Autism Diagnosis

A diagnosis can help the person, their family, supporters and friends to understand how best to help, learn strategies and enable the appropriate educational, therapeutic, and support services to be identified and provided.

In our experience, the services that families are rightly entitled to are difficult to obtain however. We can help you and support you through this time. Whether you choose to seek a diagnosis or not, it is a personal choice, with no right or wrong choice.

An accurate, early diagnosis may be difficult to obtain and it is always worth seeking a medical assessment from professionals who specialise in diagnosing autism. There are other conditions which are similar in presentation and we would always recommend seeking professional help.

Autistic individuals can need different levels of support depending on how they are affected. It's important to note that not all people with autism will need to live in a supported environment, many do not.  The biggest area you can help with is understanding and learning from others on the spectrum. With the right support all individuals can enjoy meaningful and inclusive lives and family and friends can be supported too.

For further information on diagnosis speak to your GP or school SENCO or contact us on admin@autismapprentice.co.uk to help support you.

It is not uncommon for autistic people to also have one or more additional conditions alongside their autism, or for other conditions to closely resemble autismIt is not uncommon for autistic people to also have one or more additional conditions alongside their autism, or for other conditions to closely resemble autism.

These can also be referred to as co-occuring conditions. This can make everyday life incredibly complex, many parent/carers report that it is difficult to work out which condition is causing which reaction and how best to deal with this appropriately.

As parents of young autistic people (children and adults) and co-occuring conditions ourselves, we have insight into how this can impact the individual, family life, school and work, but please be assured that this diagnosis does not stop the individual from having a meaningful life.

Please note, we are not medical professionals and cannot diagnose your child. We are not affiliated in any way with services we may recommend to you.

Some related conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and learning disabilities
• ADHD/ADD (Attention Deficit with or without Hyperactivity Disorder)
• Anxiety
• Hearing or visual impairment
• A profile of demand avoidance
• Physical disabilities
• Genetic conditions e.g. Down's Syndrome
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Epilepsy
• Type 1 diabetes
• Mental health conditions
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Alexithymia
• Hyper verbalism
• Language delay or selective mutism
• Eating disorders