• Replies 1 reply
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 494 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

newly diagnosed asd

rachmutton

Hi my son age 6 has just been diagnosised wwith asd. I am a little confused as I was sent home with no information and told to research aspergers / highly functioning autism. He attends mainstream school and is very sociable, great imagination little boy who loves routine and is very nice and vulnerable in this way. I am a little confused by the diagnosis asd as it appears to be a general term and I am worried that as he gets older he may be disadvantaged by this diagnosis as it is not as specific as say aspergerd or autism. Does anyone have any advice about this as it would be most helpful. Or how I explain to him when I have only been given the umbrella term thanks 

  • hi Rachmutton - yes, asd is a "general term" - it's a spectrum so you're son is on that spectrum at the high functioning end, very similar to aspergers.  He sounds a lovely little boy.  Have a look at the home page for info + also posts which will be informative.  Also, don't try to do everything at once.  There's plenty of time.  Time to adjust.  Get up to speed with his diagnosis first of all.  He's still the same little boy he was prior to diagnosis but now you'll understand better how to help him.  Lots of parents worry about their child being disadvantaged by the diagnosis.  They worry about their child being labelled.  My son isn't aspergers/HF, so we weren't ever in the position of thinking he could pass himself off as not autistic.   He's just him! There are loads of posts about "labelling" so have a look.  I prefer the term "diagnosis".  Labelling to me always sounds negative, even if that's not what's meant.  There are also posts you should have a look at regarding how things can change as a child makes their journey through the school system.  Secondary school can be very different from primary - some don't cope so well there, especially if they don't have a statement of educational needs, or even a diagnosis.  You can explain to him when you feel well prepared and the time is right - again there's no need to rush.  HF/aspergers are very similar as far as I know so that's the area you should concentrate on.