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Common conditions we work with

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Information: Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD Assessment Process in Coventry (Pre School Children)

When we do an autism assessment, we need to know how your child is getting on at home and nursery/education setting. If they have had assessments by other professionals we would like to see their reports.

Referral - If you are concerned that your child might have ASD then speak to your Health Visitor, giving them a list of behaviours and characteristics that make you think your child might be autistic. You will be asked about your family, the physical and mental health of family members and whether your child has had any traumatic experiences. Some parents find this difficult, but it is important that we know about issues which could have affected your child's development. If you want to talk about this without your child hearing the discussion, please mention it when you come to us for your first appointment and we will arrange a suitable time with you to discuss it.

At each stage it will be decided if your child meets the criteria for an autism assessment through discussion with members of our team, which include a Speech and Language Therapist, Paediatrician, Health Visitor and, if appropriate, Occupational Therapist and education support services depending on your child's needs. It may be decided that your child needs some intervention, for example around behaviour or sleep, or a referral to another service first before progressing to the next assessment phase.

Assessment phase 1 - Your Health visitor will carry out an 'Ages and Stages' questionnaire and, if appropriate a 'Wellcomm' language screen. They will talk to you about the concerns you have about your child's development.

Assessment phase 2 - Your child's appointment with the Speech and Language Therapist will be in clinic, nursery or home. They will assess your child's communication skills and provide you with advice and strategies on how you can support your child. There may need to be a follow-up session to see if there has been any progress. This information will be shared with the team to decide if your child meets the criteria for an autism assessment.

Assessment phase 3 - Once all the information has been collected from the team of professionals and they feel your child meets the criteria for assessment a referral will be made to a Paediatrician. Sometimes it is difficult to be sure whether a child has autism, even after these appointments. If we need a more detailed look at your child's social interaction we will need to request an 'ADOS' assessment. Once the Paediatrician is sure, they will let you know the diagnosis.

Waiting for assessment - Unfortunately there is at least a year's waiting list for assessment because so many children have been referred. We prioritise those children who are 'Looked After' or have a 'Child Protection Plan' in place, so if that is the case for your child please let us know.

Pre-assessment session - Whilst you wait for an assessment, you can attend a pre-assessment parent education session. This group session is run by professionals with many years' experience of working with children with autism who give top tips on supporting your child, and information about local services available to help you and your child. This session has had many positive reviews by parents and carers.

To book a session contact the Neurodevelopmental Service on 024 7696 1226.

ASD Assessment Process in Warwickshire (Pre School Children)

The Warwickshire Preschool Autism Service is a specialist service consisting of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team responsible for the assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It works closely with education and other support services in order to support the child to reach their full potential. Find out more about this service.

ASD Assessment Process (School Age Children)

Your child's appointments - When we do an autism assessment, we need to know how your child is getting on at home and school. If they have had assessments by other professional we would like to see their reports. These are usually sent to us by the school, but you might check that they have copies of everything they need.

Autism Assessment Process.pdf [pdf] 99KB

You and your child will be offered two appointments with one of our clinicians. We have found that our assessments are best when the child's teacher, or an assistant, comes into the appointment too; we can then ask them directly about your child's behaviour in school, and their progress in learning. If you are comfortable with this, please invite someone who knows your child well to come with you.

In the first appointment we will want to talk a lot to your child so we can assess their social skills. This will be quite informal so your child can talk more easily. We do not always need your child to attend the second appointment, but we will discuss that with you.

We will ask about your family, the health and mental health of family members and whether your child has had any traumatic experiences. Some parents may find this difficult, but it is important we know about issues which could have affected your child's development. If you want to talk about this without your child hearing the discussion, please mention it when we start to ask you questions, and we will have the next appointment without your child being present.

Sometimes it is difficult to be sure whether a child has autism, even after these appointments. If we do need a more detailed look at your child's social interaction we will request an 'ADOS' appointment. We might need to collect more detailed information from you, and then we will do a formal parent interview such as the ' 3Di', 'ADI-R' or 'DISCO'. We do not always need to use these tools to come to a conclusion, but when we do it will mean that you will have additional appointments, and the assessment will then take longer.

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.pdf [pdf] 69KB

ASD Pathway - presentation filmed at a recent conference