Hi all. I'm Nicola and my 2 and a half year old son saw the community paediatrician today and is now going to begin the formal assessment pathway in our area for autism. To be honest I don't know how I feel...... A load of mixed emotions! Joined this community tonight to talk to people who are going through or have gone through the same things we are. Look forward to talking to you all.xx
hi Nichola - welcome to the forum. My son was diagnosed when he was just over 2 + a half. I remember when we got the diagnosis. All I could see was the autism when I looked at him. Of course, he was the same little boy he'd been prior to diagnosis. An individual who also has autism. Nothing had changed really. It didn't feel that way at the time, tho. Don't ever forget that autism affects individuals in different ways - it's a spectrum. Some are affected more, some less so. It's a difficult time going through assessments + waiting for the outcome. Remember that it's important to get a diagnosis - it opens the door to understanding your little boy better in relation to his autism. It should also open the door to appropriate educational provision + help from social services + extra funding from the DWP via DLA. Everybody on here has either gone thru the process, going through the process or considering going through the process. They'll chip in with advice, encouragement + understanding. bw
