[JaneDoe2010]

If you had a child that could *possibly* have very mild Aspergers, what are the pro's and con's of diagnosis?

Why bother looking for a diagnosis when you're not after funding, and you can use the strategies and techniques just the same without the diagnosis?

What benefits might a child get from having a formal diagnosis as being *just* ASD? What might the negatives be?

This post has been edited by JaneDoe2010: 09/06/2012, 04:12 PM

[ozbilby]

The main thing is no diagnosis, no treatment. It is well documented that kids with ASD do much better when they receive early intervention.

This post has been edited by ozbilby: 09/06/2012, 04:16 PM

[JaneDoe2010]

Treatment would likely be simply using strategies and techniques at school and home, things that you can do with or without a formal diagnosis.

I suppose counselling may be available if there is a diagnosis? Then again, that can be offered free too through the GP.

Early intervention isn't possible, the child is in Grade 2. A girl - that's why we're so unsure about if it is or isn't ASD.

[hiddensecrets]

Getting help from a psychologist. Carer Allowance would also be a benefit (to help with treatment costs). The school also told me if DS gets a diagnosis they would also be able to get help for him when otherwise they are not able to (e.g. he needs help with fine motor tasks but without a diagnosis they are struggling to get help).

[Flibbertigibbert...]

I have spoken with a few parents who believe their child might have an ASD and refuse to get a diagnosis because in the event of the child wanting to join the armed forces, the child will be denied because they have a disability and yep when they start testing biological weapons on humans they are going to chose the people with disabilities first.

My son is fairly high functioning and unless you spent a good deal of time with him probably wouldn't pick up that he has any issues, but we have a diagnosis because although for the most part we manage fine, it allows some leniency for him, it allows him to have a pass card at school for the rare occasions that it gets too much for him and he needs to get away from the noise and chaos that happens in the class room. We don't medicate or go for treatments of any kind, but that option is there for us should I decide that would be the best thing to do.

[bark]

OP sounds like your mind is made up against getting a dx but I imagine a dx will get yr DD some aide help at school.

[baddmammajamma]

Benefits:

Off the top of my head, but I'm surely missing some things...

* Getting all of the insights that come from a thorough assessment and being under the care of a great professional (Assuming you are going through the assessment process with a true pro who understands the nuances & complexities of ASD)

* Giving your child a better understanding of who she is (not that all Aspies are the same, but there are some common challenges and strengths that tend to cut across profiles). There are some AMAZING communities (on line/IRL) of people with ASD. I want my daughter to grow up being proud of who she is and know other young people who have similar profiles.

* Giving you a better understanding of your child. For some parents, this will mean giving them a kick in the pants to take action (let's face it, it's easy to hope that a child might just outgrow their issues if you don't know exactly what they are -- but when you are faced with the blazing letters of ASD, you can't deny that there's something going on)

* Helping people take your child's needs more seriously. This doesn't always happen, but it is often much easier to get schools to take notice when your child has an actual diagnosed issue rather than just the sense that they are "weird," "difficult," or "quirky." Things like getting an ILP, having special accommodations made for testing, etc. etc. can be helpful, if needed.

* Likewise, I find my friends and family to be much more patient and supportive of my daughter's needs -- and celebrate her victories and gifts -- because they understand that she has ASD. If she has a meltdown, for instance, they are likely to recognize that it's due to sensory overload rather than just "bratty behavior."

* Accessing funding, incl. carer's allowance, carer's supplement, and certain rebates on interventions/therapies (beyond early intervention)

Potential Negatives

* Dealing with people who have stereotypes about what it means to have Aspergers or ASD

* Your child feeling "different" (but she probably feels different even without the official label)

Personally, I think knowledge is power, and for me, having deeper insights into "how" my daughter is wired has been invaluable.

This post has been edited by baddmammajamma: 09/06/2012, 05:00 PM

[tibs]

A colleague had her daughter diagnosed and she regrets it because she feels now it is a cop out for the school and that they don't try as hard to ensure her daughter reaches her potential as they do with the other kids. She also thinks her daughter has missed out on some opportunities because of it or particularly because of the stigma attached to it e.g. the teachers don't want to risk picking the autistic girl to represent the school etc. Just her opinions she has shared over the years so of course not necessarily what would happen in your daughter's case

[madmother]

What she said! <-

I have seen a lot of kids on both sides - diagnosed, and not diagnosed. Or the far harder and more tragic, diagnosed LATER.

There are pros and cons for both, as you said.

Some kids I would have sworn were Aspie when young have either learned adaptive behaviour and are coping, or I was wrong and whilst they had quite obvious traits, to myself as a non-professional, it was not ASD and they grew out of them as they matured.

Some kids have become far more pronounced as they have grown older, and have now ben diagnosed at the beginning of high school. To them this diagnosis is a stigma, a DISability, more reason why they are bad/abnormal/outsiders/lonely.

My son is proud of who he is, and being Aspie is one of the things he is proud. In our house it is known as differing abilities, not a disability. He knows what he struggles with, he also knows the incredible strengths he has. Some Aspie, some just being a boy.

For others, the school, his friends and peers, it helps them understand the differences, it gives him leeway to be different, it is starting point for their researching things that puzzle them that he does.

His skin, his mind, his life, his Asperger Syndrome all roll into one mostly happy (hey - he is a 14 year old boy), weirdly popular, unique advocate for those on the spectrum.

Diagnosis, in my opinion, may seem unimportant now, but will it be more important later and will it cause her to feel differently about herself by then?

[baddmammajamma]

As always, madmother said it better than I could!