Type of service: Diagnostic services, Child Development Centres (CDC)

Assessment for social communication difficulties are catered for by preschool and school age assessment both multidisciplinary but different professionals involved. They involve information gathering (parents and pre/school), observations and formal assessment. Both are multiprofessional and end with multiprofessional meeting and feedback to parents.

Assessment procedure: School age autism spectrum disorder/social communication disorder referral to paediatrician from health professional, who then decides which other professionals need to be involved in process e.g. may be Clinical Psychologist and/or Speech and Language Therapists. Questionnaires sent to parents and school to gather information. Assessment may include ADOS/3Di/school visit. Multiprofessional meeting and feedback to parents.

Follow up service: There is a follow-up service i.e. therapy services when appropriate; paediatrician, only if ongoing medical concerns.

Multi-disciplinary assessment: Yes, multi disciplinary assessment/approach is used. The professions involved are Clinical psychology; paediatrics; speech and language therapy; occupational therapy; and, physiotherapy depending on presenting disorder.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child , Young person

Referral Sources: NHS Only

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Learning disability