My son is 10 and has a diagnosis of adhd with asd traits and sensory processing issues and I have parented him around adhd being his main area of additional needs.
In a meeting with the school last week they have said they are now doing a re-referral to camhs for an autism assessment. They’ve said that they believe he is masking partially but is obviously autistic and they are adapting his day to fitting in picture cards, sensory breaks and other bits aimed at helping autistic children which I think is going to help him hugely.
I am feeling a mixture of feelings but feeling like I may have let him down in believing he has a certain diagnosis when in fact it may be something else entirely and that maybe I’ve been going about things wrongly.
I also feel like I must be so terrible for not recognising this fully myself and pushing forward my suspicions for him.
I feel terrible as there are things I’ve just not looked at from an autistic point of view like the teachers shouting at him and giving consequences for not looking at them when they’re talking to him etc when in trouble. I’ve always told him that it’s rude not to do as the teachers have asked and that’s why the consequences have been given but if he is autistic it’s obvious why this is an issue.
Sorry this is a bit of a ramble but I suppose what I’m asking is can boys mask too and has anyone had a diagnosis changed to asd after a previous diagnosis of adhd?