Today is the day I will always remember: the day Roger officially got diagnosed with autism. I gasped when they told us his diagnosis and the “team” was a bit shaken – worried about my reaction. I immediately felt a lump in my throat and had the feeling like I was going to throw up (which I did first thing when I got home).
I thought knowing the diagnosis would give me peace of mind. However, it killed my “hope” that he was not autistic. Secondly, I think we downplayed the whole thing thinking the worst he may be diagnosed with was PPD-NOS. However, he was firmly diagnosed as having AUTISM. According to the DSM-IV, you need to meet the following: 2 criteria in social interaction, 1 criteria in communication, and 1 criteria in behavior. He met 3 of 4 in social interaction (with the 4th being “some” not none), 2 of 4 in communication (with 1 being N/A due to his age and 1 being “some” not none), and 2 of 4 in behavior (with 1 being “some” and 1 being “none”). That makes it a concrete diagnosis, not a “borderline” diagnosis.
It is funny because when I went over the modules with his Program Manager, I felt he would score worst in behaviors and was more optimistic about the social module. I guess that is what you get when looking at this subjectively.
This is a lot to digest. I cannot really express how I feel. I do not really know how I feel. All I know is how much I love my husband, my parents, and, most of all, my beautiful son!
Spinning Wheels 