Worth getting private ASD assessment?

[cheekymonk]

Hello all. Am really hoping for some mumsnet wisdom. My dd is 3 and has severe speech delay. She has been under nhs salt since age 2 where delay has gone from moderate to severe. She has been regularly seen by audiology and has been found to have glue ear. She had grommets put on June this year and was also going to have adenoids removed but during op they said not big enough to warrant removal. So, I need to apply for her school place on October.. We have moved from Hampshire to brum/Solihull area. she has started new nursery. She was on iep at previous nursery. On old are she was under eyfs panel but nothing ever happened. She jasneenreferredto salt paeditrician up here and ent consultant. I have chased up nhs referrals no reply. Private gets back to me same day and says next step is asd assessment. Dd repeats manypf same phrases loves water sand and crafts anything sensory. She does like role play. She has gone through phases of smearing poo on walls a private asd assessment is going to cost £1200. Wwyd? thanks on advance am feeling lost...

[autumnsmum]

Hi I have a dd4 with autism , I would definitely apply for an autism assessment but I would check if a private diagnosis holds the same weight as an nhs one in your area , in some areas they aren't accepted good luck

[cheekymonk]

Thanks autumns mum yes I saw that private assessment not always accepted. What an absolute minefield it is!

[autumnsmum]

I would definitely pursue assessment

[cheekymonk]

[cheekymonk]

Any more experience?

[adrianna22]

I've heard that not many places, I.e. Schools, doctors...take into account any private diagnosis, as they favour NHS ones.

Personally I would push for an ASD assessment via NHS and in the meantime to be working on your child 's difficulties.

[adrianna22]

I mean that they don't take into account...

[Jacksterbear]

My ds was dxed privately with ASD. It was accepted by his school without question (although I understand from reading on here that this isn't always so).

It was also accepted by the NHS paed (we were pursuing both routes in tandem but unsurprisingly private was quicker!) and her report states he "has been given a diagnosis of ASD" - which I'm hoping will count as an NHS dx, should anyone ever insist on one in future!

[Fav]

I think it depends where you are.
Some areas will accept a private diagnosis.

I have been told by the senco and by enhanced mainstream services that a private assessment will be taken into account, but I managed to speak to a NHS assessor (phoned the CDC and somehow managed to talk to her), and she said that in my area, private assessments aren't accepted at all. (Where I live is apparently one of the worst in the uk for ASD though)

Could you ring the CDC and ask there?

[cheekymonk]

Hi fav what does CDC stand for? X

[Fav]

Child development centre. That's who we were referred to at our local hospital, don't know if it's the same everywhere though!

[cheekymonk]

Ah I see thanks fav

[cheekymonk]

Have been referred to nhs paeditrician should instigate a separate referral for assessment?

[2boysnamedR]

It seems to be different depending where you live but your pead should refer for the tests

[SystemId]

It's expensive enough as it is so if you can go the NHS route then that's great
Some children's centres have a drop in Speech therapist - could you ask about that? Also sometimes a Health visitor can be helpful
Things had stalled for us then at our local children's centre I took DS to a babygroup and the lady that ran it who has a DC with ASD saw DS, recognised my worry, and got the SALT active.
If there is a nursery outreach team try to get them involved - the nursery should know about them & they should be back next month.
Put in early intervention measures anyway - Hanen it takes two to talk is a book I was recommended on here and it is good.