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Recently, I did try to help a pal whose 3 year old son was in process of being "labelled". I've met the son. He's the youngest of 3, two older sisters. He is the baby of the family. At first, the concern was "late talking". His "late talking". So, the "experts" requested tests that were being fully paid for by the taxpayer. The results showed him instead along the "autism" spectrum. So, I told my friend my story, about my son, from the 90s. I recommended she and her family try 3 simple things to encourage his speech. They didn't; and why? Because they'd been told they had to "MOVE ON" this matter of the testing now; or lose the funding.

The mother was afraid of "messing up her child"; so she submitted. Now, her other two kids are not getting the attention they need from her; her son is being shuttled all over the map; and she has to be part of a parenting group which meetings each week; or lose the funding.

This little boy is as normal as rain. A very bright, observant little boy. Now, he's treated as some type of damaged goods; and his sisters can't help but be slightly resentful of all the "special" attention he gets.

It's very saddening.

One of my sons was a late talker. He didn't talk much at all until he was three. Autism was never considered, but we did take him for speech therapy. It was a waste of time and money. He talked when he was ready.

He was also a late reader. He did not read at all until he was nine. He was homeschooled and I had done enough reading by then to let him develop at his own rate. Once he started reading, he progressed quickly. By age ten, he was reading adult level books.

He scored in the top 10% on the ACT and got into college easily. He graduated with a degree in journalism.

Not all children develop there language abilities at the same time or at the same rate. I am glad I was able to let my son progress according to his own timetable.