ASD FAQs

The first thing to do is visit your family doctor. If you do not have a family doctor you can find one through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. You can then ask for a referral from a GP or family doctor to a specialist in the field. You may want to investigate local children’s mental health agencies to see if they provide diagnostic assessment for Level 1 ASD.

Your family doctor may not be as familiar with all the traits of someone on the Autism Spectrum. You can bring some of the material about Level 1 ASD from our website to your next appointment to help your doctor understand more about your concerns, help you find a diagnosis, or any other Level 1 ASD related issues that may arise.

Getting a diagnosis can be done privately or it can be covered by OHIP. The reason some people choose to get a private diagnosis is that there is a shortage of covered medical professionals who diagnose ASD, and as such there is often a significant wait time to get diagnosed.

A formal diagnosis can only be given by medical doctors (i.e. GP’s, paediatricians, psychiatrists) and psychologists. Some people choose to have a social worker, speech and language pathologist, or another related professional provide a preliminary assessment that will allow them to give their opinion on the likelihood that someone has ASD. These opinions cannot substitute a clinical diagnosis but can help determine whether seeking one would be worthwhile.

The easiest thing to access and review while waiting for a diagnosis is literature on ASD. There are a growing number of books and workbooks that focus on many issues related to ASD. They cover broad and specific topics and some may also include activities to try with your child. Another option is to try and find organizations or programs that will not require you to have a formal diagnosis to receive services or support. Attending workshops about ASD is another great way to learn more about how you can support your child, both pre and post diagnosis.

Getting a diagnosis for your child is understandably a difficult decision. Many parents fear the effects that labeling their child will have, both now and in the future. However, by getting the correct diagnosis you will be able to advocate for your child to get access to the support and services they need, including educational accommodations. Getting a diagnosis can help ensure your child’s success today and increase the likelihood of their future wellbeing.

A different diagnosis given prior to one of ASD may not account for all the behavioural, learning, and emotional characteristics of ASD. Sometimes these diagnoses serve to address some of the challenges your child experiences, however a diagnosis of ASD will hopefully be more inclusive of all symptoms and rule out the need for the previous diagnosis. Other diagnoses may not be covered by the ASD diagnosis and may be maintained along with a primary diagnosis of ASD.

The assessment process can vary and will depend on the person performing it as well as the individual being assessed. Depending on their experience with Level 1 ASD, some doctors may feel less confident than others to make a diagnosis immediately, while others will feel very confident to identify and diagnose ASD much sooner. Parents will often be part of the assessment process if the individual is a minor. The assessment process can involve interview(s) and questionnaire(s). The assessor will want to know about developmental milestones and the concerning traits or characteristics being presented. Questionnaires or standardized tests can be given to assess things like intelligence or language abilities.

Any previous assessments your child has had should be brought with you, or mailed beforehand to the doctor doing the assessment. It’s also useful to begin collecting records and thinking about your child’s developmental milestones. You can make a chronological list of events, paying careful attention to moments that triggered any concern or led you to suspect something unique about your child. You can also make a list of the current characteristics, behaviours or other problems that are concerning you. Finally, write down any questions you want to ask the doctor. If you don’t know what to ask, try reading up on ASD before the assessment appointment. Some of the things you read may trigger questions as they relate to your child.

There are many reasons children and adults with Level 1 ASD do not handle testing situations well. These include: (1) sensory distractions, (2) heightened anxiety, (3) inability to focus, and (4) difficulty processing what they are being asked to do. Be sure to tell the person doing the assessment of any problems and share any strategies that may help in such situations. A well-prepared assessment should contain the opinion of the diagnostician regarding the congruency between the results and your child’s abilities.

The decision to tell your child of their diagnosis can be a hard one that most parents struggle with, especially when children are very young. When thinking about whether or not to tell your child it is important to consider what they may already know, who else in their life knows, and how it may benefit them to know about their diagnosis. Generally it is better for children to know about their diagnosis as soon as their level of maturity allows them to comprehend it, although the timeframe will differ for each child. Ultimately each child is unique and it is up to the individual’s parents to determine if they are ready emotionally and cognitively to understand what having an ASD diagnosis means.

Getting a second opinion is your right. Most doctors will encourage you to do so if that is what you wish to do.

It really depends on the benefit it would have for your child. Further assessments can sometimes be beneficial for gathering more specific information about your child; however they can also be overwhelming for both parent(s) and child. Getting further assessments can also delay the commencement of active supports and services for your child. When considering additional assessments it is important to consider what purpose they have and how they could benefit your child.

It is not necessary for you to tell anyone about your child’s diagnosis, however it is strongly recommended that you disclose it to all professionals involved in your child’s life. This includes teachers, doctors, social workers, therapists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists and any other professional working with your child. If your child is not significantly impacted by ASD you may not have to tell other individuals involved in their life (babysitters, camp counsellors, extended family, etc.), however knowing about the diagnosis may provide them with a better understanding of your child and improve their interactions with them.

The first thing you need to do once your child has been diagnosed is figure out what a diagnosis of ASD means to your child. Autism presents differently in each individual so it is important to know how it affects your child. Identifying the most pressing issues relevant to your child (i.e. sensory, anxiety, emotional management) will go a long way in alleviating frustration or feeling overwhelmed with information when developing and starting a plan for support. You can also research and learn the various supports and services offered for children with an ASD diagnosis that target the issues you identify. Share these with any professionals involved in your child’s life and apply them to all interactions with your child. You can find much of this information on the Internet and in books, many of which are available through links posted on our website. It is also a good idea to seek parent support groups to connect with other parents who have children diagnosed with ASD, gain insight into the disorder, and learn from the experiences of others.