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Another newbie, hello all!!!

MN1980

Hi there

Im new round here so go easy on me.

Hope everyone is okay.

My little lad who is 7 has just been diagnosed with having Autistic Spectrum Disorder,

although we are not surprised as we thought as much but have had to wait nearly two years for an appointment to be assessed.

Me and my wife are quite relieved that there seems to be an answer to it all but a bit upset that it is another thing my son has to deal with along with having spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

A question we would like other peoples opinions on is do we tell him about it?

My first thought was no, as he is likely to use it as an excuse now and again but on the other hand it may give him answers as to why he is a bit different and does some of the stuff he does....

  • Hi - if he asks or mentions difficulties he has related to his autism, then tell him.  There are books you can get from amazon etc which I understand are well regarded.  There will come a time when it'll get mentioned by yourselves + you'll know when that moment has arrived.

  • Hi - As PP says, as a parent youre the expert as far as your own child is concerned and it has to be your call. For me, I would never even think of not telling my son about it - because it is an intrinsic part of who he is and not something to be hidden or anything "bad" - Its not really something he can use as an excuse - however it does give valid reasons and further understandings for some of his actions and reactions that are so obviously different to many other children - if that makes sense? 

  • I think only a parent can make that decision for their child, but I told my youngest when she was 7 prior to her diagnosis because she was becoming very self-aware and blaming herself and becoming very low in mood.  I knew she had it, so even if they hadn't diagnosed her I would have wanted her to have that knowledge so that she didn't blame herself, it was heartbreaking.  As I also have ASC myself, I wish someone had told me why I was different years ago.  But it has to be your decision, as you know your child and whilst you can listen to how other people did it, we don't know your child.  Maybe now wouldn't be the right time, and if he starts questioning later on it could be then?  Or you could ask him what he thinks of his school peers and friends and if he says anything like "they call me names, or say I'm weird" or "they don't want to play my games" it might be an indicator that he needs to know now.