Initial appointment

I had our initial assessment in January, I took a list of things I was concerned about but in all honestly I didn’t need it in the end as they asked all the right questions! I let my Delilah be herself so the Dr saw for himself- she was stimming and turning the taps on, shouting (because her voice echoed). It does make you feel deflated, especially when you’re having to talk about all the concerns, but you’ll also feel tons better after the appointment as I did. It will feel like a weight has been lifted, like you’ve been heard! Just a heads up though- the waiting lists are quite long, we was told 18months! Good luck- take a deep breath, you can do this!! X

Don’t stress! I was exactly the same- we had ours in 5th November! I was so worried, I was going to forget to say something (I probably did!) but they know what they’re doing! My son has a massive fear of fire alarms and he spotted one on the wall as soon as we walked in and he was stressed and wouldn’t engage with them. They kept asking if this is what he is like with new places/people to which I said no- then eventually they took him outside and he engaged. They said he was a lovely boy and I was gutted they didn’t get to see how amazing he is! But they did diagnose him with autism there!

Maxi is amazing and when he’s happy and comfortable with people he’ll interact but I know he wont interact with them tomorrow and he will be sat with me and daddy! But I’m also worried in case he masks and they think oh he’s fine! His speech is obvious as is his eating, his need for routine and obsessive tendencies though aren’t alway obvious though unless you spend lots of time with him! All my childminding parents have said to me this week how far he’s come since they all started and it’s true he has come a long way but it’s only obvious when you see him on a regular basis and he’s comfortable… sorry can you tell I’m overthinking it all 😂

You will find that if he doesn’t engage, or you think he is masking that your super-mum mode will activate. My son wouldn’t leave my lap or open his eyes and I just waffled everything out ! They know what to ask! They observed behaviours in my son that I never noticed- splaying hands when he’s stressed . There was a speech therapist there for ours too and totally took my word for his speech issues!

@Emma the letter says he’ll be seen by a consultant paediatrician and a specialist early years practitioner! I’ve observed/realised some behaviours in him recently that as a practitioner (working in childcare for 10yrs) id be flagging and saying I’m worried about this to parents xx

Yeah that sounds the same as my letter! Hope it all goes okay! X

So was all fine just chatted for an hour whilst the specialist practitioner tried to get him to play 😂 they’d put him on social/communication pathways possibly autistic! It was all left feeling a bit vague

So what are social/communication pathways? If it makes you feel any better, I got an instant diagnosis but don’t really feel like I’ve got any support with anything! We’re already on the speech and language waiting list!

@Emma so it all felt a bit vague, so I’ve asked on some toddler sen support groups etc and basically it’s the autism pathway but because his speech is so behind they are waiting on speech and language, they are giving him more time to gather more evidence to get a diagnosis but apparently him being put on any pathway is positive 🤷‍♀️ still feels a bite up in the air we dunno what we’re doing, but school have said now he’s in the system they can put support in place regardless

@Laura this is exactly how our assessment went with our eldest, she was put on the same pathway as maxi and under SALT too, they needed to get as much evidence, on second appointment he said he wanted to diagnoses her with autism but had to do it on a 3rd appointment but said it would be done before she starts school so she can get the right support. It sounds like it’s all going in the right direction, it’s just a bit of a waiting game x