Non-communicative

I just wondered if there are any parents or if anyone knows of any parents in a similar position as myself. As you probably will recall I am still awaiting a mental health assessment for my son, Glen who is 16 with ASD and learning difficulites. Glen has suffered with anxiety all his young life which has I'm sure has held him back in all things generally. Glen self harms, i.e. hits his head occasionally and hasn't spoken apart from around 4 words now in about 3 or 4 months.

Since being prescribed prozac in May, Glen has appeared much happier, smiles a lot, and is calmer in himself, you can see what a difference this medication (although very reluctant I was to go ahead with it) has made.

To all parents with children who are autistic with anxiety issues have any of you been told that it is in your child's interest to have a mental health assessment which would mean them being away from home for 6 or 8 weeks as an inpatient at a mental health hospital? There isn't (at the moment) any cure for autism after all, so what good really could come out of having this assessment?

Glen is now in the F.E. department at the special school he attends, he has started a 3 year course in life stills. He appears to be getting on well, he is now at long last doing things that are appropriate for him, i.e. gardening, walking/rambles, learning domestic skills, also physical activies, i.e. football/ball skills etc, travelling to the shops by bus, buying items. All those type of things. Glen still gets very anxious every morning before School, but I am told he is fine once he's there.

Glen has sensory issues and is attending sensory sessions weekly after school which is helping and I feel this should have happened a long time ago.

Over the years Glen has gone through many different phases, he has wet himself many times at school, stripped off many times, hit out at staff and himself, threw things, been verbally aggressive, not wanted to go to school, selective mute (like now) etc., but hasn't other parents experienced similar to me with their autistic child? Glen now seems more relaxed and happy than he's ever been although as I've already said he is 'choosing not to talk', or that is how it seems. So why is it that all these so called professionals think he needs to go away miles from home for an inpatient several week assessment?

My feelings are Glen needs stability which seems to be happening now since going into the F.E. department, learning life/social skills. I would very much appreciate your views please, do you agree with me or do you think Glen should go ahead and have this assessment if it goes ahead?