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Pros and cons of getting a diagnosis

NAS72832

Hi All, it's been suggested that my 6 year old has ASD, GP is prepared to refer for an assessment, if it is ASD it's fairly mild, high functioning.   I'm wondering what in your experience are the pros and cons of getting a formal diagnosis; did anyone here have to weigh this up or was it an easy decision for you? what extra support do children actually get if they are diagnosed?  there are no issues academically (touch wood) so I can't see there is a need for extra academic support, though socially there are some issues and support in these sorts of broader areas could help, that is if there is external  support  in social interaction?  What other support is generally available if the child is in the main high functioning?  The issues aren't massive, but enough to cause upset through social isolation, not through lack of trying, so I'm wondering what a formal diagnosis could achieve in this instance- what are the pro's of getting a formal diagnosis?  On the flip side, I'm worried about a formal diagnosis could hinder future in some way, for instance,  job prospects one day - has anyone any ideas if this is possible?   I think that there is a question I've seen on job application forms which is worded to the effect of 'do you have any disabilities which could affect your ability to carry out your job', I think that every characteristic, disability or not, anybody has can affect your ability to carry out a job to some degree but you have to draw the line somewhere, but I guess that ASD is linked to mental health issues for one example, so may have to be disclosed and if not, there could be disciplinary issues down the line, I wouldn't want my child to be forced to disclose this and then end up being rejected for a job on these grounds, though I know an employer couldn't officially say that this is the reason for the rejection, and if a diagnosis didn't bring anything positive, yet at the same time hindered job prospects, it just isn't worth it.  Any experiences or info others have researched in these areas would be really, really useful:)  thank you:)

  • Thanks All, that's given a lot to think about, I don't want to impose a restriction on employment opportunities if it means getting a diagnosis but with no benefits to that diagnosis, that should really be my child's choice as and when they are ready, at least those are my thoughts at the moment.   Does anyone know what support a child with a diagnosis may receive?  If it's just academic support, as they're fine in that aspect I don't know whether it would be better just to get some kind of private social skills training (if it even exists) and perhaps an Ed Psych report maybe.