Problem
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Description
Children with ASD (or who require assessment) will likely present with significant and pervasive difficulties in social interaction and understanding, social communication, inflexibility of thinking and repetitive behaviours/interests.
These difficulties must be viewed within the context of a child’s circumstances.
Evidence of the following issues impacting significantly on everyday functioning would support a referral for an ASD assessment:
• Significant delay in acquiring appropriate communication and social skills
• Significant difficulties with the child’s peer relationships in normal settings
• Unusual or very fixed interests and bizarre or unusual behaviours impacting on function
• Marked preference for detailed routine and difficulties in adapting to everyday change
• Difficulties must be significantly impacting on functioning at home or school
CAMHS also see children and young people who have an existing diagnosis of ASD and require assessment or treatment for mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD.
These referrals should come after consultation with the existing professional network
Early assessment and intervention with neurodevelopmental disorders is helpful. In Edinburgh Children’s Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) & Community Paediatrics CCH coordinate to provide these assessments and inputs for children under 7yrs.
Once of school age, Edinburgh CCH, SALT & CAMHS coordinate to meet assessment and intervention needs. CAMHS leads some of these assessments.
However, families with children with developmental and behavioural problems may already receive assessment, advice and intervention from other professionals, such as CCH, SALT and education.
Therefore CAMHS referral should come after liaison / consultation with any existing professional network (e.g. GIRFEC).
Lothian CAMHS follows a multi-disciplinary framework agreed by NHS Lothian when assessing ASD
Children and young people with ASD may present with increased worries and at times may show challenging behaviours throughout their development. If a mental health disorder is not the cause, the child/YP is often best supported by those who know them best e.g. parents, family members and teaching staff. It is helpful to remind those involved, to review any ASD informed parenting, self-coping and teaching support strategies which were previously helpful, particularly at times of transition and change.
For children and families with ASD who do not meet the criteria for CAMHS you may wish to direct them to:
Healthy reading scheme, available in all Lothian libraries.
Lothian Autistic Society
Davidson House
57 Queen Charlotte Street
Edinburgh EH67EY
Tel 0131 661 3834
office@lothianautistic.org
See – GP Assessement and Diagnosis of ASD in Children and Young People Leaflet
CAMHS Resource-Websites for Children and Adolescent with MH difficulties May 2019.pdf
The above is a PDF document listing resources and contacts that can be printed off
National Autistic Society offers information and support
www.autism.org.uk
Lothian referrers information leaflet
www.aspergersyndrome.org
Number 6
Number 6 is a service for autistic adults who fit the following criteria: 16 and over, do not have a learning disability and live in the Lothians or the Scottish Borders.
24 Hill Street
Edinburgh
EH2 3JZ
Tel 0131 220 1075
number6@aiscotland.org.uk
Tailor Ed Foundation
11 Maritime Street Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6SB
Tel 0131 624 8970
tailoredfoundation.co.uk
contact@tailoredfoundation.co.uk
The Yard: www.theyardscotland.org.uk adventure playground in Edinburgh but open to all of the Lothians
SIGN 145: Assessment, diagnosis and interventions for Autism spectrum
