Understanding Your Child: A Social Worker’s Approach to Autism Diagnosis

Ask Manjot is a monthly advice column by writer and therapist Manjot Mann that tackles all things womanhood, relationships, mental health and more. Submit your questions here. 

This month Ruby will be answering a question from a reader. Ruby is a Social Worker who works with families and children that require support and have special needs. Ruby and I met on Instagram and have been virtual friends for a few years. When I posted this question from a reader she kindly offered up her expertise. This column relies not just on the wonderful readers who submit questions but all of the lovely professionals who take time out to contribute their knowledge. A big thank you to every single one of you.

Dear Manjot, My son is 9 years old and his teacher said I should get him tested for autism. I dont want to. What will this mean for him and how do I help him if he is diagnosed. What is the best approach.Many parents worry about the possibility of their child being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This fear is often rooted in misconceptions about the diagnosis and anxiety about the potential impact on their child’s future and the stigma of labels. All this can provoke many emotions and thoughts which are all to be expected and are very normal.

The first step is to see a paediatrician who will ask a series of screening questions to see if an assessment is warranted. Sharing the signs your son’s teacher has observed with your paediatrician can help determine if an assessment should be pursued. In BC you can get an assessment through the publicly funded healthcare system, however the waitlist can be extremely lengthy or you can pay for it privately and the waitlist is often significantly shorter.

There are some key reasons why a timely assessment should be done. A diagnosis will give you access to funding that can help with the presenting issues. Depending on what the recommendations are in the assessment, you can use the funding to have a team of professionals to create a treatment strategy. Teams usually include a Behaviour Consultant, Speech and Language Pathologist, an Occupational Therapist and a Behaviour Interventionist. All work together to address the range of social, language, and behavioural difficulties that are often associated with Autism. It’s important to note that Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities. People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) essentially have differences in the way their brains develop and process information and symptoms can be either severe and interfere with everyday tasks, or they can be mild and cause only a few issues and are more manageable.

In terms of  school,  a diagnosis will provide the teachers/educators the information that will allow them to more effectively support your son in the school setting. Your son will receive an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) which is specific to him and will identify his strengths, needs, goals, and what supports will be needed to achieve success at school.  The IEP is a “living” document that will change as your son progresses year to year and is updated regularly with new goals being added as others are achieved.

You as a parent will gain a better understanding of how your son processes the world and eventually he will understand himself better as well. Going through the process of a diagnosis can be emotionally challenging as there are often so many questions and concerns about what this is going to mean. Many parents I have worked with have felt a great deal of sadness and grief when their child received a diagnosis of autism.  Typically negative reactions such as being afraid or overwhelmed usually comes from a lack of knowledge and understanding about autism and fear of the unknown, as well as the many “what if’s” for their child.  Remember a label isn’t going to change who your son is or who he is meant to be and how much you love him.

Another consideration is choosing whether to tell other people (in and out of your family) about the diagnosis and this is a very personal decision.  I believe that parents of older children should discuss this with their child and come to a decision together. This shows respect and understanding which is so important for your relationship with your child. Oftentimes a child may want their teacher to know, but not for their classmates to be told, and this can be for a variety of reasons.

It’s very important to understand this is a journey and you will need to have a good solid support system for yourself and your son if a diagnosis is given. This can be informal with family and/or friends or more formal with Support Groups through local community resources. It is a great way to connect with other parents who have been through or are going through the journey and can share valuable insight to help you as a parent – community is important and remember you are not alone!

After all this, the flip side is that if your son is assessed and is NOT diagnosed with autism, know that a comprehensive assessment process has great value as it can help identify the specific reasons for your son’s challenges and the most effective support for him both inside and outside of school. Keep in mind there are other conditions that can mimic autism, such as ADHD, various learning disorders and even anxiety. 

There is no easy answer in terms of whether you should get your son assessed or not. However getting the information to help him whether he is diagnosed with autism or with something that is mimicking autism is imperative. Giving your son the interventions and tools he needs will help him in the long run and set him up to be the best that he can be.

Wishing you all the best,

Ruby

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Social work is Ruby’s day time job but photography is her passion. If you would like to follow Ruby please check out @rubybrarphotography

Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash