How long did it take to get a diagnosis?

[KissyThief]

So my ds is nearly 2 and he’s been under the paediatrician for 3 months and in hindsight he’s been behind his developmental milestones since he was one but I’ve only starting to get proper concerned for a couple of months as our ds2 has become more alert and playful, doing things our ds1 never did (he’s 5 months). It makes me really anxious, he’s such a lovely little boy and I just want people to take my concerns seriously.

So I hoped hearing other people’s stories about being in limbo might help.

It depends what the concerns are.
When little ones here see the Paediatrician, they will either decide to:

1. "wait and see" and perhaps ask them to come back in 6 months
2. send for specific tests (hearing maybe or some forms of blood test, maybe genetic testing or maybe a scan of some kind) and usually reappoint for when they have those results back... might be 3 or 6 months, depending on other services waiting lists
3. Refer for an autism assessment (at which case you move to a waiting list of about 18months+)
4. Not really see what the concerns are and perhaps ask them to come back in a year to make sure
5. decide it is one area only and refer for SaLT or physio and ask to see them again in about a year

Waiting lists will vary in different parts of the country however, and the names of services and the roles taken by specific services vary too.

I found the waiting/not knowing part the hardest. We got seen every 6 months from age about 2 to 4 before we got a diagnosis: but they did give us ideas and advice at each appointment, so it didn't feel as bad as "a 2 year wait" sounds.

The main thing is to remember to enjoy your child, and that whether there is a developmental difference or not, the best things you can do will be the same (loving & supporting, engaging with the things he is interested in).

There is a great new Facebook group called "Nurturing Neurodiversity" which has a high proportion of parents still going through the diagnostic process (I know sometimes it feels quite intimidating to go into groups when you haven't had any kind of official support for your concerns yet, but that's when you need these groups the most!) She also has some good videos on YouTube if you want to check out her approach/worldview before you join (but she has two boys like you, eldest is autistic, and she's really practical and positive).