In this week’s segment on Parenting, a mother is considering an assessment for autism for her nine-year-old daughter.
Describing her daughter as generally happy and academically successful, the mother shared with Moncrieff that the teacher mentioned her daughter’s good relationships with friends. However, she noticed that her daughter tends to wait for others to engage with her in social settings and finds it easier to communicate with adults. The mother observed behaviors like finger flicking when anxious and engaging in activities like walking on the top of the couch or jumping between beds. During meltdowns, the daughter struggles to control her emotions.
Despite concerns about a potential negative self-image, especially with puberty approaching, the mother is contemplating additional support through assessment. Child psychotherapist Joanna Fortune advised a detailed consultation with a psychologist to determine the necessity of a comprehensive assessment, emphasizing the importance of understanding how the child navigates the world and tailoring parenting accordingly.
Fortune encouraged challenging the notion that assessments have negative connotations, highlighting the benefits of gaining insights into a child’s experiences and adjusting parenting strategies accordingly. She stressed the significance of early assessment due to long waiting lists and the value of creating a shared understanding with the child based on the diagnosis.
For those interested, the full discussion can be accessed here.