clintess Report post Posted January 7, 2006 hiya, speaking to my sister yesterday and she was reading her sons peaditrition{soz spelling} report and she said that the paed,s.a.l.t and ed psy all had to agree{jcc) before given dx for her son,my paed thinks my son is def asd but has yet not given a dx,he is on school action plus also has s.a.l.t but no ed psy at mo although i have gently mentioned this to the head/senco,her response was they have one but not for any indivdual child but as a group on the whole although she said she is gathering evidence for he to be statemented, my question is is that correct because while she read letter out it came across that her pead wasnt sure of his dx on his own but mine is. My pead also said before he started school he would be sen child which he now been proving right,she had also previously dx my other son for a.d.h.d. i was wondering about calling parents in partnership to see if they could approach this on my behalf to the school and wondered what you guys thoughts were please. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted January 7, 2006 Hi clintless, I can't understand why they need the agreement of the Education Pychologist before giving a diagnosis. Educ. Pych's are not qualified to make a diagnosis, although they may like her input, surely they can make a diagnosis without her agreement. Nellie xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted January 7, 2006 Hi Clintess, I agree with Nellie. Also, my understanding is that a school refers a child to an Ed Physc. their name then goes on the waiting list to see them. Schools are each given so many hours Ed Physc. time per week/month, which is why there is usually a waiting list. I don't know about an Ed. Physc. group session , but they normally observe/test individual children when they come into school, (and sometimes meet with parents). This is usually to give school recommendations to help the child in the school setting either because school have asked them for advice or as a part of an assessment for a statement of educational needs. It wouldn't do any harm giving Parent Partnership a call. Let us know how you get on. Annie <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
call me jaded Report post Posted January 7, 2006 My health authority uses what they call a multi-disciplinary panel to diagnose ASD, which does include SLT, Ed Psych and paed. At one point this team only met once a month to consider just two cases. I nearly fell off my chair when the paed told me this, considering the numbers involved. They now meet more frequently, what a surprise. I would guess that is how they're working where you live, clintess, though it would be nice if somebody could explain how the system works. What you need to know is that it is possible for the parent to put in a request for assessment for SEN. You do not have to wait for the 'team' to make their diagnosis, you do not need a diagnosis at all. Your parent partnership should be able to assist. If they can't, go to IPSEA. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mother in Need Report post Posted January 7, 2006 My son never saw a peadiatrician for his AS, nor has he ever been seen by SALT. The ed psych was eventually called in by the school, but only after his diagnoses (which was done by the psychiatrist). My son does see a peadiatrician because he is diabetic, but this pead has nothing to do with his AS. It is weird that there are so many different ways in which our children get diagnosed, and that none of them are flexible. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hectorshouse Report post Posted January 7, 2006 It is weird that there are so many different ways in which our children get diagnosed, and that none of them are flexible. ... thats a really interesting point MIN ... HHxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
curra Report post Posted January 7, 2006 ... thats a really interesting point MIN ... HHxx I agree with this. It's also weird that even when a dx has been made by a professional, i.e. peadiatrician, school and services can express doubts about it. Curra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hectorshouse Report post Posted January 7, 2006 Curra I agree with that as well, T had to go through re-dx due to an inadequate SENCO and EBD bod from the LEA that wanted to relable him ADHD and medicate .. result was that the dx was the same as it was before and no ADHD medication was recommended surprise surprise ... HHxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest flutter Report post Posted January 7, 2006 my dd saw ed pych at cahms who did see something, espec in maths that led her to support thoery of asd but our daig went on speech and lang group things, for about 6 weeks adn seeing child psychiatrist and asnwering soo many Q's and he made final decision, the paed in our are does diag too, but we were already under cahms C x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
helenl53 Report post Posted January 7, 2006 Hi Guys, Our area also operates a Multi Agency approach - we waited a few years for a DX and it was explained to us that Paed, SLT and ED Psych all report and then meet to discuss the reports and also the Scores on the various diagnostic tests eg -Connors, DSM-IV, Gillberg and Gillberg etc. He told us that J had to score on virtually all of them to get a DX. The panel then decide whether a DX is indicated. I am in favour of chekcing and re-checking and control with regard to DX, however, I am a little uncomfortable that under the new fangled Children's Trusts, that the Panel will all have the same Head of Services! Maybe I should not be worried , but I have recently seen a SLT report and a Ed Psycho report that were part of the reports for a DX and they were virtually word for word in the 'conclusion' that they could not support a DX of ASD for this child! - I think that in these