Hi there,
I am a very concerned parent and having difficulity in getting any answers. My son of 6 years is have alot of difficutly at school and at home. here is a list of the problems my son is having,
His level of understanding is very basic and struggles with instruction and day to day things.
He has a delayed speech and has his own words for things like 'all the bodies' for 'every body'.
He has very violent mood swings and gets frustrated easliy.
He can get unsettled or creates with some changes eg has to have hs ham sandwitch the same way and doesnt like to change his route home.
Academacily he is still at nursey stage and struggles with alphabet but not to bad with numbers.
Doesnt understand when someone is joking, being nasty or irony.
Makes rood remarks without knowing it eg he wouldnt think twice about telling someone they are fat.
Lack of sense of danger eg although he knows how to cross a road and the danger but puting into practice he would just walk stright out, he doesnt manage to put the 2 together.
he is very inmorture for his age.
he can be hyperactive it times.
his social skills are abit varied sometimes he is ok but most of the time he is very withdrawn and doesnt like being around alot of people.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME XXXX

Hi Snail and welcome to our families forums.

We've had lots of parents talking about autism and getting a diagnosis here recently. Do have a look in our 'daily life' and 'new diagnosis' forums to see if any of the support and information there is useful for you, or if there are any other parents and carers you'd like to talk to.

Have you spoken to any professionals about the difficulties your son is facing?

Rachel 

thanks for repling Rachel. he has been seen by professionals but none relating to Autism. I am finding it difficult to get the help and advice i need. i have even been to the doctors.

Having just read your message I wonder if anyone has talked to you about claiming the Disability Living Allowance and the Carers Allowance. 

My son was a long time being diagnosed -  it took until he was 8 for professionals to decide that he'd been brain damaged at birth!!! 

Whether or not you son has a label you need help, as I did.  Perhaps you have a local carers group who might have someone you could have a chat with about your own needs struggling to deal with him?

Hi

Ask the school to write to your school doctor voicing yours and their concerns. This was our turning point for my son  ( at 10 years ) , finally diagnosed with Aspergers more or less on the spot.

Take care and all the best. 

I would recommend calling the national autistic society hotline and they can talk you through how to get a diagnosis. You have to be a bit of a tiger/lion and really go for it. It's a tough fight depending on where you live - my GP surgery were very obstructive - one GP asked why I wanted to know if my son was on the autistic spectrum asking me how it would help to know this!! You can ask for a second opinion, engage the help of your local MP and if that fails write to the leader of the PCT/council regularly. If they don't respond you can start proceedings to make a formal complaint. Everyone's experience will be different but this is the route I had to take, probably because my son already has 2 other disabilities (down syndrome and a late diagnosis of hemiplegia - caused by brain damage at birth that wasn't diagnosed for 6 years - it's apparently possible this has triggered the autism as part of his brain has been damaged). I eventually had to go privately but they don't always pay attention to this so an NHS diagnosis is better if you can push for it. Also get yourself down for respite as soon as you can - as the years go on you will need time for yourself to recharge your batteries to keep going. Good luck