high functioning autism

[bubblagirl]

most of you will know me already as my ds has speech disorder

well we had our assessments today and he has been diagnosed with high functioning autism

not to sure what to expect or how im feeling at moment guess i just want to hear from others in same situation as me

as all of a sudden i feel so alone had convinced myself just speech delay and now i know its not

[bubblagirl]

[CarGirl]

hugs, I know nothing but I'm sure it is very hard when your world is turned upside down like that.

[bubblagirl]

thanks cargirl i need all the hugs i can get right now x

[keevamum]

It means that your child has autism but is at the higher functioning end of the scale so he will have less problems than most but will probably need lots of help with developing social interactions and communicating appropriately with people. The NAS should be of help to you but as you find out more you need to keep in mind each individual is different so he may not develop all the typical symptoms. How old is he? How does he communicate with you at the moment?

[cluttercup]

Bubbla - I have left you a message on the other thread xxx

[bubblagirl]

thanks guys he communicates with me so much better in last few months he has just turned 3

he tries to communiacte more with me so he is trying at least

at playschool he doesnt try at all and will just do his own thing

i didnt realise it was more than speech delay as he has come on leaps and bounds still speech delayed but saying so much more

some of his actions are atypical but not obsessive or in need of routine just has to have his own way alot in play and in life

could be typical male behaviour really lol

i'll take it one day at a time and we'll see how he goes if he makes progress as he has been i think the worry wont be as strong

i'll just make sure all others are doing as they should

clutter cup i have no idea about CAT not really computer wise as long as it switches on and i can e mail its good for me lol

now my ds he probably knows it all his a wizz on the comp lol

[cluttercup]

CAT (Contact a Mumsnetter) is a way of emailing without displaying an address on the open forum.

My ds has just turned 3 and sounds quite similar. I have just looked at your profile and you live about 15-20 minutes from me. I could probably point you in the direction of some local services if that would help.xx

[cluttercup]

I have CAT-ed you so the Mumsnet team will forward my email address to you. Don't feel you have to use it but it is there if you need it!

Got to dash as there is a lot of giggling down stairs, which usually means the dcs are up to no good!!

[pagwatch]

bubblagirl.
HFA will give you a broad method by which to understand him a little better but it does not define him. DS is supposed to be classic severe ASD but is very loving and affectionate and has a great ( very naughty) sense of humour. He is lovely.
Don't fall into the trap of allowing this label, which is quite a frightening one ( thank you Rainman) to place any distance between you.
I have heard more people that I can remember say "it is only a speech delay - thank goodness it is not autism" > I think that is because we tend to see a child with a speechdelay as still an ordinary child whereas ASD steps outseide ordinary.
but that is so not the case! A child with a severe speech problem can experience as many social difficulties as a child with mild HFA.
My eldest son is NT and he is sure that some of the children in his school have traits which are seen as eccentric quirks of character rather than impedimants to anything. He recognises them as ASD only because of their shades of his brother.

The truth is you are actually in a similar place to the one before you got this diagnostic label. You have a child with some special difficulties who will need some extra help.
You will be fine. He is just as gorgeous today and all that has really changed is your understanding of the nature of the support he will need.
You can do this.
look at my bot on my page. He is severe. Not so frightening really .
You can do this. And you have just been better enabled to do so

[pagwatch]

OK screen shifted !
THERE IS NO BOT ON MY PAGE
Meant to say photo of my boy on my page-

The page is not big enough for my bot

[bubblagirl]

oh all your dc are so lovely thank you for advise in all honesty i have sat in living room while ds hogged computer and i really dont see him any different

i still know he will need help and new that anyway and i am ok now relieved as to knowing now we will get the help we need rather than just being left as this has gone on since he was 2 and last yr spent in limbo

he is fantastic cheeky little boy and i will not look at him any other way than i did yesterday he is the same after all we just know what his needs are now

just settled him down for the night i still got my i wug you mama and that is music to my ears as 6 months ago he would have just made noises

im sure your bot aint that big lol even if it was its supposed to be a good thing health wise so i heard on this morning

[bubblagirl]

thank you cluttercup its nice to know you live so close and our ds of same age

did look at your profile and it was empty lol so couldnt be nosey back ha ha

i will check my e mail and be in touch thank you x

[keevamum]

Hi I just looked at your profile pictures. What a gorgeous boy. I also recognised King Georges park. I also live near there.

[cluttercup]

I'm a very secretive kinda girl !!! My sister lives in Hutton which is very close to you isn't it?

