[Geckox2]

We've recently seen both a peadiatrician and child psychologist as we are concerned about some aspects of our son's behaviour. The peadiatrician was writing to the school to request a test, a teacher's aide, and an OT under a provisional diagnosis of autism. He also referred us to a child psychologist. Both the peaditrician and psychologist (both stating not experts and cannot fully diagnose), thought that DS would be hard to diagnose as ASD as he fits some things for autism, some for aspergers but not all the main points (I have no idea about any of this so I have no idea if this makes sense).

The psychologist asked if we wanted to pursue a diagnosis.

Now it makes sense to me that you would want know exactly what you're dealing with before starting any type of treatments for best results. But is that necessary in these circumstances? He is happy to work with us on practical ways of dealing with the behaviour, which is what we really want.

Are there benefits to pursuing a diagnosis?

We live in a rural area, so sourcing professional help isn't easy. Given that others (and us) think diagnosis would be difficult too, is it worth it?

Just after some advise on whether there are benefits that we are not aware of getting a formal diagnosis as have no idea on the subject.

[2bundles]

We are in the same situation. Our DS is 9yrs.

We are at a stage where he is getting very little understanding or support as he doesn't have a diagnosis. We are also finding that internally he now sees himself as different, and being able to explain it to him would be useful as he enters the teen years.

The school agrees with us that a diagnosis would be helpful in the school setting.

We are currently applying for a new school, and we have told them he has Aspergers as we feel that is the best way of giving them an indication of his needs.

Have you read about PDD-NOS? Is it possible your DS could fit this area?

[firstatforty]

Having a diagnosis should get him help at school if he needs it. It can also lead to better understanding of his issues with family and friends. Depending on the exact diagnosis you can get carers allowance for him and he would get a health care card in his name which means prescriptions for him would be cheaper.

I suppose it delpends on whether you think it would many any difference to him and would it help him in any way.

[baddmammajamma]

Geckox2:

As 2bundles mentions, your son might have PDD-NOS:

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/per...l_disorder.html

This is when a child has some characteristics of Autism or Asperger's but not in the right combination or at the right levels to meet the formal diagnostic criteria. PDD-NOS is still considered to be an autism spectrum disorder (my daughter has PDD-NOS), and schools should recognize it as a valid ASD diagnosis.

For me, the benefits of the formal assessment have been first and foremost to understand the extent of our daughter's issues and get deeper insights on how to best support her.

As she was under the age of 6 when she was diagnosed, she was also entitled to the "Helping Children With Autism" $12,000 funding package, but we would have pursued an assessment regardless.

In my experience, having a child who has a formal diagnosis of "something" has forced me (and those around us) to take notice and take action. I think the schools take us more seriously. Also, if there are going to be support systems put in place (e.g. aide time, special allowances for learning environments), it really helps to have that diagnosis.

Good luck. I know that it's a lot to process.

PS: If you do push ahead, make sure your son is seen by someone who has strong experience with ASD so that you can get the full benefit of their insights.

[Geckox2]

Having a diagnosis should get him help at school if he needs it. It can also lead to better understanding of his issues with family and friends. Depending on the exact diagnosis you can get carers allowance for him and he would get a health care card in his name which means prescriptions for him would be cheaper.

I suppose it delpends on whether you think it would many any difference to him and would it help him in any way.

That's the essence of my post really, would it help him in any way to have a formal diagnosis.

Geckox2:

As 2bundles mentions, your son might have PDD-NOS:

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/per...l_disorder.html

This is when a child has some characteristics of Autism or Asperger's but not in the right combination or at the right levels to meet the formal diagnostic criteria. PDD-NOS is still considered to be an autism spectrum disorder (my daughter has PDD-NOS), and schools should recognize it as a valid ASD diagnosis.

For me, the benefits of the formal assessment have been first and foremost to understand the extent of our daughter's issues and get deeper insights on how to best support her.

As she was under the age of 6 when she was diagnosed, she was also entitled to the "Helping Children With Autism" $12,000 funding package, but we would have pursued an assessment regardless.

In my experience, having a child who has a formal diagnosis of "something" has forced me (and those around us) to take notice and take action. I think the schools take us more seriously. Also, if there are going to be support systems put in place (e.g. aide time, special allowances for learning environments), it really helps to have that diagnosis.

Good luck. I know that it's a lot to process.

PS: If you do push ahead, make sure your son is seen by someone who has strong experience with ASD so that you can get the full benefit of their insights.

Thanks for the link, I will have a look at it. My DS is 5 years old atm and obviously if we needed that funding it would be good to get a diagnosis now but we're not sure if he does.

What is involved with getting a formal diagnosis? All I know is that it can be a very lengthy difficult process.

[baddmammajamma]

In Victoria, to get a formal diagnosis, he would need to be seen by a paediatrician/developmental paed/or psychiatrist (in other words, a medical doctor), plus a psychologist, plus a speech therapist -- all of whom would have to agree on the diagnosis.

Here are the guidelines (see pp. 12-13)
http://www.autismvictoria.org.au/diagnosis...ELINESFINAL.pdf

A formal diagnosis would be needed to get the federal government funding package & some other benefits. Hopefully one of our VIC mums can chime in on whether or not a formal dx is needed to get aide time in school.

Alternatively, if you are most interested in the insights and recommendations on how to help your son, you could always have him assessed by a clinical psychologist who specializes in ASD/related issues. Expensive, but at least you'd have those deeper insights (as the assessment process is quite thorough).

[Geckox2]

In Victoria, to get a formal diagnosis, he would need to be seen by a paediatrician/developmental paed/or psychiatrist (in other words, a medical doctor), plus a psychologist, plus a speech therapist -- all of whom would have to agree on the diagnosis.

Here are the guidelines (see pp. 12-13)
http://www.autismvictoria.org.au/diagnosis...ELINESFINAL.pdf

A formal diagnosis would be needed to get the federal government funding package & some other benefits. Hopefully one of our VIC mums can chime in on whether or not a formal dx is needed to get aide time in school.

Alternatively, if you are most interested in the insights and recommendations on how to help your son, you could always have him assessed by a clinical psychologist who specializes in ASD/related issues. Expensive, but at least you'd have those deeper insights (as the assessment process is quite thorough).

Thanks. We're in NSW, although on the Vic border. Which state do you think provides the best services?

[baddmammajamma]

Silly me! Why did I think you were in VIC? In NSW, a developmental paed or paed can make the diagnosis alone (official diagnosis that qualifies for funding et al). Where are you in NSW?

[madmother]

In answer to your question, yes, yes and YES! For all of what 2bundles said.

We are at a stage where he is getting very little understanding or support as he doesn't have a diagnosis. We are also finding that internally he now sees himself as different, and being able to explain it to him would be useful as he enters the teen years.

One thing, Aspergers is still autism, as is PDD-NOS, HFA, classic autism. They are all autism spectrum disorders.

Funding can be applied to all sorts of things to help him.

Please, follow it up. He is young, so much can be done even in rural settings. It would be tragic to see you posting in here in years to come about how things have deteriorated as he grows older.