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Is autism diagnosis the end of the world?

Jamesjoseph

Hi all I'm new to the forum, I have a 14 month old son who is displaying a LOT of signs of ASD. I am bouncing between reassuring myself he is a late bloomer (mostly after reassurance from friends and family) and being 100% certain he has (or will at some point be diagnosed with) ASD.

The signs I am seeing are mainly no response to name, not using gestures and almost no initiation of joint attention And very little back and forth babbling and certainly no consistently used words. Now, to me there is little doubt but my family are adamant that I am over-reacting and he is just a normal boy who is taking a little time to develop..they cite things that must mean he doesn't have a problem like hugging, following simple instructions (he certainly does understand much of what we say), he is happy and liked people etc. unfortunately none of these things rule out autism.

this difference of opinion between me and everyone else in mine and wife's family and my wife herself is causing problems. I suffered from health anxiety a couple of years ago, constantly thinking I was gravely ill when in fact I had some minor health issues, resesrching symptoms on the Internet in large part led to this. The upshot of this is I am now the boy who cried wolf. I feel really alone at the moment, I want to get my son help but my wife insists we wait until scheduled appointment with HV in a month.

anyway,to the point of my post! I have read a lot from people with autistic children who seem to just get on with it and accept it. Id like to know that once a diagnosis is received what is a patents life like, I am terrified of what the future has in store for my family. I am constantly worrying and feeling down, I don't feel like I will be able to cope. I think it would help to hear other people's experiences, how did people make the transition from the terror I am now experiencing to living a happy life with their autistic child?

Parents

  • Hi, personally I think that 14 months isn't too young to start to worry. My son done no hand gestures and no speech and wasn't even babbling! he had no eye contact he also lined toys up in a line all the time and wouldn't repsond to his name. He also walks on top toes n still does now. He also wasn't interested in playing with other children and all he would is pinch them and just line his toys up. He also started having melt downs when I took him to a playgroup from about 15 months and it was something to do with the size of the room and amount of children he just couldn't handle it! He also was very picky with food and still is only eats about 10 items! He also arm flaps if he gets excited and constantly runs backwards and forwards and loves jumping on his tip toes! We got referred to a Specalist when he was 19 months and had a diagnosis at age 2. He is now 3 year 8 month and still no speech or hand gestures still limited eye contact and no understanding. Still lines toys up in a certain way and fussy with food. To be honest he hasn't changed much since the age I became concerned. He now is at a pre school with one to one support and we are getting the educational health and social plan to get him into a special needs school next sept. I was also told by my own partner (sons dad) that I was being silly so when we got the diagnosis it was a relief so that people knew I wasn't going mad as it can put pressure on the family. Just wanted to say if you got concerns see your health visitor or someone at your local children's centre and they should transfer you. 

    We are now just starting to notice what kicks him off he can be a very happy child but sometimes the melt downs are impossible to deal with but its just enjoying time when he's happy and doing things that he enjoys. 

    Sorry for the massive post! 

Reply

  • Hi, personally I think that 14 months isn't too young to start to worry. My son done no hand gestures and no speech and wasn't even babbling! he had no eye contact he also lined toys up in a line all the time and wouldn't repsond to his name. He also walks on top toes n still does now. He also wasn't interested in playing with other children and all he would is pinch them and just line his toys up. He also started having melt downs when I took him to a playgroup from about 15 months and it was something to do with the size of the room and amount of children he just couldn't handle it! He also was very picky with food and still is only eats about 10 items! He also arm flaps if he gets excited and constantly runs backwards and forwards and loves jumping on his tip toes! We got referred to a Specalist when he was 19 months and had a diagnosis at age 2. He is now 3 year 8 month and still no speech or hand gestures still limited eye contact and no understanding. Still lines toys up in a certain way and fussy with food. To be honest he hasn't changed much since the age I became concerned. He now is at a pre school with one to one support and we are getting the educational health and social plan to get him into a special needs school next sept. I was also told by my own partner (sons dad) that I was being silly so when we got the diagnosis it was a relief so that people knew I wasn't going mad as it can put pressure on the family. Just wanted to say if you got concerns see your health visitor or someone at your local children's centre and they should transfer you. 

    We are now just starting to notice what kicks him off he can be a very happy child but sometimes the melt downs are impossible to deal with but its just enjoying time when he's happy and doing things that he enjoys. 

    Sorry for the massive post! 

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