How did I not realise my son was different?

Hi,

Sorry if a similar issue has been raised before.

My son is 6 and since he started nursery his teachers have been telling me that his behaviour is a bit out of the ordinary and that they thought there was something different about him and the way he acts.  I was adamant for a long time he was, for want of a better word, "normal" and only in the last 6 months have I agreed to the assessment.

He has come back as autistic (high functioning), and I seperately have been screened as high functioning and ADHD by a psychologist although I have to wait a long time for a diagnostic appointment for myself.

From hearing other peoples' struggles with getting their doctors to agree to a diagnosis for their child, not only do I feel grateful that the school pushed me to get my son assessed, but I am also worried that I didn't see anything "strange" or different with him myself.  Yes, he has quirks, but isn't everyone different?

I am his mum so surely I should have noticed that he was different.  I feel bad because I have been quite hard on him in regards to his bad behaviour at school (although he is lively, but manageable at home) and maybe all this time I should have just understood him more.

Has anyone elses' child diagnosis come the same way as mine?  It seems I am in the minority for not realising myself.  Sorry this is really long.

Parents
  • Regarding support, check the little red and pink maps on the home and community pages of NAS. This allows you to search for services in your area. It sometimes comes up with London first even if you are searching Lands End, but just scroll down until you find something.

    If there isn't something near, try the nearest available, as they may be able to point you to informal or less well publicised services nearer you. Also a parents group, even if it is thirty miles away, could still help, even if you would only want to visit once in a long while.

Reply
  • Regarding support, check the little red and pink maps on the home and community pages of NAS. This allows you to search for services in your area. It sometimes comes up with London first even if you are searching Lands End, but just scroll down until you find something.

    If there isn't something near, try the nearest available, as they may be able to point you to informal or less well publicised services nearer you. Also a parents group, even if it is thirty miles away, could still help, even if you would only want to visit once in a long while.

Children
No Data