assessment for ASD

[A and A]

Hi there we have a lovely little boy Liam who will be three in october and he is showing signs of Austism we have been referred for SALT and physiotherapy and we now have a appointment to see the community paediatrician at the child development centre our concerns are now what is involved in these assessments and will Liam have to have any things like blood tests, MRI scans or anything else. Any information would be great.

 

Worried Mum and Dad To Liam

[Karen A]

Hi there we have a lovely little boy Liam who will be three in october and he is showing signs of Austism we have been referred for SALT and physiotherapy and we now have a appointment to see the community paediatrician at the child development centre our concerns are now what is involved in these assessments and will Liam have to have any things like blood tests, MRI scans or anything else. Any information would be great.

 

Worried Mum and Dad To Liam

 

Good morning.

Sometimes one blood test is done to rule out a genetic condition called fragile x.There are nurses that are trained and experienced in taking blood from children.So it may not be as difficult as you think.

I have a friend who has a son who has ASD who had an MRI scan as part of diagnostic assessment.However I don't think it is usually needed.If an MRI scan is needed then the specialist will be able to prescribe sedation so that Liam is not anxious and does not move.If sedation is not effective then a short general anaesthetic may be suggested.

All children as young as three who need bloods done or an MRI need lots of support.Mums and dad need even more support.Staff are very experienced and skilled in providing support and care.

Most of the other assessments will involve talking with you both or observing Liam in various places.They are very stressful for parents who want to know the results.However Liam will not know that anything is different.

The worst that might happen is that he might not like being in a strange place with strange people and might not do anything that the professionals can observe.However the professionals have trained for years and will not be too worried if Liam does not want to do anything or gets cross or restless.....in a way that would be information in itself. Karen.

 

[A and A]

Good morning.

Sometimes one blood test is done to rule out a genetic condition called fragile x.There are nurses that are trained and experienced in taking blood from children.So it may not be as difficult as you think.

I have a friend who has a son who has ASD who had an MRI scan as part of diagnostic assessment.However I don't think it is usually needed.If an MRI scan is needed then the specialist will be able to prescribe sedation so that Liam is not anxious and does not move.If sedation is not effective then a short general anaesthetic may be suggested.

All children as young as three who need bloods done or an MRI need lots of support.Mums and dad need even more support.Staff are very experienced and skilled in providing support and care.

Most of the other assessments will involve talking with you both or observing Liam in various places.They are very stressful for parents who want to know the results.However Liam will not know that anything is different.

The worst that might happen is that he might not like being in a strange place with strange people and might not do anything that the professionals can observe.However the professionals have trained for years and will not be too worried if Liam does not want to do anything or gets cross or restless.....in a way that would be information in itself. Karen.

 

Hi there good afternoon, thanks for the reply that you sent, have been looking at what Fragile X is, and will discuss this with the doctors when we see them as Liam has got flat feet and he extends his knees back as far as they can go which are some of the characteristics. Will discuss this with Anthony when he gets home tonight and see what he thinks. Just feel stupid as there is so much that we don't know.

Anna

[mossgrove]

Hi there good afternoon, thanks for the reply that you sent, have been looking at what Fragile X is, and will discuss this with the doctors when we see them as Liam has got flat feet and he extends his knees back as far as they can go which are some of the characteristics. Will discuss this with Anthony when he gets home tonight and see what he thinks. Just feel stupid as there is so much that we don't know.

Anna

 

There is no need to feel stupid!

 

Most of the members here who are parents of Autisc children strated out on this particular journey with only a hazy idea of what Autism is an knowing hardy any of the specifics.

 

Please don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you like here or worry about seeming stupid if ask the professionals involved with your son.

 

Simon

[Karen A]

Hi there good afternoon, thanks for the reply that you sent, have been looking at what Fragile X is, and will discuss this with the doctors when we see them as Liam has got flat feet and he extends his knees back as far as they can go which are some of the characteristics. Will discuss this with Anthony when he gets home tonight and see what he thinks. Just feel stupid as there is so much that we don't know.

Anna

 

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There really is no need to feel stupid.

Ben was diagnosed a few months ago as I have said.

I had been a regular Forum member for three years.I trained and worked as a district nurse so have experience as an NHS professional.I have also trained as a TA.

My partner is an accountant in the NHS and has worked in the NHS for over twenty years.

We have had some excellent support from friends,professionals and some exceptional people here on the Forum.

We still found the assessment process one of the most stressful things we have ever been through.

Karen.

[Karen A]

There is no need to feel stupid!

 

Most of the members here who are parents of Autisc children strated out on this particular journey with only a hazy idea of what Autism is an knowing hardy any of the specifics.

 

Please don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you like here or worry about seeming stupid if ask the professionals involved with your son.

 

Simon

 

Much better said than me.Simon. Karen.

[thomastank]

Hi there we have a lovely little boy Liam who will be three in october and he is showing signs of Austism we have been referred for SALT and physiotherapy and we now have a appointment to see the community paediatrician at the child development centre our concerns are now what is involved in these assessments and will Liam have to have any things like blood tests, MRI scans or anything else. Any information would be great.

 

Worried Mum and Dad To Liam

 

 

Hi A and A, I'm glad the appointment came though, when is it? My son didn't have any bloods, fragile x test or anything like that. The paed. just asked us lots of questions first time round and observed him playing so ds had a great time. Later on he had appointments with speech therapist at nursery and at home and also more paed. appointments throughout the year.

 

Did you have any luck getting through to Portage by the way?

