DS was finally assessed for ASD age 7 after years of us suspecting things weren't right. He had sensory issues, obsessive OCD type behaviour and a mild speech delay. He was also very behind at school. We were told he did not meet the criteria for ASD but had mild sensory processing issues. He was also later diagnosed with dyslexia. For the next few years things were mostly fine. He has friends but they tend to be the quiet, quirky, non-footballing boys (like him!). He doesn't like (and never has) parties and big social groups but is fine on an individual basis. We just accepted this was his character and stopped worrying.
However, since he started High School things have gone very wrong. His anxiety has gone through the roof, his OCD is very evident and he panics if his routine is disrupted. He has made no friends (still has the old ones but they're not in his class) and his peers pick on him because he is different.
We're waiting for a referral to CAHMS for his anxiety but am now wondering if they could have been wrong about him not having ASD. Individually and with people he knows well he does not appear autistic at all, whereas in large groups he sticks out like a sore thumb due to his lack of engagement.