Autism test waiting lists are long, and getting longer by the day. So, while you’re waiting for an autism test, know there are things that you can do to help your child or client. You can be proactive and get a better understanding of where your child or client is at developmentally, and also learn some strategies that might help turn things around regardless of a diagnosis.
When the developmental pediatrician, Dr. James Coplan, handed down the result of Lucas’ autism test of moderate to severe autism, my husband and I were devastated. The whole way home I cried and my husband kept saying things like, “he’s never going to go to college. He’s never going to get married.” That day, and for months after, I was so stressed. I didn’t even know where to start in getting therapies in place. Now, two decades later, I’ve transformed from that very confused and overwhelmed parent to a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. I know that there are a lot of things you can do to help your child or client before an autism test so you can not be as stressed as I was right before and after Lucas’ diagnosis.
None of these tests, though, can give an absolute diagnosis. So, don’t think that if a child or client scores a certain way that it’s definitely autism. Or definitely not autism. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t matter if it’s autism or not autism. I have proven strategies that can help your child with developmental and behavioral signs of autism. My step by step system, for instance, is helping parents and professionals while they are on waiting lists, have a diagnosis, or just suspect autism. These strategies include teaching their children how to point, how to talk or how to talk more, how to respond to their name, how to interact with them and their families. All very necessary and life affirming skills.
You can learn all about what to do for a child or client you suspect has autism before even getting an autism test. Use these strategies to determine if a test is necessary. Also, learn these strategies to teach skills that your child may be delayed with. That’s why you need to take my quiz at marybarbera.com/quiz. It’s a quiz for both parents and professionals that will only take you two minutes. Right after the quiz you’ll have the opportunity to watch a free online workshop to learn more about my child friendly approach.
