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You are here: Home / Fun Stuff / Powerful Reasons to Seek an Autism Diagnosis

Powerful Reasons to Seek an Autism Diagnosis

February 2, 2019 By Kerry 1 Comment

Oftentimes parents who suspect their child is on the Autism Spectrum or adults who think they may be on the spectrum wonder if they should pay to seek a professional diagnosis. As parents who sought an official diagnosis for our son, Cole and I are often asked how we came to that decision. For us it was quite simple. But for every parent and individual, the decision should be their own. Here I explain briefly our experience and our opinion.

Are you wondering whether you should seek an autism diagnosis for your child or yourself? As parents of a child on the spectrum, we share this straightforward reasoning. #autism #autismdiagnosis #aspergers #highfunctioningautism

 

Early Intervention Is Key

The main reason we sought a professional diagnosis was because our son exhibited many of the autism characteristics, and we wanted him to get the very best help possible. We wanted early intervention, and the best programs required proof of need, aka. an official diagnosis. At the time, we lived in Idaho, which is a Katie Beckett state. With the diagnosis came free funding based on our son’s needs, not on our income base. In other words, we were not penalized for making “too much money,” which doesn’t take much if you’ve ever applied for Medicaid funding. However, even without Katie Beckett financial assistance, which was used after our primary insurance was first billed, we needed a diagnosis to even get on waiting lists for therapies and programs.

Our son participated in early-intervention preschools and several therapies: occupational, speech, and physical. He also enjoyed adaptive equine therapy and a variety of special-needs sports. When he entered elementary school, he was already “in the system” and received needed support services to assist him as he mainstreamed into regular classes. None of this would have been possible without an official diagnosis.

I once had a mother, whose child I knew was in desperate need of an autism diagnosis and had apparent behavioral issues as well, ask me why any parent would want their child to be “labeled” with autism. While I understood where she was coming from, I gently pointed out that without a correct diagnosis, her child was already being labeled as combative, inattentive, uncooperative, rude, and some other things that were much worse, in my opinion, than a medical diagnosis that would bring help. She had him tested soon thereafter, and he began to receive help. But they had missed his earliest, formative years when much progress could have been made.

Autism Diagnosis Age

Obviously, diagnosis in older children is less helpful. Our son was diagnosed at age 3. As this article states, most children are diagnosed at age 5 or older. Personally, I would be hesitant to seek a professional autism diagnosis in later teen years when insurance, school, and public programs cease to offer assistance. According to recent chats in Facebook groups, so not too official, a ballpark price range is $500-700 to pay for the diagnosis. As an adult, you’d probably only get one for personal information–for you, if you’ve always wanted to know. You can certainly read up on the symptoms (link above). I don’t recommend self-diagnosing, but you can ask trusted family members if they see the traits in you. Recognizing that you might or probably have it would then lead you to learn effective coping skills, which is the goal for anyone on the spectrum–official diagnosis or not.

Seek a Professional Autism Diagnosis

One last thing, I highly recommend seeking an official diagnosis for children from a licensed professional who specializes in autism. Your pediatrician can likely refer you to someone. If they can’t, consider getting another pediatrician. Don’t rely on the school district to test your child for autism. They often won’t do it, or if they do, their testing may not be extensive. It will be free but not extensive. I do not want to make the school districts out to be the bad guys; they certainly are not. But they do not employ highly specialized autism professionals to administer those tests. I know of kids that they said are not on the spectrum and I wonder–as I hear their moms describe how the children flap their hands, have sensory issues, and so forth. When seeking an official autism diagnosis, seek a professional to do it. Your child’s future academic development and success depends on it.

Parents, please weigh in? To diagnose or not to diagnose–that’s the question here.

If your child is diagnosed with autism, I offer several key pointers in this related article that will help you know what to do next.

Filed Under: Fun Stuff Tagged With: autism. diagnosis

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Comments

  1. Sarah says

    March 21, 2019 at 3:24 pm

    What a great post I have heard so often that it is great to get the diagnoses to open doors for further assistance and therapies.

    Reply

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Don’t just trust anyone to recommend a book to y Don’t just trust anyone to recommend a book to you. 

I’ve been burned many times by recommendations in Facebook groups. 

