"Everything starts to make more sense"

My son is bright, curious, and creative 9-year-old boy. Just ten days ago, our lives changed: he was officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition and ADHD.

We first noticed signs when my son was three. He didn’t respond to his name, lined up his toys rather than playing with them, became upset by changes in routine, and cried at loud noises. I had a strong feeling something was different. We were referred to the Growth and Development Assessment (GDA) clinic at Doncaster Hospital. They observed some early signs but advised us to continue monitoring him.

As he started school, the challenges became more visible. He struggled to sit still, concentrate, and follow instructions and interactions with other children. At home, simple tasks were often difficult and time-consuming. By Year 3, he was having regular meltdowns, withdrawing from others, he loved google maps and video games.

When he turned seven, we were referred to the Children’s Neuro-Developmental Service.

After more than a year of waiting, he was referred to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) at Tickhill Road in Doncaster for further assessment and diagnosis.

CAMHS Diagnostic Process

•Initial Appointment (held online): A psychologist spoke with us about his behaviour, emotions, daily routine, family history, school experience, sleep, eating habits, and friendships.

•Questionnaires and Observations: We, as parents, and my son's teachers completed detailed questionnaires about his behaviour and emotions at home and at school.

•As my son showed signs of both autism and ADHD, CAMHS arranged:

•ADHD assessments (including interviews, behaviour rating scales, and Conners questionnaires)

•Autism assessments (using tools like ADOS-2 and detailed developmental history interviews)

Diagnosis and Feedback

Ten days ago, we attended our feedback meeting. The psychologist gently explained that he meets the criteria for both Autism Spectrum Condition and ADHD. He discussed the diagnosis in clear terms, gave us written reports, and helped us understand what it means for my son. He really did it well.

We felt a mix of emotions—relief that we finally had answers, and sadness that it had taken so long for him to get the support he needed.

Now that we have a diagnosis, his school may start a Special Educational Needs (SEN) plan. We might be offered parenting workshops, and an ADHD nurse will be in touch to discuss next steps.

He is still the same wonderful boy. He loves outer space, superheroes, and drawing alien worlds. The difference now is—we understand him better. And that makes all the difference.

To other parents who are still waiting for answers: don’t give up. The journey is hard, but the answers do come—and when they do, everything starts to make more sense.