Talking diagnosis

Posted by Talking Matters on 16 February 2013

When a child is diagnosed with disability such as autism or Asperger's syndrome one of the first questions many parents ask is "Who should I tell?" Many ask whether they should tell, teachers, friends or family members and many wonder what to say to siblings. Often a big question is "what and when do I tell my child about their diagnosis?".

This is something parents need to decide for themselves. Every child is different and no-one knows that child better than their parents. Some parents choose to tell their child when they are young, while others may choose to wait until their child is older. Some tell their child at the time of the diagnosis and others wait until the child begins to ask questions. Parents are the best judge of their child's social and emotional maturity and when their child is ready to find out about their diagnosis.

My very bright son was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome just before he was eight years old. A few months later he burst into tears of frustration over not being able to tie his shoelaces and declared "Why am I so dumb". Both he and I knew that he was not dumb, in fact he had a very high IQ, but I think what he was saying was "Why am I so different?". He was a very mixed bag of intellectual strengths with significant challenges in fine and gross motor skills, co-ordination and social skills as well as some strong sensory issues. It was clearly time to talk with him about his diagnosis. I had read Tony Attwood's approach which focuses on looking at strengths and weaknesses. We talked about how a pattern of being good at some things (like being able to understand numbers, cars, trains, science and computers really well) and finding other things harder (like understanding people, using a knife and fork and writing neatly) has a name called "Asperger's syndrome" and that other people have this pattern too. It came as a huge relief that he was not alone. This concept of his diagnosis as being a different way of being that had good qualities as well as challenges became part of his self image and he went on to tackle his challenges with a great attitude and to develop his strengths with enthusiasm. You can find out more about Tony Attwood's work with Asperger's on his website. There are also a range of books for parents and for sharing with children available from the Talking Matters office.

Some points to consider:

most children with special needs are aware that they are different. Finding out there is a name for their "difference" and that there are other children like them can come as a relief.
hearing about their diagnosis in a caring way is better than overhearing things from others or finding out by accident, possibly in a less supportive way.
having a planned conversation means that you can make sure your child has the right kind of information and a chance to clarify any questions or concerns that they may have.

When planning to talk with your child think about:

choosing a person your child feels comfortable talking with. This may be a parent or another relative or even someone else such as a therapist or psychologist that your child trusts.
trying to have the conversation at a time and place when both you and your child are comfortable, relaxed and not likely to be interrupted. Your child may need time to process the information and ask questions.
talking to siblings separately. They will need a chance to ask honest questions but this may not be helpful for the child with the diagnosis to hear.

Make sure your child knows:

their diagnosis is not an illness, they will not die from it and others will not "catch it" from them
not all people with the same diagnosis are the same. They may know another child with the same diagnosis and may be concerned about this.
that they can come to you to talk some more whenever they have concerns or questions

A good way to start the conversation is to talk about individual differences:

begin by looking at the strengths and weaknesses of different family members, trying to keep this balanced, with every family member having both good characteristics and challenges.
next tell your child that there are others with their particular pattern of strengths and weaknesses and that there is a name for this pattern.
you could then talk in more detail about your child's diagnosis
remember to keep information to a level suitable for your child's understanding and their personal situation and characteristics
keep positive, remember that your child has plenty of strengths and talents
present negatives from your child's perspective "you know how it is hard for you to...."
make sure your child knows that you will do your best to help them with their challenges
make sure your child knows that everyone has challenges and things that they need support with
you may like to share some books with your child about their diagnosis. There are a number of good ones available for a range of ages.
your child may like to know about famous people with the same diagnosis who have done great things. There is information about this in books and on websites
your child may like to meet other children with the same diagnosis and this could be arranged through a support group
if you are concerned about how your child has reacted to their diagnosis do seek support through a therapist or support organisation

Who else do I tell? Parents often wonder whether they should tell family, friends, teachers and other people in their child's life.

It is not necessary to tell everyone about your child's diagnosis. It is useful to tell people when there is a benefit to your child such as extra support or understanding.
It is usually very helpful to tell people involved in your child's education.
Your child's opinion should be considered and respected in terms of telling peers and classmates
Others such as coaches. scout leaders, dance teachers and so on can be told if they can be trusted to keep the information confidential and is it to your child's benefit for them to know.
With friends and family consider the way each person will understand and use the information if they are told.
You may choose to tell trusted, supportive friends if this will help you, as a parent, feel more supported and have an outlet to express your thoughts, emotions and concerns.
You may choose to join a support group of parents who understand your situation

Having a diagnosis can lead to better understanding and more appropriate support and so can be of a major benefit to children and families. To find out more about sharing a diagnosis with your child check out these links:

http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/all-about-diagnosis/diagnosis-the-process-for-children/after-diagnosis/diagnosis-telling-a-child-about-their-diagnosis.aspx

http://www.iancommunity.org/cs/articles/telling_a_child_about_his_asd

http://www.ahany.org/ShouldYouExplainTheDiagnosis.htm

To find out more about Talking Matters and our services and resources browse our website.

Talking diagnosis

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