Our experience with the SPZ was marked by significant difficulties in both the diagnostic and…read moremedical care process.
Our son already had a confirmed autism diagnosis, issued by a multidisciplinary team after a three-month stay at a day clinic (Tagesklinik).
Despite this diagnosis and his ongoing need for medical support (including the use of prescription psychiatric medication), our son was seen only once by a doctor at the SPZ over a period of eight months. No further appointments were offered during that time - neither for medication monitoring, clinical observation, nor for any additional diagnostic evaluation. No physical examinations or neurological assessments were carried out.
The psychological assessment was based on very limited observations, without any continuous clinical follow-up. In our view, there was a lack of sufficient objective basis. Nevertheless, a medical-psychological report was issued that questioned the existing diagnosis, without clarifying how limited the doctor's actual contact with our child had been.
What we found particularly concerning was that this very report was sent to the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) and used to justify far-reaching measures - including a possible inpatient placement outside the family home. In our opinion, neither our child's living situation, medical history, nor the information provided by the parents was adequately taken into account. The report was based almost exclusively on feedback from the school.
There were also serious language barriers, as no interpreter was made available to us during the entire process.
Important aspects of school life and serious incidents (such as physical aggression and discrimination) were not mentioned or documented in the report.
From our perspective, our child's well-being was not appropriately prioritized, and his medical needs were not handled with the necessary care.
Based on this experience, we advise other families to proceed with caution when choosing a center for diagnostic assessment and care - especially when the child already has a complex medical history and is on ongoing medication.