In Their Own Words
Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the author exclusively.
The importance of early diagnosis for autism was brought home in this letter to Autism Speaks, sent to us recently in the wake of a television appearance by our co-founder, Suzanne Wright. The letter has been edited to maintain the privacy of the family.
'Suzanne Saved Us Many Months'
Back in January I watched Suzanne Wright on The View. We were suspecting that our son, at 23 months, had something wrong. Suzanne's presentation sent me to your web site, and my husband (who is a physician) got our son into the developmental pediatrician within three weeks.
Our son was diagnosed with autism (we have also gotten a second opinion and both confirmed our worst fears). But we feel blessed in the fact that we have caught this at such an early age. We are now in our third week of ABA therapy and are starting to see some small but positive changes.
Please pass along to Suzanne Wright a huge thank you. I think Suzanne's presentation probably saved us many months of heading in the wrong direction - time my son could not afford as I am learning that getting him into therapy early is essential.
I look forward to supporting this organization in the future and I look forward to trying to education other moms and trying to pass on the information.”
'Time Was My Enemy'
"I knew something was terribly wrong with my son when he was two. I took him to my pediatrician, detailed my concerns, and was told that nothing was wrong - that I needed to relax, and give him some more time.
Trusting this advice was the biggest mistake of my life. Time was my enemy. And my son was slipping away.
Six months later, we got the official diagnosis of autism. By then, our happy boy was gone. He had lost his wonderful personality. Gone was the ability to laugh, speak, and run to his mother for a big hug.
We will never know how much those six months cost us.
Nothing is more important than early diagnosis and treatment. But, please, don't leave this up to your doctor. He or she may have learned almost nothing about autism in medical school. You have to take responsibility for educating yourself about this disorder.
Know the signs … and don't let anyone tell you not to worry. Remember … 1 in 166. That one could by your child, just like it was ours."
The importance of early diagnosis for autism was brought home in this letter to Autism Speaks, sent to us recently in the wake of a television appearance by our co-founder, Suzanne Wright. The letter has been edited to maintain the privacy of the family.
'Suzanne Saved Us Many Months'
Back in January I watched Suzanne Wright on The View. We were suspecting that our son, at 23 months, had something wrong. Suzanne's presentation sent me to your web site, and my husband (who is a physician) got our son into the developmental pediatrician within three weeks.
Our son was diagnosed with autism (we have also gotten a second opinion and both confirmed our worst fears). But we feel blessed in the fact that we have caught this at such an early age. We are now in our third week of ABA therapy and are starting to see some small but positive changes.
Please pass along to Suzanne Wright a huge thank you. I think Suzanne's presentation probably saved us many months of heading in the wrong direction - time my son could not afford as I am learning that getting him into therapy early is essential.
I look forward to supporting this organization in the future and I look forward to trying to education other moms and trying to pass on the information.”
'Time Was My Enemy'
"I knew something was terribly wrong with my son when he was two. I took him to my pediatrician, detailed my concerns, and was told that nothing was wrong - that I needed to relax, and give him some more time.
Trusting this advice was the biggest mistake of my life. Time was my enemy. And my son was slipping away.
Six months later, we got the official diagnosis of autism. By then, our happy boy was gone. He had lost his wonderful personality. Gone was the ability to laugh, speak, and run to his mother for a big hug.
We will never know how much those six months cost us.
Nothing is more important than early diagnosis and treatment. But, please, don't leave this up to your doctor. He or she may have learned almost nothing about autism in medical school. You have to take responsibility for educating yourself about this disorder.
Know the signs … and don't let anyone tell you not to worry. Remember … 1 in 166. That one could by your child, just like it was ours."
--- A mom named Katie
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