The coronavirus pandemic has been particularly tough for people with autism and their families.
Many support services have closed and ever-changing guidelines and restrictions can be confusing to understand and difficult to implement for autistic people with high support needs.
It has also seen an increase in the number of people who feel that signs and symptoms may indicate autism – in themselves, their children and others around them during periods of lockdown.
Autism assessments continue in the pandemic
Our autism assessments have continued over the past year and although there have been barriers with school closures and difficulties with carrying out face to face assessments, we have remained a support for the families working with us and have adapted to ensure progress is being made, no matter the circumstances.
Comprehensive diagnostic assessments
Our comprehensive assessment process is robust and based on our clinical understanding of what does and doesn’t work. Lead clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Williams has been firm to ensure an assessment that ensures complete confidence in the outcome – which will either be a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or a confirmation that you, or your child, do not have ASD.
Online assessment
There are parts of the assessments, such as the developmental history (parent interview) that can be done online, and many adults are able to be assessed online, but it is extremely important that an on-site observation is done with children.
This has been a stumbling block when the UK has been in full lockdown and schools have been closed but as the roadmap continues we are working to complete the assessments we are currently working on, and meet new families.
Raising awareness
The National Autistic Society published an autism awareness quiz as part of their campaign to raise awareness, which contained the question below.
How long, on average, does it take from first raising concerns to getting a diagnosis of autism for a child?
a) Three months
b) A year
c) Just over three and a half years
d) You can never get a firm diagnosis
It is 3.6 years according to academic research from Goldsmiths and City University. That’s three and a half years of a child’s development when they will not be getting the right support.
This is something we are aiming to change…..our turnaround time can be around four weeks if our visits and assessments can be booked within that period at a time to suit all involved.
Please do get in touch with us if you have raised concerns and are worried about your child….