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Recently diagnosed but uninterested teenager

Clairey73

Recently diagnosed 16 year old who was very happy to have an assessment (as he thought he might be able to have a laptop in the classroom) but now doesnt want to talk about it at all. I hoped it would be a relief for him but he is not interested in hearing about any of it. Is it ok for me to just leave it alone? He has lots of autistic friends at school some more obvious than others but I worry that it isnt the breakthrough that it is for lots of people.

Will it come with time? Thank you so much for reading

Parents

  • For teenagers, being seen to 'fit in' with peers and at school is all important, being 'odd' is to be avoided at all costs. It may eventually dawn on him that accessing accommodations is useful, especially at college or university. However, I do not think that his not owning his autistic identity is a particular problem at present. If he were suffering from specific problems, like being bullied, not being able to form friendships or frequent shutdowns or meltdowns it might be problematic.

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  • For teenagers, being seen to 'fit in' with peers and at school is all important, being 'odd' is to be avoided at all costs. It may eventually dawn on him that accessing accommodations is useful, especially at college or university. However, I do not think that his not owning his autistic identity is a particular problem at present. If he were suffering from specific problems, like being bullied, not being able to form friendships or frequent shutdowns or meltdowns it might be problematic.

Children
  • in reply to Martin

    Thanks Martin. I am probably over worrying! I am doing so much research (that is helping me process myself and my husbands brains, and my own dad who must have been autistic but masked the feelings with alcohol) and I guess I just really want him to have an "aha" moment too. He didn't even realise he had autism confirmed during the assessment and it is this complete lack of self interest that concerns me. Half of his friends have it as it is that type of school that it attracts. I love his friends and they would all be super supportive so I am not convinced it is the fitting in that concerns him.