[A and A]

Hi A and A, I'm glad the appointment came though, when is it? My son didn't have any bloods, fragile x test or anything like that. The paed. just asked us lots of questions first time round and observed him playing so ds had a great time. Later on he had appointments with speech therapist at nursery and at home and also more paed. appointments throughout the year.

 

Did you have any luck getting through to Portage by the way?

 

Hi there the appointment is the 14th of August. I phoned up about portage yesterday and they have recieved the referral and they explained that they are sending out letters for receipt of the application, and that the panel are meeting on the 26th of June to decide which children get a place on portage, so fingers crossed huh. What age did the assessments start with you and how long did it take till you got a diagnosis.

 

Anna

[Sally44]

I am sure that if you phoned the place you have received the appointment from, that they should be able to tell you what will happen on the day. Tell them you are concerned about any blood tests or scans etc. They may say that if anything like that is needed that it will happen on another day. But if you ask, it will alievate your anxiety.

My son didn't have any blood tests, MRI scan etc. It was alot of questions and observing my son and offering him toys to play with, or just playing near him to see how he reacted to that.

Anything involving needles would be a big no-no with my son. So if you have concerns about any testing that they mention then raise your concerns. There are creams that they can apply onto the area to totally numb the sensation. As Karen says they can give sedatives or anesthetics. But they may not do any of those things.

[Karen A]

I am sure that if you phoned the place you have received the appointment from, that they should be able to tell you what will happen on the day. Tell them you are concerned about any blood tests or scans etc. They may say that if anything like that is needed that it will happen on another day. But if you ask, it will alievate your anxiety.

My son didn't have any blood tests, MRI scan etc. It was alot of questions and observing my son and offering him toys to play with, or just playing near him to see how he reacted to that.

Anything involving needles would be a big no-no with my son. So if you have concerns about any testing that they mention then raise your concerns. There are creams that they can apply onto the area to totally numb the sensation. As Karen says they can give sedatives or anesthetics. But they may not do any of those things.

 

Hi.I would be interested in observing attempts to do an MRI on any three year old without sedation.They would just climb out of the scanner.

As regards the bloods I would sincerely hope that no professional would attempt to take blood from a three year old without careful preperation.

It is extremely unlikely that either an MRI scan or blood tests would be done at a first appointment.

There is always a wait for scanner appointments and it is a hospital procedure.In a three year old a pre-procedure appointment would be needed.The procedure for a scan for a three year old is more like a minor operation.It is extremely unlikely that bloods would be taken at the first appointment.

 

A and A.I thought I would say because I do not want to worry you more.An MRI scan is not painful or anything.It is purely difficult because almost all young children will not lie still enough.Although Ben has never had an MRI scan he had a very similar procedure when he was three and needed to have general anaesthectic to have popcorn removed from his ear.It was very traumatic for me but Ben just laughs about it now.

I thought I would say although I am not currently registered because I gave up work to care for the boys I was a nurse.I did have some paediatric nursing experience during my training.Karen.

 

[A and A]

Hi.I would be interested in observing attempts to do an MRI on any three year old without sedation.They would just climb out of the scanner.

As regards the bloods I would sincerely hope that no professional would attempt to take blood from a three year old without careful preperation.

It is extremely unlikely that either an MRI scan or blood tests would be done at a first appointment.

There is always a wait for scanner appointments and it is a hospital procedure.In a three year old a pre-procedure appointment would be needed.The procedure for a scan for a three year old is more like a minor operation.It is extremely unlikely that bloods would be taken at the first appointment.

 

A and A.I thought I would say because I do not want to worry you more.An MRI scan is not painful or anything.It is purely difficult because almost all young children will not lie still enough.Although Ben has never had an MRI scan he had a very similar procedure when he was three and needed to have general anaesthectic to have popcorn removed from his ear.It was very traumatic for me but Ben just laughs about it now.

I thought I would say although I am not currently registered because I gave up work to care for the boys I was a nurse.I did have some paediatric nursing experience during my training.Karen.

 

Hi there Karen, the reason I am worried about the MRI is that I had one done of my head when I was pregnant with Liam and another one when i had pancreatitis so being it honest it was ###### scary and I hated it and wouldn't want any child to go through that ordeal. Do you miss nursing as I am a carer that works with the district nurses covering the hours of 6pm till 10pm and I love the job.

Anna

[Karen A]

Hi there Karen, the reason I am worried about the MRI is that I had one done of my head when I was pregnant with Liam and another one when i had pancreatitis so being it honest it was ###### scary and I hated it and wouldn't want any child to go through that ordeal. Do you miss nursing as I am a carer that works with the district nurses covering the hours of 6pm till 10pm and I love the job.

Anna

 

Yes it is scary for adults but that is why the use sedation or a general anaesthetic for children.Children just will not comply if they are anxious.They do not comply when scared stiff.My friends son had two attempts at MRI with sedation.He was not in pain or anything but just got stroppy and drunk looking.That is when the doctors decided sedation was not working and a GA was booked for a later date.

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...;hl=blood+taken

I remembered this link from a few weeks ago.There is lots of useful information re bloods for fragile x.

It is fairly unusual for an MRI to be done as part of assessment for ASD I think.However my friend's son was also a child that was picked up for assessment before the age of three which is why I would not rule it out completely.

 

Yes I miss district nursing badly.I have considered going back because Ben is going to secondary school in September but it is difficult as my partner works long hours in a stressful job.Karen.

Edited May 27, 2009 by Karen A