Advice - first appointment: what to expect?

Julia21

hello - my son, who is 20, has his first triage appointment at the autism centre this week.

Letter advises it'll take about an hour and is with 2 clinicians - an autism specialist nurse and psychologist I think. If they think he has autism he'll then be put on waiting list for full assessment.

I'm just wondering what is likely to help during this hour assessment? Letter advises they may refer him onwards or advise he doesn't have autism. Just wondering how that decision is made? Son has epilepsy and quite severe anxiety - he wanted me in room with him but they've advised best if he goes in alone. I'd like to give him some idea of what to expect to help calm his nerves but am a bit stuck as no info on letter and I don't know anyone who's been to similar previously. He also masks very well for short periods and am just wondering if they'll be able to detect that at this initial assessment?

Any advice or tips very welcome. Many thanks in advance

Mary_Scope

Hi @Julia21

So sorry nobody was able to reply to this post in time for your sons assessment, it looks like it got lost in the community.

How did the assessment go? How have you been?

anisty

Hope this went well. They absolutely will be able to tell - they are trained to look for certain things and will pick up on signs that you might not have noticed yourself.

Recently, i took my 17yr old daughter (who is not disabled but has 'autistic traits') for a private assessment and, within minutes they had picked up her stimming behaviours!

I honestly had never noticed her pressing each fingernail in turn constantly throughout. Apparently, NT people don't do this - and they noticed she echos speech and uses sterotyped phrases.

Honestly, if you met her, you would never know. She masks so well. It isn't even obvious to me.

I do have another son who is disabled by autism and an additional learning difficulty - with him, it is more obvious. Even his gait when he walks; he bounces along!