but then why are there so many things that point towards it? xx

eta - He has also regressed slightly. He no longer does the actions to twinkle twinkle and has pretty much stopped waving/clapping altogether.

JASMAK · Apr 14th, 2012, 22:05 PM

Yeah, what you said...no speech, no play, no eye contact, no pointing, no clapping, no communication whatsoever, just screaming and meltdowns that left us confused as to what the issue was. She didnt notice toys, presents or people.

Chimpette · Apr 15th, 2012, 10:41 AM

Hi,

When it came to our boy I was told that no testing was done until after their 3rd birthday. Logan turned 3 in June and had his assessment in Oct which lasted for 3 weeks, he was then diagnosed with high functioning autism in November.

So all in all once he turned 3 it took no time at all really to get him diagnosed.

BabyJ'sMummy · Apr 15th, 2012, 13:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpette

Hi,

When it came to our boy I was told that no testing was done until after their 3rd birthday. Logan turned 3 in June and had his assessment in Oct which lasted for 3 weeks, he was then diagnosed with high functioning autism in November.

So all in all once he turned 3 it took no time at all really to get him diagnosed.

I think they try and catch it as early as poss now so they can begin with the early intervention, I'm pretty sure they can diagnose from around 2 but are trying to get it even younger. Having said that with the amount of time it generally takes to diagnose I think a lot of children are around 3 when they are diagnosed. xx

**Tiff** · Apr 16th, 2012, 23:19 PM

I'm in the process right now of waiting for the ADOS test to get a diagnosis for Claire. Personally I don't care about the label, more just getting her the help she needs. If she is diagnosed, it'll be high functioning for sure.

We've been using Visual Schedules for Claire, they've been working WONDERS.

I highly recommend them. It really takes away a lot of her anxiety when it comes to the unknown.

BabyJ'sMummy · Apr 17th, 2012, 03:52 AM

Thanks Tiff, I'm glad you've found something that seems to help :-) I just really want to know what we're dealing with so I can find the best way to go about helping him. The one thing that has made a difference to begin with is that we have no tv on at all throughout the day. When it had been on he would sit glued to it - as in nose right up to the telly and if it wasn't on he would try for ages to get it on, we've turned it off at the plug so he can't get it on at all and he engages us a lot better. We're getting more down to his level when playing and giving him warnings of when things are happening - he would throw a tantrum if you didn't read a book over and over again but now if you tell him it's the last time he accepts it. The thing is I don't know what's normal toddler behaviour and what may be asd. xx

g3mz · Apr 17th, 2012, 13:47 PM

hi my son is is 4years 4months and we have been waiting for a diagnosis since he was 18months old

he has already had an ADOS but module 1 was used and they felt during the assesment that he needed module 2 so we have had to wait another 6 months for a module 2 ADOS. I am however very lucky as he is statemented with full time 1:1 in school. although the waiting for a formal diagnosis is very stressful!! my daughter is 7 and she has GDD but did have alot of autistic traits when she was younger but she changed as she got older, although this is not the case with my son he has been in nursery since he was 2 and has not made a single friend

he thinks he is an adult not a child and his obbsesions can become dangerous he has in the past thrown himself down the stairs thinking he is buzz lightyear!
i hope you dont have to wait to long because i agree that early intervention is the key!
wishing you all the luck in the world

Midnight_Fairy · Apr 18th, 2012, 04:03 AM

It took them 3 yrs to diagnose my son. My son also had a private assessment and it was 1700 for autism and speech assement and then 150 for the OT assessment. Its not cheap

BabyJ'sMummy · Apr 18th, 2012, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight_Fairy

It took them 3 yrs to diagnose my son. My son also had a private assessment and it was 1700 for autism and speech assement and then 150 for the OT assessment. Its not cheap

Do you think the private assessment was worth it? That's def not cheap

I had to phone the audiologist today to find out when ds is getting his hearing test as we want to rule that out before he get his next assessment and I was told it's a 6 -8 week wait!! I explained our circumstances and she's managed to fit us in next Wed :-) Some people can be so kind. xx

Apr 14th, 2012, 00:43 AM	#11
JASMAK Other BnB Elite Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 13,371	My daughter's assessment took about 10 months and was diagnosed at almost 3 years old. They said it was a fast diagnosis!! Felt like forever! There was always people over, assessing her, plus the Child Development Centre came twic a week at least for speech and infant development (therapy). I believe it all helped, even rhe assessments, at least a little. Its waitlists, but most importantly, the various professionals need to get to know your child and do their full assessments properly for an accurate diagnosis. My daughter had Classic symptoms so it went very fast. I have heard of some others taking forever.

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Apr 14th, 2012, 22:05 PM	#13
JASMAK Other BnB Elite Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 13,371	Yeah, what you said...no speech, no play, no eye contact, no pointing, no clapping, no communication whatsoever, just screaming and meltdowns that left us confused as to what the issue was. She didnt notice toys, presents or people.

Status: Offline

Apr 15th, 2012, 10:41 AM	#14
Chimpette Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South East Posts: 900	Hi, When it came to our boy I was told that no testing was done until after their 3rd birthday. Logan turned 3 in June and had his assessment in Oct which lasted for 3 weeks, he was then diagnosed with high functioning autism in November. So all in all once he turned 3 it took no time at all really to get him diagnosed.

Status: Offline

Apr 16th, 2012, 23:19 PM	#16
Tiff Mum (Mom) BabyandBump Team Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,983	I'm in the process right now of waiting for the ADOS test to get a diagnosis for Claire. Personally I don't care about the label, more just getting her the help she needs. If she is diagnosed, it'll be high functioning for sure. We've been using Visual Schedules for Claire, they've been working WONDERS. I highly recommend them. It really takes away a lot of her anxiety when it comes to the unknown.

Status: Offline

Apr 17th, 2012, 03:52 AM	#17
BabyJ'sMummy Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Posts: 1,212	Thanks Tiff, I'm glad you've found something that seems to help :-) I just really want to know what we're dealing with so I can find the best way to go about helping him. The one thing that has made a difference to begin with is that we have no tv on at all throughout the day. When it had been on he would sit glued to it - as in nose right up to the telly and if it wasn't on he would try for ages to get it on, we've turned it off at the plug so he can't get it on at all and he engages us a lot better. We're getting more down to his level when playing and giving him warnings of when things are happening - he would throw a tantrum if you didn't read a book over and over again but now if you tell him it's the last time he accepts it. The thing is I don't know what's normal toddler behaviour and what may be asd. xx

Status: Offline

Apr 17th, 2012, 13:47 PM	#18
g3mz Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: swansea Posts: 300	hi my son is is 4years 4months and we have been waiting for a diagnosis since he was 18months old he has already had an ADOS but module 1 was used and they felt during the assesment that he needed module 2 so we have had to wait another 6 months for a module 2 ADOS. I am however very lucky as he is statemented with full time 1:1 in school. although the waiting for a formal diagnosis is very stressful!! my daughter is 7 and she has GDD but did have alot of autistic traits when she was younger but she changed as she got older, although this is not the case with my son he has been in nursery since he was 2 and has not made a single friend he thinks he is an adult not a child and his obbsesions can become dangerous he has in the past thrown himself down the stairs thinking he is buzz lightyear! i hope you dont have to wait to long because i agree that early intervention is the key! wishing you all the luck in the world

Status: Offline

Apr 18th, 2012, 04:03 AM	#19
Midnight_Fairy Other BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South Coast UK Posts: 31,686	It took them 3 yrs to diagnose my son. My son also had a private assessment and it was 1700 for autism and speech assement and then 150 for the OT assessment. Its not cheap

Status: Online

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