Even when I specifically ask if the book contains profanity or explicit scenes, I’ve been reassured that it’s awesome … only to discover it’s full of ick. 

Many readers just don’t have a clean-reads mindset. They don’t notice the swearing, the inappropriate content. 

So what can you do?

My number one resource is my friends, my local book club. We have varying tastes, but they are usually spot on with their recommendations to me. 

I’m sharing this one by Lisa See as an example. It’s excellent and engaging. 

It’s not my first read about early Chinese women. But it’s my first one where the MC is a young woman studying to become a doctor when, according to Confucius, “An educated woman is a worthless woman.”

You and I bristle at those words, but it was very much a woman’s life in the era of the Ming Dynasty. 

The content is adult but is expressed in the polite Chinese manner. If you’re like me, you want to know the history but not feel as if you’re being subjected to pornography while learning. I’m halfway through the book and am pleased with the storytelling and tactful way history is shared. 

A new novel, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is an excellent choice for your next book. 

#lisasee #bestsellingauthor #cleanreads #cleanread #cleanreadsbooks #mrsladywordsmith #historicalfiction #historicalfictionbooks #historicalfictionnovel #booksirecommend #bookstagram
The Opera Sisters, by Marianne Monson, is WWII his The Opera Sisters, by Marianne Monson, is WWII historical fiction based on the true story of Ida and Louise Cook. 

Have you read it too?
#cleanreadsbooks #cleanreads #cleanbooks #historicalfiction #historicalfictionbooks #basedonatruestory #wwⅱ #mrsladywordsmith
Who here works or has worked in education (any cap Who here works or has worked in education (any capacity)?

Let’s give you a shout out! 

Comment and tell us what you do or have done. ✏️

#educatorsofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherswhoread #teacherswhofollowteachers #teacherswhopray #mrsladywordsmith
School starts very soon, and I’m ready! 💜 @fa School starts very soon, and I’m ready! 💜 @family.lyceum 

#homeschoolteacher #homeschoolteachers #microschool #microschools #backtoschool #mentor #clearfieldutah #mrsladywordsmith
Another fun book club last night. Butterbeer had n Another fun book club last night. Butterbeer had nothing to do with the book we read, but most of the ladies wanted to try it. 

Cream soda
A hint of butter extract (1/4 to 1/2 tsp)
Caramel syrup (to taste)
Cream (to taste)
 
Mix. Sip to make sure you like the flavors. Adjust as needed. 

Top with Spray Whip and a drizzle of more caramel. 

Enjoy! 🪄
Don’t forget to clean your computer case (but no Don’t forget to clean your computer case (but not the screen) with this easy tip. 

I bet you already have the supplies at home. No need to buy anything special. 

Gold Like the Sun 🎶 @imsophielouise 

#backtoschooltips #computertips #writertips #mrsladywordsmith #computercleaning #oneminutetip #oneminutehacks
This is my favorite time of day. I hunker down wit This is my favorite time of day. I hunker down with a bit of good chocolate and a good read. 

This one I’m reading to see if it might be a good fit for my new job at @family.lyceum . 

Has anyone here read the series or do you have kids/grandkids who read them?

#utahtruffles #thevirginiamysteries #mrsladywordsmith #mysterybooksforkids #summerreading #summerreadingforkids
We had a very fun Harry Potter Music Camp 🎶at m We had a very fun Harry Potter Music Camp 🎶at my house the other day. Our homemade Butterbeer was a hit!

I teach piano lessons, but we took a break this summer. So it was good to get together for a couple of hours and learn through play. 

I made up several music-related games and the word search pictured here. I’ll be adding them to my Etsy shop. The word search is already there. 

Holler if you’d like links. 🪄

#harrypotter #harrypotterfan #harrypotterparty #musiccamp #harrypottermusic #summercamp #summercampsforkids #summercamps #mrsladywordsmith #pianostudents #butterbeer
BOOKS will EAT you UP! NEW at @barnesandnoble Wh BOOKS will EAT you UP! NEW at @barnesandnoble 

What’s a fun book you’ve found for your kids this summer? 

#bookstagram #childrensliterature #childrensbookstagram #funbooksforkids #funillustrations #booksforkids #barnesandnoble #mykidhasagoodmom #momswhoreadtotheirkids #mrsladywordsmith
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