Late diagnosis of autism - anyone else had this?

Jane - posted on 03/19/2012 ( 16 moms have responded )

206

7

My son will be 13 in May. Due to issues he had last year he was sent to a counsellor who eventually suggested he may be on the autistic spectrum. Now, I know we are all on the spectrum somewhere, but he does have some idiosyncrasies that are really not 'normal' for a child of his age, such as:



No empathy for others - e.g. his class were made to watch a video of famine in India with starving children which upset many of his peers. When asked what he thought, he replied 'if they can't afford to feed the kids they shouldn't have them'.



Strange habits/routines - e.g. he can't bear food to touch each other so has to have each item of food on separate plates; he has to have a book CD and a fan on (no matter the weather) to be able to get to sleep; he can't bear having his nails or hair cut (never has so not just a teen thing!)



Can do maths problems without actually understanding how he did them - like his brain just works them out without him thinking! He also has an almost photographic memory and brilliant recall - making him too intelligent for his own good at times.



Anyway, he's due for his full assessment tomorrow (20th March 2012) and I wondered if anyone else has ever had a child assessed as autistic this late and what it really meant for them.



Thanks

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

16 Comments

View replies by

Sharol - posted on 04/19/2013

3

0

My son wasn't diagnosed with autism till the age of 19. I always knew that something was wrong with him, but couldn't put my finger on it. I took him to the best doctors and wanted him tested or learning disabilities all thru grade school and high school. He was in speech class from 5-18 years of age. His voice was always monotone, but no one ever suggested to me that it could be autism. He is 25 now and will probably always live with me. Sharol

Angela - posted on 10/18/2012

4

0

Jane, Before I read the other comments and your update I said to my husband that your son has Aspbergers Syndrome;

Aspbergers Syndrome is when a child is a very very smart person. I have looked after for many years two Aspbergers children both boys.

They have both had there own traits to make them unique but one thing that remains the same is the ability to remember and retain certain maths equations.

You should remember Stewart is still a person and like the two other boys I have looked after he will find a good job and a partner who will love him for him.

I have 3 wonderful unique children who all have different personalities and as a parent it is our jobs to encourage them to grow and uterlise these to the best of there abilities.

Good Luck and be Proud of Stewart.

Cassie - posted on 10/17/2012

6

0

My daughter who just turned 8 was just dioagnosed with mild autism.

Jane - posted on 09/15/2012

206

7

Hi Everyone. Sorry it's so long, but we finally got Stewart's full diagnosis in July - he has Aspergers Syndrome! The diagnosis has made it a lot easier for him to understand himself and for me and his grandma as well. I've done lots and lots of reading up on it and understanding what it means. Thankfully Stewart doesn't tantrum or get violent, but if upset he will retreat into himself which can be more destructive and worrying.



However, I have at least now got the school to take note and he will now start getting the help he needs at school. So at least there are some positives to getting the diagnosis.



Mind you, to me, he's still just my little boy (okay, at 5'7" tall and 10 stone in weight, not so little anymore, but you know what I mean!).



Thanks for all the responses.

Aoibhe - posted on 09/15/2012

1

0

hi my son was diagnosed in january 2012. he was 13 in june of this year. cnt understand why it took them so long to diagnose him when he showed signs earlier on

Tasha - posted on 04/02/2012

3

13

I agree with karissa, about taking the time out to understand your son. I have a 12 year old son, and he acts just like your and he does not have adhd nor autism. my youngest son probably would of answer that school question the same way as well. Some children tends to analysis certain things differently than others. It dose n sureot mean they have autism. My thirteen and fifteen girls hate to have their food touch each other and is exceptional smart in mathn and i definitely know for sure, that they don't have autism . All, i am trying to say is, make sure you make the right decision for your son, because not all kids are a like at those ages. They are all different in their own way and it dose not have to be any indication that they are autism. Good luck to you and your son.

Lorrie - posted on 03/27/2012

28

20

Wow you have a amazing not all Mom's would be able to accept all of their Son's challenges and be so supportive of them pat yourself on the back your son is lucky to have you and your husband in his corner for accepting him for who and what he is.

