Autism assessment process
We would like to provide you with information about the autism assessment process for your child.
Your child is currently waiting for an autism assessment by Children and Family Health Devon, CFHD, Neurodiversity Pathway.
We are sorry that the wait is long. There are a large number of children and young people waiting for an assessment by our team. We understand that waiting for an assessment can be a challenging time. Parents and caregivers want their young person to understand themselves and access support so that they can thrive.
Our Team
Our team supports children and young people across Devon who have been referred for an autism assessment.
Our team is made up of the following clinicians:
- Occupational Therapists (OT)
- Speech and Language Therapists (SALT)
- Clinical Psychologists
- Mental Health Practitioners
- Assistant Psychologists
- Assistant Practitioners
We may work closely with Paediatricians and other professionals within CFHD or outside agencies. We may look at reports written by other professionals or talk to them to gather necessary information to aid our assessment.
There are some things that you can do to help you and your child prepare for the assessment.
Talk to your child about
The reason for the assessment:
Reassure them that it is to help you and them understand themselves better. Together, we will work out whether their brain works in an autistic way or not. There is no right or wrong way for someone’s brain to work. All brains are amazing!
What the assessment involves:
You can look through the ‘During the Assessment’ information together
- What they find easy or hard and why they think this might be
- Whether they think they are autistic and why
Having a diagnosis can help identify challenges and support that your child might need. However, you do not need to wait for a diagnosis to do this. There is a wealth of information out there that you can access while you are waiting for this assessment.
It is worth remembering that neurodiversity affirming approaches can benefit all people, not just those who are autistic. These include: respecting an individual’s style of communication, valuing their perspective, showing an interest in their interests, providing clear information and predictability, understanding and supporting their sensory needs.
You may find information and advice on different areas on the CFHD website: www.childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk
Prepare for the Developmental History
The clinician will ask parents/ caregivers questions about your child’s childhood from their early years to the present day.
It can be very helpful to spend some time looking at photos and videos of your child growing up to refresh your memory, particularly if they are now much older.
It can also be very helpful (but not essential) for you to make written notes related to the areas that will be discussed (see below). You may have diary entries, letters, emails on how your child was when they were growing up that you may want to look at to aid your memory.
There are different parts to the assessment and our team will decide which parts are suitable for your child.
This may involve one or more of the following:
A discussion of information by a clinician and your child’s Paediatrician. We call this a Paediatric MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting). We will compare this information against the diagnostic criteria for autism (DSM-5).
Your child will see a clinician for an in person or online meeting. We call this an ADOS. The clinician will use activities from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
A clinician will visit your child in school. We call this a School Visit. They will observe them in a lesson and at break or lunch. They will also meet your child in a quiet room and carry out activities (based on the ADOS). They will also have a discussion with your child’s teacher.
A clinician will have a discussion with you (your child’s parent or caregiver), in person or on a video call, to gather information about how your child grew up and how they are now. We call this a Developmental History.
Our team may carry out additional specialist assessments should this be required to reach an outcome, such as a Cognitive Assessment or a Speech and Language Therapy Assessment.
Please select a relevant button below to find out more information.
MDT meeting
Our team will meet together to discuss and compare all the information we have gathered against the diagnostic criteria for autism (DSM-5). Our team will agree on an outcome together.
Our team will keep a whole view in mind in order to identify autism from (or alongside) something else such as another neurodivergent condition/ developmental trauma/ language disorder/ mental health condition.
Outcome
A clinician will contact you (by phone or email) to arrange a date to let you know the outcome.
The clinician will let you know the outcome by phone or telephone call.
Your child can be there too, or they may prefer to hear the outcome from you at a time and place that suits them.
We will conclude whether the information indicates that your child is autistic or not (if the criteria for autism has been met).
Optional Feedback Meeting
An optional feedback meeting for your child and/or parents/caregivers may be booked so that we can discuss things further. This may include information about autism and what it means for them, their individual profile, what they find easy or hard and ways to support them, problem solving areas of challenge, signposting for further support.
Report
A clinician will then write a report to your child explaining the outcome of their assessment. Copies of this report will be sent to other people as needed (with your child and your consent).
For example, copies are usually sent to parents/caregivers, GP, Paediatrician, School Senco. A copy of this report will be saved on our electronic health record.