What are the NICE Guidelines?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides evidence-based guidelines and recommendations for healthcare professionals and policymakers.
NICE guidelines aim to improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare. In other words, this is by offering expert advice on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various conditions.
These guidelines are developed through thorough evaluation of available research and input from:
- healthcare professionals
- patients
- other stakeholders
Autism Assessment Nice Guidelines for Children and Young People
When it comes to autism diagnostic assessment for children and young people, some of the key guidelines are:
Detailed Developmental History
This includes taking a detailed developmental history including:
- key concerns
- information about home
- education
- social care involvement
- detailed information about social and communication skills and behaviours in relation to the ICD-11 or DSM-V criteria
- medical and family history.
It is also important to consider differential diagnosis (e.g. ADHD, learning difficulties, Intellectual Disability) and so the clinician taking the history should have the skills and experience necessary to consider the possibility of other explanations for the child’s presentation.
Direct Autism Assessments
Direct assessments (through interaction with and observation of the child or young person) of social and communication skills and behaviours, focussing on features consistent with the ICD-11 or DSM-V diagnostic criteria for autism.
Autism Assessment Discrepancies
If there are discrepancies in the reported/observed profile of the child being assessed, then seeking additional information or carrying out an observation in another setting should be considered.
Autism Diagnosis
Use information from all sources, together with clinician judgement, to diagnose autism.
Uncertainty
If there is uncertainty after the autism diagnostic assessment about the diagnosis, consider keeping the child or young person under review, taking into account any new information.
NICE guidelines advise against
Relying on any autism-specific diagnostic tool alone to diagnose autism
If an autism assessment is conducted in accordance with the NICE guidelines and by suitably trained and experienced clinicians, then the assessment report (and diagnosis) should be accepted by the Local Authority. Regardless of whether it has been conducted by the NHS or by a Private Clinic.
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