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It could mean anything! Did not score well could mean scored highly indicating ASD (so not well used as if you don’t want a high score) or didn’t score highly (well) indicating no ASD! It’s a shame when they give you a snippet but don’t explain - and probably not supposed to tell you anything anyway which means you can’t ring and ask for clarification! Also it’s just one part of what they use to make a diagnosis. Annoying that you have to wait so long to hear! My daughter had an adult assessment and it was done over a series of weekly visits - lots of tasks and discussion with me - turned out she doesn’t have ASD - but close - she has a social communication disorder which I think was ASD on the DSM 4 but not on the DSM 5 - he did a very helpful report outlining her difficulties and she was accepted onto a college course specially for people on the spectrum - so there’s some flexibility there too

Thanks Safia.. I think that it means she has asd as I did dig a bit asking what her gut feeling was. Though she was very non commital and did the whole "I need to meet with my colleague" speech. Its sooo annoying that I need to wait for another 4 weeks. However its better than 2 years on the Nhs! Swimchic x

Exactly! At least you have a date and it’s gives you time to think of any further questions too

really strange i must say. When my ad was assessed by the comm paed she told me there and then that my ad had ASD but her full report took about 6 weeks to come through. the dx didn't come as any surprise but it was an enormous help in getting her EHCP - in fact it is her primary need in her plan and my ad has a number of other dx's as well. xx

Hi Swimchic, The assessment has the two components you described and children and young people are given a score on both sections that then is interpreted to be meeting / not meeting the threshold for a diagnosis of ASD. Typically, the results are feedback at the same appointment but for children/ young people who are more complex, it may be more information gathering or guidance is needed from more experienced professionals e.g can the child’s social skills difficulties be explained by developmental trauma, attachment disorder. Hope the wait goes quickly for you! Xx

Thanks for our explanation Loops 78. So we have received a SRS-2 autoscore form today. I have googled it . It states "The SRS-2 identifies social impairment associated with ASD and quantifies its severity. Sensitive enough to detect even subtle symptoms but specific enough to differentiate clinical groups, the SRS-2 can be used to monitor symptoms throughout the life span." So, are we looking at Asd or could it be attachment ??? I'm confused. :-(

Sorry Swimchic, I couldn’t say. The ADOS aims to help identify if someone is on the ASD spectrum. It can be used alongside other tools to aid differential diagnosis such as the Coventry grid as well as clinical reasoning around early developmental experiences. Diagnosis can be complicated-it’s often described as a jigsaw. Presentation of girls on the spectrum can be more subtle and ‘higher functioning’ girls tend to receive a diagnosis later as it is more difficult to diagnose, without all the complexities that their journeys to becoming adopted may bring. Other disorders have features of social communication difficulties including attachement and ADHD. Children and young people may have a number of diagnoses. The National Autism Society website has some information on girls with ASD which may be helpful x

Some of the traits of ASD are similar to attachment, but subtly different. I have a comparison grid somewhere. I will try to find it and let you know the name. I often suspect ASD with my daughter but have been told it is attachment. When I looked at the comparison I could see the difference.

When my daughter was diagnosed with a social communication disorder - but not ASD - the doctor was unsure whether it was that or PDDNOS (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) which is on the spectrum - the difference was the level of stereotypical and repetitive behaviours - hers are mostly verbal - so it is the level and degree of symptoms which often makes the diagnosis

The Grid Rosie100 is referring to is the Coventry Grid. You can google it.

Hi, it took a very very long time before I could get anyone to assess my AC on the scale. Partridge was utterly determined to pass the test. But he was 16 then! He couldn’t do the ‘read a blank book’ task with the best will in the world. But really we had taught him a lot of adaptive behaviours which covered a lot. He scored as having ‘aspergers’ which I know now is on the ASC spectrum. Blossom scored for ASD but there were conflicting markers for other tests. Eventually dx as having Atypical Autism but not until she was 15. Sending you cyber hugs. It’s hirrid waiting