Skip to main content
Close Button
Donate
  • Replies 3 replies
  • Subscribers 89 subscribers
  • Views 745 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Pre-diagnosis Support

NAS77611
over 2 years ago

Hi, 

I'm hoping some of you guys can support me with a few concerns and challenges i am currently facing regarding my 11 year old daughters ASD Pathway referral please?

My daughter was referred and accepted onto the ASD Pathway by our GP last year (2021) after a number of years of me and her Dad identifying some concerns around sensory, communicating, socialising and a couple of other problems. I am struggling to get support from the school as they tell me she is "fine" and hits all their expected targets, however, this is is now becoming harder for her and it breaks my heart she will be starting high school in September 2022, and currently has no friendships. I have hopefully chosen a school suited to her and i am hoping  this will be the making of her but in the meantime, I feel lost and confused as a parent as my daughter is feeling more and more lonely and isolated everyday. She has zero self-esteem, no confidence, feels worthless but i have no one to turn to. I am forever blaming myself and questioning my parenting, however, her Dad was misdiagnosed and was treated for anxiety, depression, social phobia and agoraphobia for most of his adult life until a professional suggested around 4 years ago he was displaying signs of autism. 

I would appreciate any advice and support as I feel I am consistently hitting a brick wall and nobody understands. 

Thank you so much in advance Slight smile

  • over 2 years ago

    Hello there, 

    I have been through a very similar experience with my son. His dad was also misdiagnosed with all of those things before he was finally assessed by a mental health team 3 years ago and they all agreed that he should be referred for an autism assessment. 

    I had concerns about my son since he was nursery age but because he was hitting his educational targets, his social and emotional issues were ignored. Luckily, I have had plenty of experience from working in a school and so I really pushed for my son to receive extra intervention to help him specifically with friendships and understanding social cues. 

    It took some perseverance and chats with SEND lead and FLO but these things were finally put in place last year. (He only received his official diagnosis yesterday.) When you speak with the school, is it the teacher who you are speaking with or the SENCo? If it has been the teacher, I would express your concerns to the SENCo and be clear about what support you would like. 

    With regard to your daughters next school, I would have a discussion with their SENCo before she starts and see what support they may be able to offer her to ensure that she has an easy transition. 

    Best of luck.

  • over 2 years ago

    Hello NAS77611,

    Thanks for sharing your concern with the NAS community. Hopefully members of this forum will be able to help you with their own experiences on the subject. At the same time, the NAS website has a page entitled 'making friends' which might be useful for you: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/family-life-and-relationships/making-friends/parents-and-carers

    If you type 'socialising' in the NAS website search box, you will find more articles on the subject.

    All the best,

    Karin Mod