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Pros/Cons of Diagnosis

ASC Professional

I am SENCo and teacher who specialises in ASC and have undertaken specialist training in Autism.  My brother has Asperger's Syndrome. I am certain that my 3 and a half year old daughter has Asperger's Syndrime. I work closely enough with paediatricians to know that if she walked into a paediatrician's office, she'd walk out with a diagnosis.  My dilemma however, is whether or not a diagnosis would help or hinder her as an adult. I know that a diagnosis would definitely benefit her during her school years.  I see first hand on a daily basis how beneficial it would be.  However I worry about when she is older, with her job prospects and social prospects. Would a such a label impact on her ability to find a job or a partner? She is incredibly bright and I can see already that she would be able (providing the correct social support was in place) to be employed, but would employers be put off by a diagnosis? Equally, if she found she was able to have a relationship, would prospective partners be put off? I am certain that diagnosis is 100% beneficial at school age. What are your thoughts surrounding the helpfulness of diagnosis for and adult, particularly when they are so high functioning? 

Parents

  • Thanks everybody. I really appreciate your comments.  I suppose the thing that's worrying me is my brother's reaction to his Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis.  He still won't admit it after 26 years after diagnosis.  He fights to be 'normal' every day. It's heartbreaking to watch and I'd hate my daughter to feel like that. Also, my brother always said that he'd never forgive himself if any of my children turned out like him and that it would all be his fault. (It's not hard to see how low his self esteem is!) That's going to be a challenging conversation when he eventually realises that she is very much like him. 

    I have met so many parents of children with an ASC diagnos and seen various approaches.  Some parents teach their children that they have this condition that means that they can't do things. These children often say "I can't do that because I'm autistic," without even trying. Then there are the parents who make their children believe that they are special and that they can strive to achieve, particularly in their specialist area. 

    I know which type of parent I'm going to be. 

Reply

  • Thanks everybody. I really appreciate your comments.  I suppose the thing that's worrying me is my brother's reaction to his Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis.  He still won't admit it after 26 years after diagnosis.  He fights to be 'normal' every day. It's heartbreaking to watch and I'd hate my daughter to feel like that. Also, my brother always said that he'd never forgive himself if any of my children turned out like him and that it would all be his fault. (It's not hard to see how low his self esteem is!) That's going to be a challenging conversation when he eventually realises that she is very much like him. 

    I have met so many parents of children with an ASC diagnos and seen various approaches.  Some parents teach their children that they have this condition that means that they can't do things. These children often say "I can't do that because I'm autistic," without even trying. Then there are the parents who make their children believe that they are special and that they can strive to achieve, particularly in their specialist area. 

    I know which type of parent I'm going to be. 

Children
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