ASD test results - feel devastated

[honeybrown]

My ds has just had a speech and language assessment which indicates that he has ASD. He is 2 years 2 months and has the usual associated behaviours. I feel totally devastated, panic stricken and very alone and whilst we still don't know the extent of his difficulties (we're waiting further assessment) I am already panicking about the future.
I would be grateful for any of your words of wisdom and advice.

HB - As others have said, 2yrs is about the earliest that you could have got a dx so you haven't wasted any time.

I also agree that it's impossible to predict how mild or severe a 2yr-old's ASD will be as they get older. My ds1 at 2yrs was a completely different boy. He had no language, no communication and pretty much existed in a world of his own. He's now 6yrs old and most people would probably be unable to spot that he is autistic. As Gess says though, it can also work the other way around.

Thank you Gess - I've looked at your page and the blog in fact and it's full of very interesting stuff. Thank you too Moondog and everyone else for their links.
I feel more positive today - helped by the fact that we went to pre-school for a look around. I didn't go into huge detail about DS but made manager aware that he has serious communication difficulties and is awaiting assessment. The manager wasn't phased at all - he just asked to be kept up to date with strategies and therapy so they could deal with ds in the same manner. It felt very warm and very safe there - ds did his usual hanging on the door handle and searching for an escape route but allowed himself to be distracted into the play house. I left feeling very positive
I know that the feelings of panic I have will lessen and I hope to be as positive as the rest of you in time. xxx

aw ds1 used to hang onto door handles- we called it glueing himself to doors. He still has a bit of a door thing going on- lots of signs up at his school with PECS symbols saying "ds1 no door".

Very good sign that he allowed himself to be distracted to the playhouse- and finding a provision that you're happy with is 80% of the key to a happy life

Hi,

Just wanted to add my message, my DS is now 2 1/2 and was diagnosed in March and sounding very similar to your situation.

I felt just like you (and still do some days) It was my DH who unusually spoke words of wisdom. I suddenly went into panic mode about what help I needed to give DS as if I was going to be the only source of help for him and my DH reminded me that all my DS needed from me was love and to be a mum, he would get all the other help from specialists, it really helped me and for a while I just sat back and cuddled DS while we watched Postman pat over and over. Strangeley things seemed to adjust and DS seemed to understand us better. He picked up loads of new words in a couple of months (Postman Pat related).

Give yourself time, someone else said it's a Marathon, not a sprint!