Just got a verbal diagnosis of HFA for my son

[othermother]

Hello, we had Tom's paediatrician appointment today and he gave us a verbal diagnosis of Higher Functioning Autism which I was totally not expecting! I was sure he had some sort of tic disorder like tourette's, but he said that his tics were more like stims and that his behaviour was pretty classical autism.

So, I feel a bit odd about it all really, but I suppose it does make sense.

He's referred him onto a more local paediatrician who deals with autism and has also referred him to SALT.

Anybody else got any experience of HFA? I'm new to all this, so any help/advice/words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Thanks bubblagirl. I don't have a number direct to the paed, just to the hospital, but I think I'll phone my GP and ask him about it.

I'm busy googling as much info on autism as I can at the mo. I must admit that I do become rather obsessive about these things. I just came accross an online test for adults, and scored 32 which indicates that I too might have some autistic traits. It's really interesting, because when I was a child my mum took me to the doctor's as she suspected I was autistic, but they said I was fine. (this was back in the late 60's early 70's).

I have bi-polar which is very similar in that it involves sleep disturbances. I'm finding all this so fascinating!

dont read too much up though as it varies so much and i scared the life out of myself when i was reading up ds is so different to what it states

i should have said i went via special needs hv who contacted paed i bypassed doctors as gp wouldnt prescribe it as gps dont know so much about the use of it with autistic children generally only paed will prescribe

i personally think my dp has traits but doubt myself at times alot of mental illness on his side of family but we cant trace where ds has got it from i think possibly dp side of family

if you ever need to ask me anything then do im not a pro at all this yet but have dealt with alot in last yr with ds and def see alot of it is sleep related so would be interesting to see how your ds is with more sleep

Thanks bubblagirl. I really appreciate that. be prepared for me to pseter you though ;) X

That should have said PESTER.

thats fine by me lol it helps me too to speak to others makes you feel less alone thats what i love on this site xx