What to expect in asd / adhd assessment

Anonymous

What to expect in asd / adhd assessment

I am seeing a Pediatrician shortly to hopefully have my nearly 8 yo boy assessed for possibly asd or adhd. What can I expect? I’ll need to let him know what to expect too as he will be anxious. Will there be tests? Will the doctor talk to him too? He doesn’t like going to see the doctor so the more information I give him the easier it will be.

I’m worried about talking in front of him to the doctor. I really need to empathise the issues but don’t want to make him feel awful so I plan to have some one watch him while I do that first.

Posted in:  Kids

3 Replies

Anonymous

Don't call it a doctor. Mine introduced themselves as a feelings teacher.
Just a teacher would do, or a helper, or a friend.
They have a waiting space for kids to colour while you chat privately as not everything is for kids ears.
Then they'll bring child in, and may bring you in at the end for a post chat, or do it again privately if they think that's called for.
That's a regular appointment.
For an assessment it's just the child but they are experienced and will make him comfortable before taking him off 'for a play' or to 'show him their toy cars' or whatever it is.

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Anonymous

Hey I did that this wk.

First step is hearing test, blood test, eye test so if you can get your gp to organise them and take results with you it’s a lot quicker. Otherwise your paying paed to order them then paying again for results.

Next step for us now we’ve seen paed is school and parents fill our questionnaire and see a child psychologist to look at asd diagnosis.

I had my son wait in waiting room with dad while I explained to paed why we were there cause my son would hate me talking in front of him.

When he came back in dr checked height weight heartbeat etc and just chatted generally with son cause we’d already discussed plan of action while he was out of room. Nothing scary for my son.

Good luck!!

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Anonymous

The paediatrician will be good with kids. If you want to give information that you don't want to say in earshot, ask for an email address prior to the appointment.

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