ASD diagnosis for 8 year old - how to tell her

[TheSconeOfStone]

My DD has just been diagnosed with ASD. We manage pretty well at home but school is a real challenge. Meltdowns and refusal to work although she is articulate and academically capable (not but not emotionally capable).

DH and I were given the diagnosis on Monday and have now been discharged. It's up to us to use the diagnosis to get the support she needs at school (that's a whole other thread). I was hoping we would get some advice on how to tell DD about the diagnosis but that hasn't happened.

I've been looking for some books for DD to read about her diagnosis but they all seem to refer to Aspergers. We're been told it's not called that anymore. It's just ASD. I don't want to confuse her by using the wrong terminology.

Any advice for good books for an 8 year old girls? She reads very well.

[TheSconeOfStone]

Thanks very much. That Newsround film is great. Just watched it and it made me cry. I think DD should see it but I hope it doesn't upset her.

The consultant we saw says they don't use Aspergers as a term anymore but that is what she would have been diagnosed with a few years ago.

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Hi my dd was diagnosed aged 8 - she is now 9. She was also described as High Functioning ASD (but the consultant said it would also have been called Aspergers a few years ago).

We showed the above video to dd and she loved it - wanted to show it to everyone - I cried watching it but I think you have to remember that it is very different watching it as a child with Autism - dd really related to Rosie and she was happy to see someone 'like me'.

I also got her a book by The girl with the curly hair called 'Aspergers Syndrome in 8-11 year olds". Which is a nice simple visual book which dd enjoyed looking at and it prompted helpful conversations. DD is an excellent advocate for autism she has a much better understanding of herself now which helps her feel happier.

Good luck.

[TheSconeOfStone]

Well we sat DD down and told her about the diagnosis and she said she already knew as someone at school had told her 'ages ago'. We only got the official diagnosis on Monday so I'm a little unhappy. She seemed fine about it but I expect she is taking her own time to think through what it means.

We started watching the Newsround programme. She loved Rosie but gave up about 10 minutes in. She said she was bored with it but often says that when she doesn't want to deal with something. I suspect she'll want to go back to it at some point.

She asked me what Autism was and we looked for some definitions on the internet but I don't think she sees them as relating to her. The sensory stuff really rang true for her, and some other things like finding coordination difficult.

DD makes friend easily and is very friendly and can be very articulate, she can be very upset if games and conversations don't go her way though. Also 'I'm not very good at maths mummy' as lots of definitions mentioned being good at that. DD is highly imaginative and loves art.

I think it's going to take us a while to understand this diagnosis and what it means for DD.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Hi scone (love the name it made me )

I also have a Dd with Asd, like polter we use terminolgy interchangeably, I recommend the book "Inside Aspergers looking out"

Even if she doent initially identify with the word aspergers she might recognise some of the topics in the book!

I know this is going to sound weird but when we talk about Dd's Asd that exactly what we are talking about Dd3's Asd, it is different to anyone else's and effects her in different ways to anyone else.

The tick boxes are useful for diagnostic purposes but now you can focus on what your Dd is good at, what she struggles with, what she needs support with and how best to implement the support she needs!

Good luck