Diagnosis or not?

Although I have known Johnathan was autistic since he was about 4 months old and only moved on his back in circles.  He NEVER went straight forward or backwards.  The difficulty we encountered time and again was doctors asking me WHY I was answering for Johnathan because he had become mute and wouldn’t respond to any questions. 

Trouble was, when they asked and I told them that the reason he didn’t answer was because he had autism.  They told me that I COULDN’T say that until he was diagnosed.  But I had KNOWN, he was and why deny the truth?  Their reaction to me saying so was to ask if I had a firm diagnosis for him.  If I hadn’t HE WASN’T AUTISTIC.

Autism is caused by how the brain pattern forms in the pregnancy.  So OF COURSE you can know it!  In Canada, they were/are used to confirming autism at SIX WEEKS old!  However I know in England and Scotland that GETTING a child diagnosed is a process of years – sometimes even into the teenage years.  And some people are not diagnosed until they are an adult.

In some ways, I totally get it.  Really, I do!  They don’t need any extra undue pressure on the medical system that diagnosing lots of patients causes.  And then it’s the “followed by” services that get implanted and you HAVE to keep the system and health service grinding on.  

I mean, yes, of COURSE I needed a diagnosis.  BUT if you ask me WHY my child is not answering your questions, i will tell you the truth.  Yes, he’s mute, but this is why.

TREASURE

To know that my son was autistic before I could get the diagnosis.  I knew I had to change my expectations for him because a child with autism doesn’t have the same development that a person without it does.