Diagnostic age

Based in the UK here ny son is 3yrs old..... myself and his nursery believe he's spectrum, his key worker specialises in SEN and she's actually pulled out autism , Although she can handle his needs.... she said he will definitely need extra help at school.... We've got all our referalls in place....however we need a pediatrician and they've rejected us twice! So frustrating , considering he's a 24wkr!!! Currently also got the ball rolling for an ECHP.

@Elle (i can't see waves) I'm UK too. My son's almost 4 and never attended a nursery. I've had to put him into nursery as nobody will even consider assessing him until nursery or school say so, although the nursery have had to make sure his key worker is SEN aware because of his traits. It's so frustrating because I had no intentions of sending him to nursery but feel I've got to as otherwise he won't get any support

I mean to say Rulled out not pulled... lol Anyways, yes totally understand as by law they don't need to attend anything untill 5yrs .... That being said to get this echp or a diagnosis can take years!!! A fellow preemie mum started tge process 10months ago..m she's only just got the echp 😮😮 as it can take time , Also at my sons nursery the local council have a send specialist and they do 12wkly assessment to see how he's progressed etc - So these people also need to be involved 😀 it's such a headache isn't it x

My step son is 4 and his nursery have been an amazing force for making sure we know how to access different help etc. He's been approved for autism assessment but Doctor has said they won't assess for ADHD until he's 5. They need to show the behaviours consistently in at least two settings - school/nursery and at home. He's currently on one to one support at nursery, we applied for ECHP, wouldn't even consider him. However I have heard it's something you have to keep fighting for as they always decline at first

@Bethan yesss to get an echp is like winning the lottery!! X

@Bethan why doesn't home live in, family, public spaces etc all count. Why has it got to be school/nursery over a prolonged time. And if that's the case I just really don't understand how babies under 1 have a formal diagnosis if the process is sooo long

ADHD is two settings and home does count as one of them. ADHD behaviours can improve significantly with age and change with age and environment. Their environment and how they respond to it would matter greatly. Home environments with family are still home environments which count as one. You also need one that they can be formally assessed in, you can't formally assess someone in a play park or a supermarket. However babies under 1 don't get an ADHD diagnosis. Autism is different and that can be assessed earlier. If they're being diagnosed under 1 I imagine they would be on the severe end of the spectrum too. I don't make the rules. I just know what we have been told by numerous professionals.