Teen with late diagnosis of Autism

[Izzysmum]

My 15 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with Autism. Prior to this diagnosis, she had been going to therapy since the age of 7 and diagnosed with everything under the sun, other than Autism....(ODD, Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety, Mood adjustment disorder, possible ADD). Needless to say, school has always been difficult for her and it has been the hardest 8 years of my life. I feel so lost. I'm not sure where to turn to get help for her. Where do I go after a diagnosis like this and how can I make things easier for my daughter who is going into 10th grade and terrified of going?

[Philippa-RO]

Hi @Izzysmum I’m so glad you reached out for support. It sounds like it’s been a really long and tough journey for you and your daughter to this point, I'm so sorry that's the case.

It looks like you might be from outside Australia - as we're an Australia service, I'm a bit limited in the suggestions I can offer, but I want you to know we're here for you and we care.

Have you been linked in with any support services by the organisation that helped arrange your daughter's diagnosis? If not, it might be worth starting by asking them if they can suggest any services in your area that offer supports to young people with autism and their parents or carers.

Otherwise, perhaps try searching the internet for autism specialist services and/or support groups in your area. If there's anything we can help with or if you just need somewhere to talk, please feel free to post any time.

[Ellger]

Hi Izzy’sMum - obviously all autistic kids are different but speaking from my own experience one of the things that has helped my daughter enormously (similar story, late diagnosis at 14) has been an excellent psychologist who has some real understanding of autistic kids and their challenges. My daughter suffered crippling social anxiety at that age, to the point of being unable to enter a store by herself and school was incredibly difficult. She did find cognitive behavioural therapy very helpful in overcoming her social anxiety and is now studying at university. Life still has challenges but she has come so far. One of the best things about having a diagnosis is that it does give your daughter and you some understanding of why she feels the way she does, my daughter was incredibly relieved when she was diagnosed as so many things she had felt now made sense to her. There are some excellent autism advocacy accounts on social media that I have found very helpful. Autism in girls/women has been woefully under-researched and under-diagnosed but thankfully that is beginning to change. Wishing you and your daughter all the best….

[Izzysmum]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and what was helpful for you. My daughter is the same...extreme social anxiety and school is hell! I have actually been looking and just found a psychologist who works with kiddos with Autism, so I am hoping that will be helpful for both of us. My daughter has a 504 right now, but I believe we will be meeting for an IEP. It's very frustrating looking back on the past 8 or 9 years of torture that could have been different if she had been diagnosed correctly; but it helps to know I'm not the only parent out there who has gone through this. Thank you for sharing.