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Original poster

Suspect my charge may have Asperger's

27 replies

BestestBrownies · 07/03/2013 22:05

I have been working for this family just under 3 months and strongly suspect my 5yo charge has Asperger's. How do I go about telling the parents this in as tactful and kind a manner as possible?

They are a lovely family and I'm really happy working for them, so of course I don't want to cause them any unnecessary hurt. I thought about broaching the subject with his teacher, but decided against that idea as I don't want to look like I'm going behind the parents backs.

Has anyone here had to handle this situation before? Are there any parents of ASD children who can advise me? I just want to do what's best for my charge and I know early diagnosis means he can be better helped long term.

OP posts:
OutragedFromLeeds · 07/03/2013 22:14

I would raise it as a general concern about his development, don't say Aspergers/ASD or any other diagnostic term.

ReallyTired · 07/03/2013 22:12

What medical qualifications do you have? I don't think that its either a teacher's or a nanny's place to suggest that a child has autism. There are many other medical conditions like glue ear that cause social or communication problems. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed by a TEAM of QUALIFIED people over several appointments.

I think its perfectly reasonable for a teacher or even a brave nanny to say to an employer that you have concerns about communication skills and that prehaps this needs to be valuated by someone more qualified. (Ie. prehaps speech and language theraphist or audiologist)

However bear in mind that many parents do not like being told that their darling is less than perfect and may will want to shoot the messenger.