Even if your assessments go smoothly, it is an exhausting process. Buckle up.
My Master16 was diagnosed over most of his life.
14 months he was diagnosed with Duanne retraction syndrome
18 months with Food Neophobia
6 years it was Aspergers
7 years with Oppositional Defiance Disorder
8 years it was leaning disabilities
10 years Autism Spectrum Disorder
13 years Expressive Language Disorder
15 years Chronic Anxiety
My beautiful wee man, nearly 6 foot, is a champion at meeting his own challenges. He recognises his limits and then just pushes himself to do his personal best every time. He may have to try harder than everyone else, or practice more, or try again, or take more time, but if he wants it, or wants to go where it leads, then he just keeps on. I was told he would, at best, be an illiterate adult, but guess what ... when he decided he would need to read, one day, then he would read. Bless him he can now read, he is slow and imperfect, but he can read. He refuses to let the diagnoses win. I think sometimes he runs on pure stubborn 🙂
One of the things I tried to do is always be honest and simple explain the diagnoses with him when it is age appropriate and need to know. When he became aware of his limitations I made him equally aware that he has talents, when he was frustrated with the way someone else thinks I remind him that he has an unique way of thinking and that perhaps other people get frustrated too. I make sure when he expresses something unique, funny, factual, logical, that he is heard and praised for being observant/expressive/logical. He has an unique and brave mind and he gets to hear and know that I love him exactly the way he is.
Being brave through this is not an easy task for a parent. Ask questions of everyone. When asked to fill out questionnaires about symptoms and behaviors keep in mind his WORST days and never downplay how you, the family and he is effected by his worst days. It is hard to admit we are treading water, but we have to.