curcumstances, the Paed was overuled - this is quite worrying if the SLT and ED Psych are not ASD 'friendly' or trained. By the way - you do not have to wait for a school to call in the Ed Psycho - call the LEA and speak to the one with the responsibility for your child's school and ask them to do an observation or whatever you require. The ability to apply directly to the ed Psychos is not publicised by schools and the LEA!!! Love Helen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jomica Report post Posted January 7, 2006 (edited) For us it was the Paediatrician, CLINICAL psychologist (based in the child development centre, not Ed Psych) and SALT who agreed on the diagnosis. In our area educational psychologists are like gold dust and they rarely get involved in anything much. The hospital team don't seem to rate them. Edited January 7, 2006 by jomica Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lindy-lou Report post Posted January 7, 2006 I agree with this. It's also weird that even when a dx has been made by a professional, i.e. peadiatrician, school and services can express doubts about it. Curra my keyworker told me yesterday that they were very unhappy with indias nursery because they refuse to believe anythings wrong with her,just because she doesnt display her behaviours at school,i have asked the teacher if she ever sees indy using imaginative play and they said no,she also has a strong attachment to 1 little girl in class and no others,they dont view this as different either,it is disapointing because her nursery is 1 of 6 beacon schools in the country and i expect a little more from them to be honest,i feel their lack of understanding or refusal to understand is going to hinder her SEN referral. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lynden Report post Posted January 7, 2006 We are the same as Jomica. The dx is made by the full team, but the clinical phsychologist has the final say. paed, SALT, physio, ed psych and OT are all involved though. Lynne x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LizK Report post Posted January 9, 2006 We were told that only a qualified doctor(paed or psych) and/or psychologist could make a formal diagnosis. Our diagnosis came from the paediatrician. He had SALT reports that said DS has disordered and delayed speech consistent with ASD. The EP actually wasn't happy to give a diagnosis at this point but the paed was and his opinion trumped hers! Lx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
helenl53 Report post Posted January 9, 2006 Well I think you need to look at who pays the wages - Ed Psycho service is LEA funded and Paed is Health Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OPooh Report post Posted January 10, 2006 so do you think that being as my ds is seeing ed psych, paed and salt then it will matter if the ed psych thinks there's "nothing" wrong even when the pead clearly thought he has definitely got it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted January 10, 2006 I personally think a paediatrician trumps most others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jomica Report post Posted January 11, 2006 A safe diagnosis can only be made by a multi-disciplinary MEDICAL team working in close co-operation. Each of their views informs the diagnosis. An educational psychologist is not qualified to make a diagnosis - that doesn't, however, stop them having an opinion, but it is only as valid as my opinion or yours when it comes to questioning a diagnosis. I think you have grounds for complaint if the educational psychologist is questioning a medical diagnosis. This isn't their job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Report post Posted January 11, 2006 We are the same as Jomica. The dx is made by the full team, but the clinical phsychologist has the final say. paed, SALT, physio, ed psych and OT are all involved though. Lynne x We had the same experience - all of the above specialists saw The Boy & then got together and discussed their observations / area of expertise and reached a dx together. so do you think that being as my ds is seeing ed psych, paed and salt then it will matter if the ed psych thinks there's "nothing" wrong even when the pead clearly thought he has definitely got it? I think that all of the reports will be reviewed and discussed, but my understanding is that the clinical paed has the final say - he may take the other's opinion on board but the ultimate decision ref dx lies with him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OPooh Report post Posted January 11, 2006 We had the same experience - all of the above specialists saw The Boy & then got together and discussed their observations / area of expertise and reached a dx together. I think that all of the reports will be reviewed and discussed, but my understanding is that the clinical paed has the final say - he may take the other's opinion on board but the ultimate decision ref dx lies with him. Thank you. Will just have to wait and see then. Might convince ed psych this afternoon too yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Report post Posted January 11, 2006 Fingers x'd for you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted January 11, 2006 How'd you get on OPooh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OPooh Report post Posted January 12, 2006 How'd you get on OPooh? The ed psych agreed she did think he was borderline - but on the asd side. That his problems are ASD ones. Was quiet odd actually because the SENCO (who had previously said she didn't think he has it) said that more she gets to know him the more she thinks he has aspergers. Me personally, I just think she's learnt more about it. The big thing came with christmas and him acting as I predicted to them....he was doing so well until the break and the routine. Thanks for asking Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
