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How important is a diagnostic label for children?

dadof4

Hi

I have a child with Asperger's Syndrome.  For us and for him this getting a diagnosis was important as it helped us have a clearer understanding of our son and for him it made him feel less alone.  He told us a few years later that he had felt lonely because he was different from everyone else.  After diagnosis he felt that he was not on his own anymore. 

I only ask this question as I wanted to see if we were alone in feeling that diagnosis was important for children.  I have had conversations recently from people within various professions who have questioned the necessity for getting a diagnostic label as it can be damaging to the child's future, possibly putting limitations on them.

I understand the arguments for not needlessly labelling children and my feeling is that if their condition, whatever it is, is having an affect on their life then it is necessary to get a dianosis so that there is a clear understanding as to why they are having these difficulties and so that support can be more easily directed to meet their needs.

In the ideal world there would be no need for a diagnosis of anything as children would have their needs met on an indivualised basis but unfortunately we do not seem to be anywhere near living in this world.

Let me know your views and opinions.  I welcome comments on either side of the argument.

 

Parents

  • It is sometimes difficult to not look at family history and think about many other family members who may also have an ASD.  We really believe my wife has Asperger's but she gets on quite well without a diagnosis.  Her brother and my son's cousin also have a number of traits which could put him on the spectrum.

    Funnily enough my son who has the condition is actually my step-son but there seems to be a history within my own family.  My brother possibly had ADHD and/or an ASD, my sister shows a number of traits, my nephew is believed to have the condition also.  I, personally have a huge number of traits and it is only the fact that I have learnt to be social and that I have a really good imagination that seems to stop me from looking at a diagnosis for myself. 

    It really does make you wonder about whether the 1 in 100 ratio is correct.  Looking at family history plus the number of adults I hear about getting diagnosed when they are much older it makes you wonder whether the actual figure could be more like 1 in 10???

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  • It is sometimes difficult to not look at family history and think about many other family members who may also have an ASD.  We really believe my wife has Asperger's but she gets on quite well without a diagnosis.  Her brother and my son's cousin also have a number of traits which could put him on the spectrum.

    Funnily enough my son who has the condition is actually my step-son but there seems to be a history within my own family.  My brother possibly had ADHD and/or an ASD, my sister shows a number of traits, my nephew is believed to have the condition also.  I, personally have a huge number of traits and it is only the fact that I have learnt to be social and that I have a really good imagination that seems to stop me from looking at a diagnosis for myself. 

    It really does make you wonder about whether the 1 in 100 ratio is correct.  Looking at family history plus the number of adults I hear about getting diagnosed when they are much older it makes you wonder whether the actual figure could be more like 1 in 10???

Children
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