How to start talking to my 5yo about an autism and assessment

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So, we've got an appoinment with the GP coming up to hopefully get a referal to get on the waitlist for an assessment. I just don't know how to talk to my son about all of this? He's bright and happy right now and I cannot think of a good way to explain what's going to happen. I think because he's fairly happy and confident I don't really want to say to him that we're doing this because we're worried that he's struggling. How did others go about talking through this with kids of a similar age?

My DS was assessed this year, he’s 7.

I didn’t tell him what the meetings were for, I just said we’re going for a check up. They’ll ask some questions, play some games and chat with you.
i explained the check ups were like his sisters 2 year check which she had just had.

and tbh he was perfectly happy with that. If I had of told him the real reason it would have caused a lot of anxiety.

Ok thank you! the anxiety it might bring worries me. Did you talk to your 7yo immediate after his diagnosis to explain?

Did they talk about autism with him at the GP appointment?

Is there anything he knows he struggles with?

'You know how sometimes your find X and Y harder than other children? We are going to see a clever person / nice lady/man to see if there is a reason for this and how to help you'

Might be a bit young for this approach I guess.

The doctors didn’t talk to him about it.

I waited afew days before I said anything to him. As, even though it wasn’t a shock it does bring up a lot of emotions.

i didn’t sit him down and say your diagnosed with Autsim and adhd.
As I felt that would make him think something is wrong with him, hearing the word diagnosed.

I said you have 2 parts to your brain, one side is Autistic, the other side is ADHD.
explained it is why he does certain things, feels certain ways, finds things hard.
gave him examples of things he had done recently and said that’s your autistic side of your brain.

and tbf to him, he took it really well. He ofc doesn’t understand the extent of it. And it opened up a lot of questions for him, as in who else, how many people etc

I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do it, you know your child best and what he will be able to manage.