Newbie - daughter diagnoised today

Hi AJ,

It is often difficult to get your head around it in the beginning. When my son was diagnosed properly at aged 9 we talked lot with the Special Needs Co-ordinator at the school. It's really important to get a Statement of Special Needs put in place, once this was done it helped so much.

I also found it much easier to cope with my sons behaviour and felt I was able to understand him a lot more. I hope this turns out to be the case for you too. As was said in a previous reply, your daughter is still the same little girl, it's just now you know there's a reason for some of the things she does or doesn't do that you didn't understand.

Hello AJ,

I have Asperger's with characteristics of A.D.H.D and dyspraxia. I was diagnosed officially at 24. (I'm 32) I was tested previously at 8 and 17 yrs but miss diagnosed.

Would you be able to give us a Idea of the diagnosis or some of the sympoms and how they manifest ? Don't worry if your not comfortable. 

hi AJ - when my son was diagnosed it came as a big shock and I wasn't given much written info at the time.  All I could see when I looked at him was the autism.  I went to the library.  They only had 2 books on the subject.  Both of them said it was my fault.  One said the mothers of autistic children were "cats who walked alone".  The refrigerator mother.  I believed this tosh for months until I found the nas + discovered these "theories" had all been debunked.   This is where the nas site is so v useful.  Give yourself some time, be kind to yourself, read bite-sized chunks.  Your child is a person 1st and foremost who also has autism.   She is the same child she was before the diagnosis.    Getting her placed in the right educational environment is crucial in my opinion.  What's her present school like....how's she doing there?  I wd expect you to be allocated a social worker, if you haven't got one already.  Your sw shd be able to help in a number of ways - extra funding for example by your local authority and help with claiming DLA.  There may be respite care provision for when you feel like a short break.  There may be a local parents' group you cd join.  It takes time to adjust - it happens bit by bit.      

some one said:

It doesnt change I'm afraid no

Not over night it does not.

However, with knowledge one can affect change.

That change, if appropriate, can have a positive effect for all involved.

wow, big news  AJ, life changing information in some ways, but i think it is better to know

It doesnt change I'm afraid no :-( but it can be better from now on , you know, and shes still young so she has a good chance at having a 'normal' life knowing how to deal with her individual issues

Where do you start, I dont know, it's not a position I have been in, tho there are a few on here who have so will be able to help you with that, but i do honestly think its better to know about it, things can be diffrent for her , easier, with that knowledge, preparing her for certain things, preparing other people for her needs etc

It might not feel like good news , but i think it can be when you get to the place things start working out better than they might have been, but it will take time

You have here for any venting or info you need

:-)