Rupert's First Assessment With The Community Paediatricians

This was something I was desperate for a couple of months ago, but I really thought it wasn't going to happen.

I even had some stuck up Health Visitor tell me that she was going to cancel the doctors referral as she really didn't think there was anything wrong with him.

After talking to a mum at school and finding out the troubles she's had trying to get a diagnosis for her son who is the same age as Noah I really thought 'right well if their having trouble there's no hope for us'.

So imagine my surprise when out of the blue we have a letter telling us we have an appointment the first week of the summer holidays.

I spoke to the mum at school and told her who we were seeing and she told me she was one of the nicer ones and the one who actually agreed with her about her son.

So I had a tiny little glimmer of hope, but as the day came closer I really started to dread it.

Was I going to be told the same old oh he's fine, he's giving me eye contact and that its all in my head?

Ru's appointment was on Monday at 2.40 and the day couldn't have gone any slower!

When we arrived we sat in the waiting room and Ru played nicely with the cars and the kitchen.

We waited a while to be seen and the butterflies in my stomach were going crazy.

When we were eventually called in we sat on the chairs by her and Rupert sat on me hiding behind me but then every now and then popping his head out and smiling at her.

He then got bored of doing that and got down and started playing with the toys that were set out. Making me sit on the tiny little chairs beside him.

She did say because he was giving her eye contact and looking like he was listening to what we were talking about she really didn't think he was autistic, but she listened to us and watched him.

 She then agreed she could see some of the traits and understood where we coming from.

She also agreed he has some sensory issues.

It was nice to finally be listened to and not fobbed off.

I know from speaking to other mums of autistic children that eye contact is not the be all and end all, so I was happy that she didn't let that be it.

She is going to send us an autism questionnaire for us and his nursery to fill in along with a sleep diary. 

She will also arrange for him to see a speech therapist along with some other professionals.

I'm looking forward to reading the letter that she sends us and seeing what is going to happen next.