Navigating an Autism Diagnosis: A Speech Therapist Mom Shares 5 Insights from Her Family’s Journey

Hello, I’m Kelly Hooker, I am a speech therapist who helps out behind the scenes at Baby Feeding Development. For Autism Awareness month I wanted to share my family’s experience with having a son diagnosed with Autism. I’ve found that navigating an autism diagnosis for your child can feel lonely and very overwhelming. Although I still have so much to learn, here are five insights that have helped us along our journey. 

• Autism didn’t look like I thought it would. As a speech therapist I was familiar with the common “red flags” for autism, but my son didn’t exhibit the typical concerns. He was verbal from a young age and met all of his developmental milestones. As he entered preschool his rigid routines, difficulty with transitions, and obsessive interests led us to pursue an assessment. I’m learning that autism can present in a variety of unique ways.
• It is ok to love the child you have and grieve the one you don’t. While autism is undeniably a gift to the world, it can also feel crushing to parents. Experiencing the beauty of a unique brain can get lost in the day to day struggles and exhaustion of parenting an autistic child. It is natural to desire less challenges for our children while also appreciating the child we have. 
• Find your people. They say parenting takes a village, and parenting a child with autism requires extra hands and hearts. Our team consists of occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychiatrists, school inclusion specialists, teachers, babysitters, and grandparents. Seek out people that see the best in your child; they will sustain you on the days when finding the bright spots feel hard. 
• Empower your child. Work with your team to implement neurodiversity-affirming practices to help your child thrive. Teach your child to become more aware of the signals their body sends, what helps their body calm down, and how to communicate their wants and needs. Include peers in the discussion of how brains are wired differently and cultivate appreciation for those differences. 
• Celebrate the small wins. Your child’s milestones and achievements likely look different than their peers. Rejoice in the progress they are making, even if the progress is slower than you would like. Take joy in the things that bring your child joy and share the wins together.  

For more information on when to seek out an autism evaluation, check out this blog, All about Autism: 6 Important Questions. 

If you’re interested in children’s books to help explain autism to neurotypical or neurodiverse children, check them out here!