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Telling your child they have autism

NAS85172

My son had his ASD diagnosis last week. After waiting for a while we have decided to pay. His diagnosis has been a huge relief but now we have a diagnosis, I am in a quandary about how to tell him. He is 10 years old and more than certain he wouldn’t understand this. How have others approached this? I want to be led by him and at the right time but can anyone share their owN experiences or thoughts on ways to do this? Thank you Blush 

Parents

  • I didn't go through this as I was 56 by the time I got mine. 

    I think 10 year olds can handle more than you think though, and the sooner he knows the sooner he'll start to carve a path through.

    I agree with a bee swarm called Sam. All a kid really wants is to know there's nothing wrong with them. And there isn't. Your lad is just different.

    I'd open with just telling him straight and asking if he has any questions. Stick with the basics for now, but I suspect it will be a conversation that will roll out in bits and pieces over the coming months and years.

    It might help his self-esteem to think about the language as you present it, though and how he might process that...'IS autistic (ie different strengths and valuable, even if others don't always understand), rather than 'Has autism', 'cos he's not ill or defective in any way.

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  • I didn't go through this as I was 56 by the time I got mine. 

    I think 10 year olds can handle more than you think though, and the sooner he knows the sooner he'll start to carve a path through.

    I agree with a bee swarm called Sam. All a kid really wants is to know there's nothing wrong with them. And there isn't. Your lad is just different.

    I'd open with just telling him straight and asking if he has any questions. Stick with the basics for now, but I suspect it will be a conversation that will roll out in bits and pieces over the coming months and years.

    It might help his self-esteem to think about the language as you present it, though and how he might process that...'IS autistic (ie different strengths and valuable, even if others don't always understand), rather than 'Has autism', 'cos he's not ill or defective in any way.

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