After an autism assessment

After an autism assessment  

This page outlines the next steps following your autism assessment. There are different possible outcomes from the assessment. Your child may: 

• Be diagnosed with autism.
• Need further assessment for other conditions such as ADHD, developmental impairment/learning disability or developmental language disorder. Further assessment may show your child has other conditions alongside autism, or your child may be given a different diagnosis which better suits their needs. 
• Have a pattern of difficulties that do not fit neatly under one diagnostic heading and they may need a description of their difficulties that can be used to inform what help and support would be beneficial.

After an autism assessment within Community Paediatrics and Neurodisability (Ryegate)

Once the assessment has been completed, a report will be sent to you and to your child’s GP to summarise the assessment and our conclusion regarding a diagnosis. This report may include recommendations to support your child or may signpost to other agencies or resources for further support or information.

What happens if a child gets a diagnosis of autism?

Receiving a diagnosis of autism can often help families, schools and others make sense of a child’s preferences and needs. Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a cure, but may benefit from different strategies and approaches to help them learn, flourish and meet their full potential. It is also important for those around the child to learn about autism and how they can adapt their interactions and the environment to support children.

Information and support for your child, your family and those educating or caring for your child is available on our website through our Autism Support resources which also include some video resources. Much of this information and support can be accessed before a child has had an assessment and does not depend on having a diagnosis. There may be some very specialist areas of support, services or educational placements that do need a child to have a formal diagnosis.  

After the assessment, if your child is given a diagnosis of autism, you will:

• Be given a short letter confirming the diagnosis and the next steps. This letter can be used as evidence of a confirmed diagnosis.  
• Be given information about the autism support videos created by the neurodisability team.
• Be given a copy of the autism resource pack. This will include information about autism and what support services are available in the local area and nationally.  
• Be given information about our nurse-led post-diagnosis sessions. These cover areas such as sleeping, behaviour and anxiety.
• Be sent a report that outlines the details of the assessment, a description of your child’s strength and needs, and the evidence for giving the autism diagnosis. We will ask for your consent to share this with your child’s nursery or school and any other relevant professionals that can help support your child. Please be aware reports can take a few months, but the letter you receive at the assessment appointment is sufficient evidence of a diagnosis. 
• Be discharged from the autism assessment pathway, if you do not want to access the nurse-led support sessions.

What happens if a child is not given a diagnosis of autism?

Your child may not be given a diagnosis of autism at the assessment. This can be for a number of different reasons and these will be explained in detail to you at the assessment.  Not being given a diagnosis of autism does not always mean we are saying your child doesn’t have significant difficulties or needs.  

There are many different reasons why children may have difficulty with communication and interacting with others or sensory differences or have a need for routine. Many children and young people will demonstrate autism-type difficulties which overlap with other conditions. It is really important that we understand this in the right way so we can suggest the best approach to help your child.  Sometimes, children have real strengths in some of the areas we are looking at which means they don’t quite fit the diagnostic criteria. They can still have very significant needs in the other areas and still need help and support with these difficulties.  

After the assessment, if your child is not given a diagnosis of autism, you will:

• Be given a short letter confirming the outcome of the assessment and the next steps.  
• Be referred to any relevant services for further assessment and investigation if this is identified as needed during the assessment.  
• Be sent a report that outlines the details of the assessment, a description of your child’s strengths and needs, and why a diagnosis of autism was not right for your child. We will ask for your consent to share this with your child’s nursery or school and any other relevant professionals that can help support your child. Please be aware reports can take a few months, but the letter you receive at the assessment appointment is sufficient evidence of a diagnosis.  
• Be directed to information sites and support services to help you and your child.
• Be offered a follow-up appointment with a doctor if there are ongoing medical needs.