Teenage diagnosis

Thank-you for your reply it really touched me. I hope you don't have to wait too long for your assessment (currently 8 months where we live) Some of the struggles you describe are so familiar and we know our son's behaviours and 'quirks' as we like to call them are more than just personality. 

We are lucky to have a supportive school (finally) and a mentor there who approached us to suggest a referral. It has made the process so far straightforward and we haven't experienced the battle some parents have had to get their children assessed. During our eldest son's first meeting with the community psychiatric nurse, he started by saying we chat and then I report my findings to my colleagues and then we decide who we think needs further assessment. By the end of this meeting he simply said I don't even need to speak to my colleagues it is so evident that he has many of the traits of ASD. It was also obvious (like so many others) he had 'slipped through the net' because he was smart and not disruptive. The same thing has happened to our youngest we haven't had a meeting yet (currently filling in the first of many forms) but we know his anxiety levels are not normal (dislike that word) and that his 'quirks' are unusual. 

Perhaps to the untrained or inexperienced eye our son's our fine, intelligent and doing ok. Compared to many I expect they are but we truly believe with the extra support a diagnosis could bring it is important to continue. Your description of your personal battles confirms this, we really hope this is the start of a bright future for you. My son said he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders when he found out his brain was wired differently to his friends. He said "I know now I won't ever be exactly like them but that's ok, I don't have to be. I have an answer to why I don't fit in and it now makes sense" We hope you have your answers soon too.

Thank-you for your reply it really touched me. I hope you don't have to wait too long for your assessment (currently 8 months where we live) Some of the struggles you describe are so familiar and we know our son's behaviours and 'quirks' as we like to call them are more than just personality. 

We are lucky to have a supportive school (finally) and a mentor there who approached us to suggest a referral. It has made the process so far straightforward and we haven't experienced the battle some parents have had to get their children assessed. During our eldest son's first meeting with the community psychiatric nurse, he started by saying we chat and then I report my findings to my colleagues and then we decide who we think needs further assessment. By the end of this meeting he simply said I don't even need to speak to my colleagues it is so evident that he has many of the traits of ASD. It was also obvious (like so many others) he had 'slipped through the net' because he was smart and not disruptive. The same thing has happened to our youngest we haven't had a meeting yet (currently filling in the first of many forms) but we know his anxiety levels are not normal (dislike that word) and that his 'quirks' are unusual. 

Perhaps to the untrained or inexperienced eye our son's our fine, intelligent and doing ok. Compared to many I expect they are but we truly believe with the extra support a diagnosis could bring it is important to continue. Your description of your personal battles confirms this, we really hope this is the start of a bright future for you. My son said he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders when he found out his brain was wired differently to his friends. He said "I know now I won't ever be exactly like them but that's ok, I don't have to be. I have an answer to why I don't fit in and it now makes sense" We hope you have your answers soon too.