What is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Who Are We?
How Do We Assess Your Child?
Where Are We Based?
How Do I Get My Child Referred?
Our Other Staff Members!
What are Social Communication Difficulties?
What are Repetitive Activities, Interests and Behaviours?
Assessment Instruments
ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition that occurs in approximately 1% of the population.
ASD can affect a child's ability to understand, communicate, and interact appropriately with their peers and adults. In addition to these social communication difficulties, children with ASD may exhibit a range of restricted, repetitive patterns of activities, interests and behaviours which can further impair their day to day functioning at home, school or with others.
ASD is often diagnosed in early childhood but it is not uncommon for ASD to remain undetected recognised until the teenage years or even adulthood when the person's difficulties become more apparent.
The Cheshire Autism Diagnostic Service is run by Dr. Lenny Thornton (Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) and Mrs. Gillian Benson (Consultant Speech and Language Therapist). Each has over 25 years experience in developing and running autism diagnostic services in the NHS and independent sector.
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Dr. Thornton MB ChB, FRCPsych qualified in Medicine from Glasgow University. His general psychiatry training and specialist child and adolescent psychiatry training were carried out in Manchester. Dr. Thornton was a consultant adolescent psychiatrist at the regional adolescent unit and the regional adolescent forensic secure unit in Salford (1987-1993). From 1993-2011, he worked as a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in Chester including five years as the clinical director for child and adolescent mental health services in Cheshire. Dr. Thornton has made 'appearances' on radio to discuss autism and associated mental health problems. |
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Mrs. Benson Cert.MRCSLT, qualified as a speech and language therapist in 1982. Since 1987 she has worked as a clinical specialist with children and adolescents who have autism, including over 20 years experience working in an NAS accredited school. In addition she has worked as national advisor for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. |
In 1996 Dr. Thornton and Mrs. Benson set up the NHS West Cheshire Autism Diagnostic Service and since 2011 they have run the independent Cheshire Autism Diagnostic Service.
Dr. Thornton and Mrs. Benson have lectured nationally and internationally on autism, related neurodevelopmental conditions, and mental health disorders. They have also run training workshops for parents and professionals on various aspects of autism.
The assessment is carried out jointly by Dr. Thornton and Mrs. Benson and comprises three appointments which are usually carried out over a two week period.
The first appointment involves a semi-structured interview with the parents/carers using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). This takes two-three hours to complete. This is currently completed via Zoom. We also provide the parents/carers with a mental health and social functioning questionnaire to complete and return prior to the assessment.
We ask that you send any relevant previous reports regarding your child before the assessment. These may be include assessments from: school, educational/clinical psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, paediatrics, and child mental health.
The second appointment involves a detailed interactional assessment of your child using the Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS). For adolescents, we may also carry out an interview covering specific autism spectrum behaviours and ask them to complete a mental health and social functioning questionnaire.
In addition, for some children we may undertake additional specific assessments, (e.g. language, mental state). The second appointment can last 30 minutes - two hours (depending on the age of your child and the assessments undertaken).
The third appointment is a feedback session for the family. This is currently completed via Zoom. Dr Thornton and Mrs Benson present their draft report which summarises the findings of your child's assessments and the diagnostic conclusion. The report and related matters are discussed with the family. These areas can include: diagnostic issues (e.g. severity/impairment, coexisting conditions); psycho-educational information; social communication strategies; anxiety and behavioural management approaches; supportive strategies for mental health difficulties; skills acquisition; plus the availability of other supports and resources. The information discussed is tailored to the needs of you and your child. This feedback appointment lasts approximately two hours.
The diagnostic report is keyed to the relevant ICD-11 and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria to provide a formal diagnosis. This diagnosis is recognised by health, education, and social care agencies.
If your child is found not to have an autism spectrum disorder or has other problems in addition to their autism spectrum diagnosis, (e.g. language disorder, OCD, anxiety, depression), we provide a descriptive summary, and where applicable a formal diagnosis, of these difficulties.
You will receive an electronic copy of the final diagnostic report (approximately 12 pages in length) and we will post a signed copy of the report to you within five working days from the feedback appointment.
The appointments take place at Duddon Hall, Duddon, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0EX.
We accept direct referrals from parents/carers.
If you email us at autism.diagnostic.service@gmail.com with brief details of your child's difficulties, their name, date of birth, and your postal address we will send you provisional appointment dates. If these are convenient we will send you a confirmatory appointment letter and directions to our clinic.
Referrals from general practitioners are accepted but we will require written confirmation from your doctor that funding for the assessment has been agreed before we are able to proceed.
Email: autism.diagnostic.service@gmail.com
Telephone: 0756-552-7639
Complaint Resolution Procedure
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