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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

  • My parents put off getting me assessed for precisely the same reasons - fear over damaged job prospects. Yet  with or without a diagnosis, my disability would have adversely affected my ability to work; but at at least if I had got diagnosed as a child, my prospects might have been better as an adult. All I can say with certainty is that diagnosing the problems does not make your prospects worse, it makes them better,  because you are labeled no matter what, often as 'lazy', 'rude', 'stubborn' etc. Having a formal label, like Aspergers, allows you to access vital support.

    I strongly recommend that you go through with the assessment - you will have nothing to lose either way, and potentially a lot to gain.

Reply

  • My parents put off getting me assessed for precisely the same reasons - fear over damaged job prospects. Yet  with or without a diagnosis, my disability would have adversely affected my ability to work; but at at least if I had got diagnosed as a child, my prospects might have been better as an adult. All I can say with certainty is that diagnosing the problems does not make your prospects worse, it makes them better,  because you are labeled no matter what, often as 'lazy', 'rude', 'stubborn' etc. Having a formal label, like Aspergers, allows you to access vital support.

    I strongly recommend that you go through with the assessment - you will have nothing to lose either way, and potentially a lot to gain.

Children
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