Timing and assessments for ASD

[mumofhelen]

I hope maybe someone can help me get my head round the following:
Is it true that the state sector will only assess for ASD at 4/5 years old?
If there is a inkling of ASD, for example, in a 3 year old, would it be possible for the parent to ask the GP/HV for an assessment?
Is it up to the school/nursery or the GP/HV or the parent to ask for an assessment?
Is it standard procedure to 'wait and see' until a child's 5th birthday? Is an earlier assessment better or unnecessary?
Finally, could I be confused because different education and health authorities have different policies or is there a national policy?

[coppertop]

Ds1 was dx'ed with ASD at 3.5yrs old. Ds2 was 2yrs old. It's not true that the state will only assess at 4 or 5yrs.

Yes parents can ask for a referral for an assessment.

The school/nursery will often approach the parents if they feel there is a problem. They might suggest the parent has their child assessed and/or ask for the parent's permission to speak to the Educational Psychologist about their child. It can be done in all kinds of ways. With ds1 the HV made a referral to a SALT, and she in turn made the referral to the Paediatrician. With ds2 I spoke to ds1's portage worker and she spoke to the Paediatrician and the referral was made from there.

I would say that the earlier a child is assessed the better. Early intervention can make such a big difference.

I don't think there's a national policy. Each area seems to have its own system.

[mumofhelen]

Thank you coppertop. That explains a lot.

I thought the person who told me some of the contents in my OP was telling a few porkies - for example, about the state sector only assessing 'raising' 5s and early assessment is unecessary.

I think I'm having the wool pulled over my eyes but I won't get involved. Although next time the person repeats the contents, I'll remind them I have access to the internet to check out what she's been telling me and leave it at that.

[honeybrown]

My son was dx'ed at 2.5 after I had made a request for assessment six months previously. I had to push for this assessment but as I knew what I was looking for I was eventually taken seriously. All the research suggests that early intervention is really important for children with ASD so there was no way I was going to be fobbed off. HTH x

[TotalChaos]

IME - it's hard to get HVs/GPs to take speech delay seriously until 3. And then it can easily take a year on a waiting list to get a paediatrician/joint clinic appointment. So that's why it can unfortunately take till a child is 4 plus for an assessment. It is definitely possible for parent to ask GP/HV for an assessment, and if you have any concerns I would definitely try and get the assessment process started yourself - as at least you know exactly what you have done and when! Exact procedures and sercvices will vary according to area. In some areas you don't need to go via GP or HV to get a SALT referral - phone up your local SALT department to find out.