is he, or isn't he?

Hi Sarah

First of all welcome to the group.   We are all happy to share and dont be concerned about the degree of difficulty that your son has.  All our kids are different.   My youngest was diagnosed when he was 7 and he is now 14 and he attends mainstream school.  I wouldnt call his autism severe but it does cause him difficulty with social skills, language processing and sensory issues.

Feel free to browse round the discussions that have taken place and ask any questions or share any strategies you have found that work in helping with your sons behaviours.

Look forward to hearing more about your son.

Josie - Community Champion

Hi Sarah & welcome to the forum, I hope you find lots of useful info, hints & tips etc as there has been so many interested subjects spoke about on here.

I have a 4 year old with ASD, people suspected he was on the autistic spectrum for a few years before his actual diagnosis & I found it was best to accept he probably was on the spectrum & start helping him as if he already had the diagnosis, this prepared me for it.

Please do ask any specific questions you have or worries at the moment. 

Tracy - Community Champion

Hi Sarah,

Dont feel like a fraud!! Like Josie said, we all have children with varying degrees of autism and the children who are high functioning are usually the hardest to diagnose and support. I have 3 children with ASD/Aspergers and my oldest daughter who is high functioning has had to be diagnosed twice because the education and even medical professionals cant work her out!! They took her diagnosis away and then after seeing the experts she got it back....it is such a stressful time not knowing one way or the other and even if they say your son hasnt got autism, you obviously still have concerns.....What areas does he struggle with the most? Is there anything we can help and give some advice about?

Take care and keep in touch....you are very welcome here!

Claire - Community Champion

Hello Sarah,

It annoys me how an Ed Psyc can withdraw help when a child's behaviour is not 'extreme enough'.  Challenging behaviour is not a symptom of autism, but a reaction to a difficult situation one cannot cope well with.  To only support when things have become 'out of hand' is ridiculous.  Yes - I think you should look for a new Ed Psyc (many are not that well advised concerning autism + their knowledge is often limited, despite the power that they wield!).

I would like to echo the other commentators, that you should certainly not feel like a fraud.  I have Asperger's and my son is autistic.  We have very different needs (and some very very similar!) - as his needs are much more visible and evident, he gets help - generally speaking, I do not in life!  All children deserve the best we can give them + it is the children with less visible difficulties who get the least help (especially if passive and not causing 'problems' for others etc.).

I am a case in point, I was passive + 'manageable' at school.  I got a scholarship to a private school, absolutely hated virtually all of it + did much worse at GCSE then I should have done.  For many like me in ability - things have not improved much at all.  To be concerned about provision etc. is not being a fraud, but doing the best you can to help your son.

All the best, Damian