DS1 diagnosed with ASD today

[elliejjtiny]

He's 9. We've had concerns since he was 3 so it's been a long time. He would have been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome but the paediatrician said that the 2 conditions aren't separate anymore, it's all ASD. Been given a list of contacts and recommended books and we see the paed again in 6 months. I've already got DS2 with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, DS4 with multiple health issues and then DS3 and DS5 who have mild hypermobility and development delay.

[ouryve]

And there's so many links between many of those things. Hopefully, this will lead to something positive for him and you.

[elliejjtiny]

Thankyou. We haven't told DS yet, I don't know how to do it in a way that he can understand. I've told my mum and the mums on my online antenatal group. DH has told his family. Part of the reason we wanted him to have a diagnosis was I wanted him to be "DS1 who has ASD" rather than "DS1 who is weird". Part of me thinks we should tell everyone we know and part of me thinks that it's DS1's private information.

The paediatrician is going to write to the school and tell them the diagnosis. I'm guessing the school senco will be in touch in September.

[TheReason]

DS was diagnosed this year and I'm really struggling to come to terms with it. It sounds like you have a lot of issues with your other children too. Life is so unfair sometimes.

I also am unsure about telling other people. It would be a relief if everyone knew as I'm conscious of them noticing DS's odd behaviour and maybe thinking badly of him. But at the same time I feel it is DS's private information and he may or may not be happy to share it when he's older. He's only 6 now so can't really understand or decide for himself