My son is 9 years old.  He had several problems with Speech and Language skills from a young age.  He has improved over time in speaking understandable, but still struggles socially, and with an inability you use appropriate facial expressions, etc...

I tried to get him diagnosed at a local university, but they judged some of my disorganization for structure as the cause for all his problems.  (I.E. at the time I did not do well at having a set bedtime, as well as other set routine times consistently.  I should say here I have ADD and am an artist as well...I do struggle with time and routines)  It's true I could have done better, but Autism or ASD are still there whether or not parenting skills can be strengthened.  His problems of not dressing himself, tantrums, lack of eye contact, social awkwardness can't all be blamed on me.

Because of my very bad experience I gave up for a time in getting him diagnosed.  He has, however, been on an I.E.P. since Preschool.  He's now in 3rd grade--having repeated first grade because of academic struggles. 

I have now started to try and get him diagnosed, but the woman I went to is focusing in on possible anxiety as a cause for his social problems.  She said she wouldn't address ASD with my husband and I, because she wanted to have more data. (I had forms filled out, and paperwork from schools, and she didn't look at any of it....she only focused in on anxiety... I feel frustrated.)

Well, what I really want to know is....

Do any one of you have a child with a MILD form of Autism?  Was that child diagnosed at an older age?  Or, have any of you had problems like myself... where you recieved a biased diagnosis (or lack thereof)?  Please share.