We have a diagnosis… what now?!?
Receiving a neurodevelopmental diagnosis (ie. Autism, ADHD, intellectual impairment) for your child can bring a lot of mixed emotions:
Relief for them to be understood?
Grateful to have access to some supports?
Worries about what the future might bring?
Overwhelm at what to do? Or,
Any combination of emotions at any given moment!
For most families, receiving a diagnosis is often the start of a journey to helping their child feel understood and supported…. but it can be hard to know where to start.
Lots of well-meaning friends, family members and health professionals might offer advice about what they think might be helpful -
A psychologist to help with their executive function and/or mental health?
A speech pathologist to help with their language and any literacy challenges?
An occupational therapist to support their sensory processing and emotional regulation?
A dietitian to help their avoidant and/or restricted eating pattern?
The list can be very long and confusing!
In my experience, an important first step is to understand what the diagnosis means for the child / young person… both for you as their parent, as well as for the child or young person themselves. Each person with ***insert diagnosis*** is different and brings their own profile of strengths and challenges.
Beyond the early intervention space, therapy needs to be focused on understanding what supports and accommodations are required for each child/young person to be their best person (across home, school AND their community), including identifying and overcoming barriers to participation. This often includes working with the child / young person to build their resilience and to help them feel confident within themselves.
Having worked for a public, Child Development Service for the past decade, it has been interesting to witness the shift in assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (Autism and ADHD in particular!), as well as the associated therapy landscape… I have been privileged to work in a team of amazing developmental paediatricians, psychologists, OT’s, speechies, physios, and social workers, and have gained a wealth of knowledge about the expertise that each discipline brings and current evidence-based best practice.
At Confident Horizons, we can provide:
Help to understand diagnoses and to plan/prioritise and optimise supports,
Creative + goal-directed interventions to support holistic wellbeing, AND
A neuro-affirming and relationship-focused approach
Get in touch today if you would like to discuss how Confident Horizons can be helpful for your child, teenager, or whole family!
