Our Own First Exposure to the Process
When my oldest son was in preschool, his school did some basic testing and recommended that we speak with our pediatrician about developmental delay because of some things that we saw. They told us there was a chance that our son could be on the spectrum, and early intervention was paramount.
We didn’t want to believe them. Our only other experience with autism at that point had been with children who were low functioning. Our son was already surpassing them, despite being younger. We wanted to push back, but the administrator was firm, yet kind, in her delivery. What we saw, and what they saw was different – and, for the first time, we learned that autism is a spectrum, so no two people on the spectrum will be exactly the same.
We spoke with our pediatrician and he told us that our son was definitely developmentally delayed and told us to contact the public school system about programs available to our son.
Psychological Testing
The school system informed us that if our son was to qualify for any programs that we would need to have him tested through their psychological testing. It took several months on a waiting list for a testing slot to open up. Autism is a psychological diagnosis, and therefore, while some can suggest a diagnosis, a psychologist will need to make an actual diagnosis. This is because there are other things similar to autism. To ensure a proper diagnosis is done, it needs to be done by a trained professional.
The tests were long and very confusing for our little guy. He became very frustrated when taking them. To be honest, it was hard watching him go through it. However, afterward we were given the results – not only was he classified as developmentally delayed, but also diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.
VPK and Special Needs Classes
As hard as it was for us to hear this diagnosis, it enabled our son to qualify for early learning programs and extended VPK (Voluntary Pre Kindergarten) classes. During school he was placed in smaller classes with specialized teachers and a para to assist him.
Throughout his schooling, because of his diagnosis, he has been eligible for speech, occupational, and behavioral assistance and therapies. They work with him one on one, or in even smaller groups, to help him flourish. As he learns and progresses, some of this has been removed as he no longer needs that assistance – which is the ultimate goal after all.
He went from being almost entirely non-verbal to speaking sentences and much improved social skills by the end of elementary school. He continued to improve over the years and while it is still obvious that he is on the autism spectrum he now carries on conversations with people and interacts with them in a socially acceptable way. The services we were able to get for our son allowed his teachers and us, as his parents, to work with him in a more focused and structured way that helped him increase so much more than we would ever have been able to help him achieve without assistance.
He is in high school now. He is still in special needs classes, but he continues to improve. The change we’ve seen just in high school has been tremendous. A large part of it is because of the dedication of those teachers he’s had all the way from his PreK days, up until now. We just didn’t have the skills to help him like they did.
What are the changes my child is on the spectrum?
In 2018 the CDC determined that approximately 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. According to the CDC, this represents a 15 percent increase in prevalence nationally.
My husband and I hear people all the time that think their child is on the autism spectrum, yet they never get an official diagnosis. I know it can be scary, but having an official diagnosis can help your child get extra assistance and also extra understanding.
First, look at the common signs of autism, but please note that autism is a spectrum disorder and no two people on the autism spectrum are exactly alike and have all of the signs or the same severity of the signs. A pyschologist will have a more complete list, but these are just a few to look for. Please note that a person can have many of these signs and not be on the autism spectrum, these are just a guideline to see if you should have your child tested.
Common Signs of Autism:
- Avoiding eye contact
- Delayed speech and communication skills
- Reliance on rules and routines
- Being upset by relatively minor changes
- Unexpected reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch, smells, light and temperature
- Difficulty understanding and expressing emotions
- Focusing on or becoming obsessed by a narrow range of interests or objects
- Engaging in repetitive behavior such as flapping hands, rocking or twirling
- Fixated on patterns and rows
- Frequent meltdowns over minor things
- Repeating phrases
- Problems with sleep and digestion
Does your child match most of the common signs listed above? If so, then I would recommend checking with your pediatrician to see if you should get your child tested for autism. You can either go through your child’s school system or see an independent psychologist to have your child tested. We’ve used both, and they produce the same results – although due to school budgets, it may be difficult getting your child to see one through the school system. A lot of this depends upon your child, the school, etc.
If you decide to have your child tested, the sooner you schedule an appointment, the better. Often times it can take months to get an appointment. Many insurance companies require a referral from your child’s pediatrician to see a psychologist. Most importantly, remember that your child is still the same child they were prior to testing. A diagnosis is only important for getting assistance for your child in school and opening up doors to places that can provide you with support and information on how to better help and understand your child.
I’ve got the Diagnosis. Now What?
Now it’s time to meet with your school. Schedule an IEP meeting if you haven’t already. Here they can start to identify what your child’s specific needs are in relation to the education system, and how to get them ready for the future.
Like with the test, the earlier you can schedule a meeting, the better. If you want them in a special needs Pre-K program, you will have to go through the IEP first before they can start.
Your first IEP meeting won’t be to bad. However, it is an important first step. You are your child’s best, and possibly, only advocate at this point. Be there for them.
2 Comments