When you get a new diagnosis for your child…
Has your child been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disorder, or a specific learning disability (also called dyslexia, dyscalculia or dysgraphia)? Many of these disorders tend to co-occur and they are highly heritable in families. Children with medical conditions are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders as well.
The psychologist who provided this diagnosis probably included a lot of information to come to this conclusion, including testing, parent rating scales, behavioral observations, and possibly teacher rating scales. This is the most comprehensive way to clarify a diagnosis.
Some families are taken by surprise because the diagnosis was made early in development, at the first sign of symptoms. Early diagnosis means that you have the chance to make changes that will reduce the impact of the disorder on your child’s life.
For many others, it can be a long process before your child is diagnosed. Later diagnosis can bring many emotions including relief, but also frustration about delays. Unfortunately, later diagnosis is more common and here are common reasons why:
- Providers, teachers, or other adults may have told you that “your child will grow out of it”.
- Your child’s problematic symptoms were mild at first, so they were easy to accept, ignore, or support. But with age, the symptoms got more difficult to manage and negatively affected daily life.
- You visited multiple providers but could not get the answers you were seeking. You may have been told that your child does not have a diagnosis.
- You could not find a provider who would be covered by your insurance or without a long waiting list. This is so frustrating, but it is the reality of our healthcare system.
- Your child was misdiagnosed, and you spent years wondering why the diagnosis didn’t really fit your child.
- Your focus has been on the complex medical needs of your child; after some time, you shifted focus to include neurodevelopmental concerns that also need attention.
A diagnosis is a label, and this can lead families to worry about the implications. Consider these ways to conceptualize and cope with a diagnosis for your child.
| Concerns | Considerations |
| A diagnosis will stigmatize my child | Sometimes the problem behaviors or symptoms before the diagnosis can be more stigmatizing. If your child has exhibited these for a long period of time, s/he may have been mislabeled. Some may blame the concerns on bad behavior, laziness, poor effort, lack of motivation, etc. We want to avoid misinformation about your child and the diagnosis helps with this. |
| The diagnosis may be misunderstood | Now that you know the diagnosis, you can become knowledgeable and advocate for your child! Read the trusted, scientific resources that were recommended to you. Educate family, teachers, and others. You can correct myths, false beliefs, and stereotypes about the diagnosis. |
| How will a diagnosis impact my child at school? | There are disability laws that protect an individual with a neurodevelopmental diagnosis. In public schools, teachers or other school staff gain specialized training to support children with special needs. The only way to get that specialized help in public schools is to have the right diagnosis. Some private schools in your area may also have the resources and expertise to support your child’s needs. |
Two benefits of an accurate diagnosis for neurodevelopmental concerns:
- Diagnosis is the first step to getting the right treatment. For every neurodevelopmental diagnosis, scientists have studied the most effective treatments.
- Neurodevelopmental disorders can be associated with strengths. Once you know your child’s diagnosis, I encourage you to also explore the positive. Here are a few examples:
- With ADHD, individuals have the gift of hyperfocus when they attend to things they enjoy.
- With Dyslexia, individuals can be very creative thinkers and problem solvers, and they are socially sensitive and empathic.
- With Autism, individuals have an incredibly detailed memory for things they enjoy learning, and can quickly become experts!
If you want to learn more, I encourage you to also read the following resource pages from the Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Center:
