How helpful is an ASD diagnosis

[lemonade44]

I'm in the process of trying to get my DD assessed for ASD. It feels like an upwards battle. Is it worth it? If you or your DC have had a diagnosis has it helped you much?
Just to stress I will proceed anyway as I'm sure it is the right thing to do - but on despondent days I wonder if it will really help her that much.

I should add DD is late primary - due to start secondary school next year.

Valuable for us for the melatonin (terrible sleeping issues)

And for the EHIC which will be useful when it comes to exams etc

Great to feel listened to as well and understood, child clarified and validated.

But nothing else changed

Super duper especially helpful.

My kid and are feel gratitude about this diagnosis everyday. We use a different pair of emotional glasses to view the world now

My son is happy and doing well in mainstream school. A diagnosis at 5 led to understanding and help - OT, physio, etc. Without that help he would never have settled down into school and I don’t know what would have become of him. Its also useful for him to understand why he is a bit different from others around him.

I was diagnosed as an adult and it helped me realise I'm not just weird, I'm not unlikeable or strange I'm not what the bullies said I was. So for me personally it was massively helpful, even just for the relief I felt when I realised my awkwardness isn't my fault.
It also helped in the workplace as it meant I had adjustments made for me to make my life easier. I worked in a nursery, in a baby room. I wasn't sent to other rooms if we were short staffed as they knew that would throw me. I dodnt have to answer the phone if the receptionist wasn't in as I hate phone calls, and I was never made to disrupt my break times or start times as I have a routine that I stick to.

Really important

Thanks all - I'm hoping above any help we might get as a result that it might make DD feel better about herself. Her self esteem is so low at the moment as she struggles with things a lot.

Access to help when needed because it’s justified.
Don’t be afraid of “label”.
Diagnosis of ASD is not the end of the world and support is more available.

Op, please be prepared for an extremely long battle that will unfortunately not stop after diagnosis. You should 100% try to get her diagnosed- it's really worth it in the end. How old is your dd? Has she started secondary?

Secondary will be your main battle after a diagnosis. You won't know what will be right for her until she starts, but be prepared to have to fight for help.

Lastly, you should apply for an ehcp as soon as you get the diagnosis (if she doesn't already have one), it will take years to get and it's super important because you most likely won't get support without one.
Good luck xx and congratulations, hope she gets the diagnosis 🙂

Mine was diagnosed 3 years ago, and I regret it every day. He's not in the school system so there's no real benefits to access, and the one and only job he wants to do doesn't accept autistic people. I am hoping that by the time he's old enough to apply, things might have changed, but all I feel is that I've ruined things for him.

The gift of understanding oneself, and why you experience the world the way you do, is so important.

DD2 was diagnosed in early secondary. She completely fell apart in year 10. She ended up out of school. Her ASD diagnosis helped to convince the LA that she needed a needs assessment for an EHCP. She's now in an independent specialist school, repeating year 10, with 2 other children in her class.