wrong diagnosis - impact

My son was diagnosed with ASD in spring last year and it was explained to us that they need to be 100% sure as its hard to overturn a misdiagnosis which i respect and undertand but having had a discussion with a mum with a son with similar issues who is as yet undiagnosed, she seemed quite concerned by the whole impact of misdiagnosis where as I just dont see why its even an issue.

Can anyone explain what the impact of a misdiagnosis would be? Just to be clear i dont think my son has been misdiagnosed at all. As far as im concerned if he had been though I cant see that it would effect him unless he outwardly told people "i was mis diagnosed with ASD". I guess there might be a small amount of jobs that in the future might be concerened that this was on his medical history but how else would it negatively effect him?

Parents
  • I guess the danger for anyone diagnosed is that they or others may start to see everything through that filter, and either think that certain behaviours cannot be changed because they are hard wired, or that their behaviour or reactions to things are "abnormal", or that displaying certain emotions are not allowed. I think the technical term is "confirmation bias", and it is something I have been thinking a lot about. 

    Sadly there are some very narrow minded people around, who see AS through a purely negative filter, and this will always have to be weighed up against the benefits of receiving support. 

    I would recommend a book called Bright Not Broken

    www.amazon.co.uk/.../0470623322

Reply
  • I guess the danger for anyone diagnosed is that they or others may start to see everything through that filter, and either think that certain behaviours cannot be changed because they are hard wired, or that their behaviour or reactions to things are "abnormal", or that displaying certain emotions are not allowed. I think the technical term is "confirmation bias", and it is something I have been thinking a lot about. 

    Sadly there are some very narrow minded people around, who see AS through a purely negative filter, and this will always have to be weighed up against the benefits of receiving support. 

    I would recommend a book called Bright Not Broken

    www.amazon.co.uk/.../0470623322

Children
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