Reply to Suspect friend’s teen dd is on the spectrum

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]I don’t see much value in getting an autism diagnosis as a teen. [/b]It’s not like there is a medication that helps treat it (like there is for ADHD). Therapy is often not helpful.

I don’t think there’s much value in a dx, but plenty of value in treating the symptoms that your friend’s child is struggling with. So if they are having anxiety, encourage them to see a dr for meds. If they are having social skill issues, encourage them to look into a social skills group. If they are having sensory issues or arfid, encourage looking into OT or therapy to help with that.

There is no pill or treatment that addresses autism as a whole, so the dx is less important that figuring out what specific issues she is struggling with, & finding some help for that.[/quote]
I disagree with the bolded statement. My DD has recently been diagnosed and it was her actually coming to me with suspicions that she was autistic. Girls can present very differently and “mask” their social challenges. The Dx has been helpful for getting DD some basic supports in her HS—one example being how she navigates getting feedback from teachers (they spell things out for her more directly) and occasional check-ins with school counselor on the social front 
The Dx also helps with self-understanding on her part and my parenting perspective. It’s not like there is a “cure” but it takes a burden off . We always have known she was quirky in ways that didn’t make sense (and she had a developmental pediatrician evaluate her in MS and the doctor reported no indication autism then).[/quote]

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