Help ND assessment and diagnosis for children aged 0-4 years
This page provides information for neurodevelopmental (autism and/or ADHD) assessment and diagnosis in Leeds for children aged 0-4 years.
Ask the SENCo at nursery to refer your child to the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service, Audiology Service and the Paediatrician for further assessment. The Paediatrician can then refer your child for a Complex Communication Autism Assessment (CCAA) if appropriate.
If your child is 0-4 years old and not in an educational setting then you can speak to your Health Visitor (HV) or GP. You can phone for an appointment on 0113 843 5683. See more information about the Health Visiting service (0-19 Public Health Integrated Nursing Service (PHINS)) and how to contact them here.
The Health Visitor or GP can then, with your permission, refer your child to the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service, Audiology and the Paediatrician for further assessment if needed.
Questions about autism assessments for children aged 0-4 years
Initially your child may be referred to any of the following, as appropriate:
The Paediatrician will discuss your child’s development and medical history. They will also observe your child. They will then discuss the next steps with you and the time frame for any review.
- They may decide to monitor your child over time.
- They may make a referral for a Complex Communication and Autism Assessment (CCAA).
- They may refer for some medical investigations.
- If there is no Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) referral they will refer to SLT.
- You may be asked to sign a Health to Education Notification (HEN) form allowing other Educational services (SENIT/Portage) to support your child and allowing transfer of information about your child between services.
- The Paediatrician will consider if further support can be offered from the CCAA team HV to support with understanding your child’s differences and how to support them.
You and your child will attend your local health centre clinic for an initial play-based assessment. The SLT will talk to you about your child’s development and concerns and will play with your child.
If there are differences in social communication/interaction and behaviours which could indicate autism then there will be an onward referral to a Paediatrician (if not on waiting list). The Paediatrician will then decide if an autism assessment is required and refer as needed.
The SLT will discuss and briefly demonstrate any support strategies that are appropriate for you and your child. These will then be summarised in a report along with a plan for next steps.
Your child may be placed on the waiting list for:
- Early Communication Group: This group is for children who are on the waiting list for CCAA and due to start school soon. The group consists of 4 sessions and is run by SLTs. An SLT and SLT assistant will support parents with support strategies to use at home and in a setting.
- Parent training for:
- Intensive Interaction
- Visual support
You will be sent a letter that will tell you how to book on to these courses.
You will then receive a phone call to review how things have gone and how you have got on with the strategies talked about in the SLT appointment. After this you will be discharged from the SLT service.
3 months after being discharged you can refer your child back the SLT Service for further support. Mainstream Clinic SLT support would happen alongside CCAA if you are referred for this.
Complex Communication and Autism Assessment (CCAA)
Unfortunately, the preschool autism assessments in Leeds have stopped until March 2024.
This is due to a national shortage of skilled professionals, meaning Leeds no longer have the correct resources to offer a safe and standardised autism assessment. The team are working to resolve this, but it’s presumed the service will remain closed until they’re able to replace the skilled professionals to deliver the service.
It’s still highly recommended that preschool children, their families and professionals follow the steps above to access support from the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service , Paediatricians and Audiology Services to seek support.
Alternatively, you also have the right to choose a different provider. If you wish to be referred to another provider you should:
- Decide which other NHS contracted provider you want to assess your child (your GP will have a list of providers who you can access).
- Make an appointment for your child to see their GP and ask them to make a referral to your chosen provider.
- Fill in this questionnaire and take it to your GP appointment. This will support your decision and help make the appointment easier.
- If the other provider you have chosen is commissioned by the NHS, your GP may be able to refer you directly to them.
- If they are not commissioned by the NHS, your GP will not be able to refer you but will give you information about the other choices available that they are aware of.
It’s important you know that the waiting times at other providers may not be shorter than the current waiting time at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust. At the moment children on the preschool autism assessment waiting list are waiting for a maximum of 18 months in our service.
Other providers will offer a diagnostic assessment but will not be able to provide ongoing support. After the assessment they will refer your child back into the Leeds system if this is required.
If your child is currently on the Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Complex Communication and Autism Assessment (CCAA) waiting list and your child is then referred and accepted to be seen by a different service provider for their assessment, we ask that you kindly let us know this. We can then take them off the NHS waiting list to avoid duplication and wasted appointments.
Leeds are keen to continue to serve our families within the best of our abilities. Any child who is currently on the waiting list will remain on the waiting list until we are able to change the stop on assessments.
The team within Leeds appreciate your patience and will continue to endeavour to build up our team with a view to re-start the assessments. Information will continue to be updated on the ND Hub pages as it becomes available.
Resources
NHS Choice Framework
Find out more information about your choices, patient’s rights, where to find further information, support in helping you choose and how to complain if choice is not offered.
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