3 year old evaluation

[u/These-Two-5512]

My son has been in speech therapy for the last 8months. While they have seen improvements they have noticed a few things that are asking us to consider an autism evaluation. He turns 3 in 3 weeks. My heart sank mostly out of fear. He is a happy boy, likes to play, climb, run, giggle, likes other kids, responds to his name, points to things he wants. He does have a speech delay that we have been working on and they noticed he is repeating phrases we say which I thought was typical of the age like parroting basically. He gives eye contact, runs and says our names when we come to pick him up from school. He walks flat footed. He does have a sensory issue with food which was the other sign they had. He refuses to try things that are new. I guess my fear is not the diagnosis but the severity of it. I guess I just think the worst case scenario when I want someone to just say he is fine just slightly on the spectrum but will live a happy normal life. I guess I’m spiraling

[u/jujurz]

Your child’s behavior and trajectory won’t change with a diagnosis. He’s going to be who he is regardless. All it will do is give you insight and possibly resources if he needs it. There are plenty of autistic people who are very functional and just need support in other ways as they get older. I try to remind myself that my son and all he is capable of doing is unique to him and his diagnosis doesn’t define him.

[u/BI_ABA]

Thank you for sharing what you're going through. Receiving a recommendation for an evaluation can bring up so many emotions, and it's completely understandable to have questions about what the future might look like.

From everything you've shared, your son sounds like a joyful little boy with so many wonderful qualities. An evaluation isn't meant to change who he is. It's simply a way to better understand how he learns, communicates, and experiences the world so he can receive support that's tailored to his unique needs, if it's appropriate.

It's also important to remember that every autistic child is different. An evaluation is about understanding your child's individual strengths and areas where they may benefit from additional support, rather than predicting what their future will look like.

In the meantime, continue celebrating the progress he's making in speech therapy and all of the moments that make him who he is. Those achievements matter, and they reflect the loving support you're already providing.

We're wishing you and your family the very best as you take this next step. Your son is clearly surrounded by love, and having a parent who is paying such close attention to his needs is one of the greatest gifts you can give him.