Maddie's Autism Results

[moonlily]

Well I have the report from the autism center, and they have given her an official diagnoses on the autism spectrum. There are three basic autism spectrum disorder diagnoses: autistic disorder, asperger's, and pervasive developmental delay (PDD). The autistic disorder is where the kids you think of with 'classic autism' are. The PDD category is a kind of 'catch-all' for kids that don't quite fit the other two categories. They've placed Maddie in the Autistic disorder category, which I was NOT expecting AT ALL. T-T (I was expecting either of the other two categories, if anything at all.) At the same time, they have also given her an official diagnoses of ADHD, so she has a double whammy.

I'm so sad because from birth, I was always able to have hope that someday, she would catch up and be normal. And while my daughter is not any different today than she was yesterday, that hope is destroyed. She will never be normal. These are labels she'll carry with her forever. I can't say she'll grow up and have a normal life, or do normal things, and that makes me sad.

The 'good' news is that the two areas she is strong in (basically vocabulary and grammar) are the two areas that have the best predictor for 'success', whatever that means. She is definitely being labeled as 'high-functioning', since her challenges are mild, on a comparative scale. I'm definitely grateful that things are not much, much worse, but today, I'm just sad, because I can't stop the words running through my head... My child is autistic.

[lectral]

Awwwwwwwww, I am sorry

*hugs*

[Angel_of_Music]

*hugs tight* I'm sorry to hear this, but keep your chin up and take each day as it comes with her. She is still a darling girl I'm sure and never forget that^^

[springacres]

*hughugsuperhugsqueeze* Glad to hear you at least got some answers. As I mentioned before, several of my RL friends have children with autistic spectrum disorders, and I know it's been a challenge for them sometimes to live with that diagnosis.

Hopefully your area has some good resources available that will help you, your family, and especially your daughter learn how to live with her disorder, and help her learn how to live as normal a life as possible.

[faemien]

*hugs* I have a couple of friends with kids on the spectrum, and while being on the spectrum is a challenge, the fact that they have diagnosed her as "high functioning" is good. I know the diagnosis is a hard one to deal with, but "normal" is just an ideal. How many of us are really normal? She has you as a loving mother, and you can give her everything she needs to be a successful adult.

I hope to go into working with kids with autism in the future. I really believe that those with the diagnosis are amazing young people that have a different view of the world. Temple Grandin is an author, who is autistic and has a beautiful way of shedding light on what those within the autism spectrum are experiencing. She gives some excellent tips on how working with obsessions can help an autistic person learn more and help them out of their shell.

I know that the diagnosis changes things for you, but remember, Maddie is beautiful and wonderful. She's still your baby and you mean the world to her. I wish you both the best, and if you need someone to listen, I'll happily lend an ear. *hugs again*

[Sweetintoxikation]

*hugs Moonlily and her daughter*

I know there aren't words to help you and your family deal with this. I am sorry you're having to go through it and while I don't know what it's like on a personal scale, I would like to offer my ear from time to time if you would like to talk about it further.

<3

[Cameron]

*hugs Moonlily*

Dearly sorry to hear the news! My thoughts are with you, your family, and especially your daughter. I'm no where near to being a parent, but I do have a young brother so I can relate in that aspect. However, he hasn't been diagnosed with anything quite as intense as autism and ADHD.

Maybe, just maybe this is a blessing in disguise, and though you feel that hope is gone, maybe you can find a new hope! After all its not impossible for her to have a 'normal' life, but a possibility is a good enough reason to find some sort of good. Anyway, who gets to decide what a normal life is.

*hugs again*

[tierasa]

*HUGS* You're such a special person, moonlily. I can only imagine how hard this news is to take. Maddie may never be normal, but normal is a relative concept. Now she's just even more special than before and that special has a name. That's all. She's still the same precious girl she was before, and now you can get her the help she needs to accomplish as much as she can. Plus, you have all of us to help support you as you adjust to the news and deal with what occurs in the future. Your Sphinx family LOVES you! *HUGS*