An exploration of parental narratives in the context of a child's diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder

Section A presents a critical review of current literature regarding the parental experiences of receiving, and making sense of, a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for their child where there is no learning disability present. It begins with an overview of the current debates in the diagnosis of ASD and considers how parents make sense of a diagnosis. The review then evaluates papers pertaining to parents' experiences of receiving a diagnosis for their child, their experience of living with ASD and the efficacy of post-diagnostic psychoeducation interventions. A consideration of the clinical and research implications of these findings concludes the section.
Section B provides the findings of a narrative study examining the development of parental narratives following the diagnosis of their child with high functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome. Seven parents who were participating in a post-diagnostic psychoeducation group were interviewed across two time points. The findings highlight the parents’ development of a new framework enabling the creation of an alternative personal and family narrative. The implications this has on parental well-being are discussed and recommendations are made for future research to build on these initial findings.
Section C provides a critical appraisal and reflective account of the study presented in section B. This includes consideration of development of research skills, limitations of the study, clinical implications, and future research ideas.