What is autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that changes the way your child views and interacts with their surroundings. You are born with autism, and it can affect communication and social skills.
Autism is on a spectrum, which means it affects each child slightly differently. Some children will have more support needs than others, so receiving a diagnosis means you can understand and meet them.
Experts can diagnose autism in adults. However, diagnosis at a younger age sets your child up to receive the care they need and helps them overcome the challenges they may face in social settings like school.
Signs of autism in children
As autism is on a spectrum, the signs of it in your child may look different to those in other children. However, some typical autism signs in children may suggest your child would benefit from an assessment.
Potential signs of autism in young children include:
- Difficulty listening
- Struggling to pay attention
- Speech delay
- Appearing not to engage with their surroundings
- Being overly focused on their plans or routine
- Restrictive behaviours in things like sleeping or eating
- Not responding to their name
- Avoiding eye contact
- Getting very upset if they don’t like a taste, smell, sound or sensation
- Repetitive movements like flapping their hands or rocking their body
- Not engaging in ‘pretend play’
- Repeating words or phrases
Signs of autism usually start showing once your child reaches 12 months and may become more noticeable as they get older. Autism signs may also look different in older children.
Signs of autism in older children can include:
- An inability to read or understand social cues
- Needing a strict routine and getting upset if it changes
- A very keen interest in specific subjects
- Difficulties in school
If your child is showing signs of autism, an autism assessment could help you support their needs.
Why choose Dementech Neurosciences for your child’s autism assessment?
When you choose Dementech Neurosciences for your child’s autism assessment, you’ll receive expert-led care from the moment you contact us. Our dedicated team of experts will make sure your child is as comfortable as possible throughout their assessment.
Support won’t stop once your child receives a diagnosis. We also provide support and intervention sessions where you’ll meet one of our experienced psychologists every two months.
These sessions include:
- A check-in on your child’s progress and wellbeing
- The effectiveness of any management plans
- A chance to ask questions
- Further support in meeting your child’s needs
- Establishing any next steps and ongoing support and advice
We ensure you are fully equipped with the knowledge you need to help your child overcome and manage any challenges they may face.
What to expect when bringing your child for an autism assessment at Dementech Neurosciences
When you book your child’s autism assessment, they’ll have a consultation, including a specialist paediatric neurodevelopmental assessment.
Based on the results, we may refer your child for further evaluation to understand their communication and learning challenges.
Our paediatric autism assessment includes a neurodevelopmental assessment, academic evaluation and psychological assessment.
Neurodevelopmental Assessment
During this session, our clinicians will interact and observe your child in our calming, neurodivergent-friendly environment.
We’ll evaluate the following:
- Communication skills
- Sensory processing
- Social interactions
This evaluation will give us insight into their developmental profile and whether it fits the signs of autism.
These sessions typically last between one and two hours.
Academic Evaluation
Next, we’ll work closely with your child’s school to learn more about their educational journey.
We’ll review their school reports and speak with their teachers to fully understand their experience in education.
This step also helps us to understand your child’s strengths and challenges.
Psychological Assessment
Finally, we’ll further assess your child’s cognitive abilities, emotional wellbeing and behaviour patterns to create a complete psychological profile.
At Dementech Neurosciences, we follow the NICE (National Institute For Health and Care Excellence) guidance when diagnosing autism. We use thorough assessment techniques combined with specialist expertise to ensure your child receives an accurate diagnosis and a detailed needs evaluation.
MEET OUR DOCTORS:
Dr. Rahul Bharat
Paediatric Neurologist. Consultant Paediatrician Lead & Paediatric Autism Specialist
Dr. Bharat works in partnership with Dementech as a consultant paediatrician neurologist. He possesses a unique specialism and expertise in neurodisabilities, including paediatric epilepsy and autism. A profound understanding of foundational paediatric neurodevelopment is at the core of his practice.
Dr. Bharat’s work includes personalised interaction with families and children, to inform diagnosis and evaluate an individual child’s unique difficulties, strengths and needs. This holistic, patient-centric approach to diagnosis and intervention is considered the most effective method of helping children meet their full potential.
In accordance with NICE guidance, before reaching a diagnosis, Dr. Bharat will carry out:
A neurodevelopmental assessment
An academic evaluation
Psychological assessments
“Effective treatment requires us to understand a child’s unique situation. ‘Universal’ methods aren’t effective: rather, we provide individualised treatments to help each and every child reach their full potential”
Having completed research and study in Calcutta, Kent, Yorkshire, London and Cambridge, Dr. Bharat is the founder of Geniuslane, an organisation helping families access early intervention for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and dyslexia. Dr. Bharat and his team have created an algorithm that generates a unique neurological profile for every child; this helps design wholly-individualised treatment programmes.
Book your child’s private autism assessment with Dementech Neurosciences
Autism isn’t an illness or a disease, and there is no shame in seeing signs of it in your child and booking them an assessment.
If your child is showing signs of autism, book a private autism assessment with Dementech Neurosciences. We’ll guide you through the process and ensure you and your child receive the assistance and care they deserve.
Visit our private London
neurology clinic in
Wimpole Street:
Lister House
11 Wimpole street
W1G 9ST London
United Kingdom
Hear what our patients have to say
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