If you suspect your early years child might not be meeting their developmental milestones due to either autism or ADHD, it can be incredibly overwhelming.
Knowing where to go for more information, who can provide a diagnosis or support, how to discuss it with friends and family can all feel like insurmountable challenges. For some parents, this then puts them into freeze mode and they do nothing.
This is completely understandable and a normal reaction – but we want to talk today about the benefits of seeking a diagnosis for your child when they are still really young.
If this is a topic which is of interest to you, then you might also want to come along to our webinar ‘Supporting ADHD and Autism in Early Years’ on 27 March. You do not need to have a diagnosis or even be on the pathway for one but you’ll find a huge amount of useful information included.
You can find more details and how to book on at this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/841402075257
What does early diagnosis mean?
An early diagnosis means identifying potential neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD or autism in the early years, often before the age of 5. Here’s just some of the reasons why that can be so crucial to do…
You’ll have your ‘so that’s why!’ moment
The sooner you have a clear understanding of what’s going on, the sooner you can put effective support in place. Don’t just think of support being something that your child will get in a school or childcare setting – there is so much we can do at home too when we understand what needs they have. From creating sensory friendly environments to managing overwhelm – you’ll find there is so much that you can do.
Getting the support they need as soon as possible
The earlier a diagnosis is given, the sooner children can begin receiving the interventions and support they need. Early intervention services might include things like speech therapy, occupational therapy or specialised teaching strategies which can all prove critical when brought in early. These services not only provide support to the child themselves but, again, give clearer guidance to parents and carers on what their child needs in order to thrive.
Early diagnosis = better outcomes
Research shows that children who receive an early diagnosis and subsequent interventions to support their needs are more likely to experience better long-term outcomes. Too often, we see children who are suffering from trauma as a result of living too long without people understanding them and being able to put the support they need in place.
It’s also proven that early support can help improve communication, social skills and behaviour, as well as helping children to develop coping strategies that they will carry with them as they grow older.
Making things a little easier for you
Let’s be honest, being a SEND parent is never easy and even with a diagnosis you are likely to face challenge after challenge going forward. But getting a diagnosis is a bit like the start of a new chapter – one in which you finally understand a bit more about the plot of the book!
While it is common that the moment of diagnosis comes with a feeling of grief or overwhelm, in time many parents feel empowered by the diagnosis as it enables them to fight for what their child needs with more clarity.
Evidence for when you are engaging with school
It’s a sad truth that getting appropriate support for SEND children in school can be a battle – which means that evidence, in the form of a diagnosis, can help.
Having needs clearly identified allows for support to be put in place, for EHCP applications to be made (although you don’t need a diagnosis for this) and perhaps for specialist school provision to be considered.
While a diagnosis is, of course, not a golden ticket which unlocks everything, there’s no denying that it can help.
Come along and learn more:
If you feel that your child might benefit from an early diagnosis of autism or ADHD or if you already have a diagnosis in place then we’d really recommend coming along to our live webinar on 27th March when we will be discussing ‘Supporting autism and ADHD in early years’.
Sunshine Support Advocate and former teacher Gabby Gregory will be covering:
- The “typical” child development and when most children develop core communication and interaction skills.
- When you might be concerned about your child’s development and who you can reach out to for advice and support.
- The diagnostic criteria for ADHD and Autism and how this may present in younger children.
- Strategies for early intervention and support, giving you practical examples which you can incorporate into home/school/nursery.
- An introduction to the main forms of funding which are typically available within England to support early years children with additional needs.
- Outline what your early years provider should be doing to meet your child’s needs and how you can work in partnership to achieve the best outcome for your child.
- A brief introduction to the process of requesting an EHCP and to consider the evidence you might want to be gathering in anticipation.
As a SEND parent, you will become an expert in supporting your child and advocating for their needs. For those of you with young children, this webinar is a fantastic place to start in boosting your knowledge and confidence.
Book here to come along. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/841402075257