Hope you sleep ok tonight - the first few days are likely to be a bit rocky.....but it gets better, promise

[bubblagirl]

thank you

keevamum i live very near the park about 10 min walk

hutton not far from me thats right

i feel so much better today and will stay positive at the end of the day it doesnt change my beautiful boy he is still who he is

but now we finally get help to help him just had speech therapist out to talk through with me what his needs are and to set up a plan for pre school to help him as at ho,me he communicates and interacts fine pre school he does nothing so its to help him more there

still slightly worried but more hopeful now as i know he wont get worse he can only getbetter and he is such a quick learner given the right help hopefully will come on leaps and bounds

[PeachyHas4BoysAndLovesIt]

He really doesn't change, and what's more HFA predicts zero about their eprsonalities. I can say this- both mine are currently labelled HFA atm, they have almost zero in common, ds3 is a sweet little sould with big issues; ds1 is (well I shall abstein here as he has swiped my bank card today and I am fuming).

All the HHigh bit means is he has a IQ that isn't low. Now, ds1 does but can't use it- actually he has a really high IQ- but his current edicational assessment 2 weeks back put him in 4th percentile of actual work and the LEA are panicking somewhat.

Whereas DS3 has problems with talking, toiletting, absences- all the classid ASD stuff- yet is sailing through literacy at school.

The more I learn about ASD, the more I relaise how insignificant a summary it is of a person.

[bubblagirl]

yes i was worried that he would no longer be looked apon as little bubbla but he has autism

spoke to pre school this morning as one of the ladies was with me yesterday at assessment and voiced my concerns to her

as one lady at pre school has no patience for my ds at all as he doesnt do as she asks

so i wanted to be reassured that she would be more understanding but i also want him to be him

its other people hear the word and label them in there own mind without knowing them

so im not goint to tell people who have really no business knowing so they know him for him first before making there mind up

he is very loving boy and friendly and has great funny personality

obviously speech delay makes it difficult for him but that is improving so its just educating people close to us on what it is but not who he is as a person

just the difficulties he may face and areas he may need help in

hope you get your bank card back

its all still new to me so i hope i make sence not sure if trying to convince myself i feel ok i know we'll have some struggles but most of these seem to be he'll have them away from home as at home he is getting there day to day

[keevamum]

Your little boy sounds lovely but preschool environment is going to be a big adjustment for him to make. It will take time. Yes I am near the park too. If ever you fancy meeting up at the park with me and my DD2 who is 2 years old, I'd love to, but understand if you'd rather not as you don't know me from Adam. I work with ch with SEN so have exeperience from that perspective and sometimes it just helps to talk about it, particularly just following a diagnosis...obviously it must be much harder as a parent but it sounds like there are lots of parent on here with experience to help and support you too.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

bubblagirl

He is still your delightful little boy y'know.

My counsel to you would be to think about applying for a Statement of Special Needs at your LEA (local education authority). This will help the nursery give your DS extra support and will also help him in terms of extra support when he starts school.

SNAP is in Brentwood and they are very good too re support and someone to talk to. Would also suggest you contact the NAS (National Autistic Society).

MN's Special Needs page on this website is also very helpful.

P.S Know Hutton very well!. You mention the park. Are you referring to the park on the Rayleigh Road near the Co-op and dental practice?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

www.snapcharity.org

Do you have portage?. Think that Brentwood still provide such a service.

[bubblagirl]

the lady from snap was at his assessment and has put us forward and they have already put referral through to lea will take around 6 months i think they said

have someone coming to see me next week although cant remember what she does i know its helpful though

the park were on about is king georges park in brentwood where i live but do know the park in hutton used to spend alot of time there when i was younger

keevamum sounds good to have a meet up at the park or feed ducks at the common take a ball and some lunch kids can have a kick around

thank you

[duchesse]

Is it worth getting a second opinion? Ed Psych's opinions are only that- opinions. It's bit difficult to assess a child who is non-verbal for communications difficulties; I'd be amazed if a diagnosis of that nature at his age would be all that reliable.

My friend went to an Ed Psych with a dyslexic son and came out with an autistic one (and a less autistic boy you would be hard pushed to meet...) He simply didn't want to answer her silly questions.

[bubblagirl]

he hasnt seen the ed people yet that will be in about 6 months he was with mda team yesterday and it was done on actions and observations over last year

he is doing well and will be pleased of the extra help to help him achieve his goals quicker

they also set him certain tasks and looked for how he completed them and i saw for myself then that he was far more brighter than his age

i have to just get on for his sake we have all known for a while that it wasnt just speech as other factors we have worried about also

[Marne]

Hi bubblagirl

Dd1 has an apointment with an autism specialist in july, they suspect she has Aspergers syndrome, dd2 (2.2) has speach delay and shows some signs of autism. Dd (4.3) is a very bright child and is learning to read at nursery, she starts school in september.

I have found the special needs threads realy helpful.