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Midlands Children Waiting Up To Four Years For Autism Assessment

Tuesday, 19 July 2022 12:14

A recent investigation highlights difficulty in accessing assessments.

Children in the midlands are waiting up to four years for an autism assessment.

More than 130 children in the region are on a waiting list, which is expected to take four years to get through, with another 1,000 facing a three-year wait.

The investigation by the Irish Independent also found parents are being forced to pay thousands to private psychologists, with warnings some families are 'wide open' to exploitation.

James Spalding's 4-year-old son is autisitc - he says he got an initial diagnosis through a private provider:

Inclusion Ireland are saying children with autism need early intervention in order to flourish.

However, it adds the public health systems are being profoundly impacted, as the State struggles with the recruitment and retention of psychologists.

CEO of Inclusion Ireland, Derval McDonagh, says accessing early intervention services is crucial for a child, especially in their early years:

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