We also found out when my son was 2.5 years old. It's like a punch to the gut when you first find out. Sounds like he is pretty high functioning, which is also what my son is.

Speech, OT, and ABA therapies have been by far the most productive for my son who is now 5. I would recommend trying to get your child into the Emerge Center in Baton Rouge as they can provide all the therapies in 1 location. Otherwise you will have to bring your child to different locations for different therapies all day every day. You or your wife would basically have to quit your job just to taxi your child around. Emerge is considered the best in the SouthEast and one of the best in the country due to how the incorporate the therapies in learning environments.

We still do not do any medications as for me that is a last resort. Most of the meds are mind altering type stuff that dulls them out.

From one parent to another, the best you can do is love your child. Do as much research as you can and try to understand Autism. Understand that your life will be different now as your child will probably not be able to handle most of the social situations that most others their age will. Autism children thrive on very strict routines, eating at the same time every day, going to bed at the same time every night. If you stay off the routine for too long of a time, they become demons very fast.

Due to the amount of overstimulation they experience on a regular basis, being rested and having high tolerance is very important. They don't process information or stimuli the same and it can take a while to learn what triggers a meltdown. Be as patient as you can.

Once you get them into the right programs, things should get better over time. As they grow, they get better as well and some even "grow out of it" which is not really true, they just become so adept at handling their autism, they can mainstream.

This post was edited on 10/30/16 at 2:44 pm