Is there any point in getting a 2nd opinion from the same clinic

[mamadadawahwah]

My sons paediatrician offered a 2nd opinion when he was diagnosed with asd (after only 30 minutes of observation!!!). Despite being overwrought with anguish, i refused it because I felt two opinons from the same clinic are bound to concur with each other.

Further, my son isnt even 2.5 yet and can and will change so much in the near future. should i stick with the asd label to get all the help or should i worry the label might never be changed if he isnt asd.

[hercules]

I would personally get a second opinion.

[Jimjams]

what was the dx? Personally I'd never reject a dx at 2- of it's not needed it won't stick anyway- it'll be lost at some stage. Without the dx you'll get no help. A 2nd opinion can be worth having. Often when dxed young the dx is very open anyway. At 3 ds1 was dxed as having "a communication disorder on the autistic spectrum" which was sensible as it allows for the dx to be changed to severe, high functioning or AS (severe in his case obviously). On the other hand I have a friend whose dd was dxed as "asd at the high functioning end" b;ah blah and she then had to go through the process of everyone wanting to remove 'high functioning" a few years later- which was frankly depressing. A vague- somewhere on the spectrum, allows access to services and for it to be tightened later if necessary.

[mamadadawahwah]

Jim Jams, you make good sense. I dont really care if they call my son the creature from the black lagoon as long as it helps to get him what he needs. Its just unnerving to have to acccept a dx when you have reservations about it. Its all very emotional indeed.

[Davros]

Why do you doubt the dx? You should really only accept a dx of Autism or ASD and forget all the other versions, they are meaningless as far as services, research and reality are concerned. Although we're always hearing that "autistic children are all different" there is something about them that makes an autism dx sensible, basically the triad of impairments plus sensory issues (the modern interpretation). Yes, they are all different but they share a lot in common. All children with DS or hearing impairment are different but there is something in common that makes the same dx relevant iyswim.
I have never heard of a child given an ASD dx in error but many NOT given an ASD dx which was a mistake. One child I know had their dx changed from ASD to AS. Dinosaur's DS has made massive strides, maybe he has had his dx removed? That's the only case I can think of from my experience.
Sorry to sound so grim, but you don't get a dx of ASD lightly but perhaps a second opinion is a good idea, depends on the experience of the person who has already dxd.

[KarenThirl]

My ds is in the process of his second assessment in as many years, both from the same clinic. The first psychiatrist dismissed his problems out of hand, observed him briefly in school and concluded that there was nothing wrong with him. I had him re-referred eight months later and the second psychiatrist said after half an hour that she felt he was either ADHD or ASD, probably the latter. By the time she'd seen him at school and home she was 99% sure he has AS. We're still waiting for SALT before getting a final dx but so far all test results are pointing towards AS.

So, I'd say go for the second opinion. I know my case is different to yours but it does go to prove that not all consultants from the same clinic will have the same opinion. I can't see that you have anything to lose by finding out.