Autism - that means behavioral problems

[MiladyDeWinter]

Said my GP today.

I went to see him with a succinct document detailing my son's day to day difficulties because DS was diagnosed three weeks ago and the Paed was on leave / off sick and I needed to send off the DLA form so thought best to discuss the dx with him as we have been dismissed so very often by this doctor wrt being up for hours all night every night with DS.

He sat there typing things I couldn't see and because of the initial comment it really got my goat! NO that is not a definition of ASD. No mention of sensory, social, speech, communication, imaginative impairments, gastro-intestinal problems, oh no.

I tried to explain:

"Well the behavioural difficulties mainly come from not approaching DS in the way that is right for him. DH and I have learned to manage his responses somewhat, including anticipating triggers. We have accepted that he doesn't process information in the same way that other children do, and that he gets overloaded and distressed easily"

GP: Ah - aggressive is he? That's about right.

God they soooo need educating some docs don't they?!!!
My son has autism, and MLD... he's gentle, passive, highly anxious if there are changes or he doesn't understand what is expected of him.. but not aggressive. Wish the docs actually bothered to learn about the triad of impairments rather than subscribing to stereotypes!

For the DLA I'd be tempted to wait for the paed to contribute... GP's reports are often not that great to be honest probably because they get a very small picture in a short consultation
xx

I nominated the Paed to be the person who tells DLA about DS but various people and charities warned me that they just write to the GP which is why I went.

Didn't expect to encounter such ignorance though.