Allison - posted on 03/27/2012

1

0

My son was not diagnosed until he was ten..He will be 12 in July..The only thing it has changed for us really is now i can look up suggestions from other parents who have gone through the same thing..I never thought there was anything wrong with my son..The exact opposite actually i thought there was somtyhing wrong with my daughter because she wasnt as smart or quite ok or friendly as my son..As a family we know that there are certain things bobby will not eat watch or listen to..He needs his alone time and time to unwind after school..He has certain things he has to do and thats ok to..We here about pokemon and bey blades all day and all night but thats what has his intrest right now..it might change it might not..Im glad that i know now that my son might not ever date or get married he might not go to college or get a full time job and he might not even leave home..Because me and my husband are prepared and we can help him make the best decisions for him..We encourage all of the above but make sure he knows he is always wecome in our home and this is a safe place for him to be himself..

Karissa - posted on 03/27/2012

4

19

When my son was in kindergarten his teacher recommended he be evaluated for ADHD because he was disruptive in class. I brought my son to the pediatrician and relayed what the teacher had to say. Without hesitation or referral to a child psychologist, the doctor prescribed an ADHD medication. The doctor told me the only adverse side effect would be weight loss. My son's behavior at school improved practically the next day. The teacher was thrilled.

But after being on ADHD medication for about four years my son was below average in his height and weight and had developed a TIC almost immediately after being switched to a new drug because he wasn't gaining enough weight while on the first one. We finally got fed up with the dangerous side effects of these drugs and took him off. My son has been "med free" for three years. He's tall and muscular, a straight A student, and very involved in extracurricular activities.I look back and know that he never had ADHD-he was just a "little boy."

Before listening to counselors, accepting a diagnosis, or starting your child on medications I would consider your child's quality of life. Does he have friends? Does he do good in school? Is he happy? I don't know why a child like that would need meds.

As far as his comment about the famine in India-he has a rational point.

I need a fan on when I sleep too-I like the noise-it's relaxing.

My kids don't like their food to touch either.

Put him in advanced math or a science magnet program-he may flourish and be a math wiz.

Chin up mom! Study up on autism! You have to be the one to make an educated decision on what's right for your child.

Lorrie - posted on 03/25/2012

28

20

Good luck to you also us mom's have to stick together:)

Jane - posted on 03/25/2012

206

7

Hi Lorrie. I absolutely believe that we owe it to our kids to give them the best start in life possible. Stewart has had counselling and it was the counsellor who suggested autism. The problems they face with autism is certainly not 'curable' (not that I believe it needs a cure!) and certainly not by by a psychologist. It's just that their brains don't make all the same connections as ours. Let's hope we both get the answers we need to do the best for our kids!

Lorrie - posted on 03/25/2012

28

20

Jane, We owe to our son to give him the opportunity to have the best life possible as his parents and not give up i'am not worried as much with our younger son in my heart I feel he will be fine he's doing so much better then he was in school since we found the right combination although at home they still fight we are working on that it's still much better then before. When we find out for sure we will find the right type of help and therapy we did try a psychologist with it didn't help:(

Jane - posted on 03/25/2012

206

7

Wow Lorrie - that's a lot to go through! Hope you get some answers from your son's tests and get the right help to deal with his behaviours. Stewart hasn't had to be on any meds at all (not since his tumours anyway) so that's something in his favour. I don't think he needs any meds as he's definitely not ADHD, just has some unusual behaviours that the school in particular find difficult to deal with.



Good luck

Lorrie - posted on 03/24/2012

28

20

My son, Is 11 he has ADHD Sesory ODD and now his school thinks he might have high functioning autism as a mother I think he might too it would explain some of his ODD behaviors at home he can't control we are going to have him tested. He has an abnormality of the brain so, that would explain all of the reasons nothing we give has been working we have him on a Natural Homeremedy our 7 yr has ADHD too with some Sesory with ODD and the Natural homeremedy is working for him.

Jane - posted on 03/24/2012

206

7

Thanks Karianne. I've got to go back to answer more questions on 10th April as we didn't get through them all. Stewart had his tests and has to see a paediatrician in May now. It's a long process, that's for sure! Have to say that trying to remember what he did at what point in his life is not easy! For a start he had 3 (benign) tumours from 11 weeks old with the last one being removed when he was 11 months old. So it's all a blur of hospitals from that time! I'll let you know what happens.

Karianne - posted on 03/24/2012

17

6

My son also wasn't diagnosed with autism until 13,his biggest problems are doesn't like eye contact and doesn't really get peer relationships and jokes.He is 17 now.HE never liked being around alot of kids.He has gotten better as he got older,but he also has adhd and mild brain damage due to being premature.I think the diagnosis just helped me understand his behavior better.It didn't really change anything for him.Hope this helps some