Keith Duffy has revealed it took more than two years for his daughter Mia to receive an autism diagnosis as he reflected on the ‘terrifying’ and ‘frustrating’ wait.
Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of Lorraine, the Boyzone star recalled the agonising wait for his little girl to get the help she needed, eventually going private to get the life-changing diagnosis when she was a baby.
Keith, 46, who has 21-year-old daughter Mia and son Jay, 24, with wife Lisa, spoke with stand-in host Cat Deeley about the family’s plight.
Honest: Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of Lorraine, Keith Duffy has revealed it took more than two years for his daughter Mia to receive an autism diagnosis
He said: ‘For so many children on the autism spectrum today, who are not getting the appropriate intervention and education programme, in this day and age it’s crazy.
Cat replied: ‘You suspected as a parent, and it’s that moment of the unknown, when you don’t quite know what is happening, you’re trying to get help, and you are facing all these different challenges. Was that scary for you?’
Keith confessed: ‘It was absolutely terrifying. We had Jordan in ’96 and he was a typically developing baby, and that was quite exciting, we were new on having Jordan, and then four years later Mia came along.
Proud parent: The Boyzone star recalled the agonising wait for his girl to get the help she needed, eventually going private to get the life-changing diagnosis when she was a baby
Speaking out: Keith, 46, who has 21-year-old daughter Mia and son Jay, 24, with wife Lisa, spoke with stand-in host Cat Deeley about the family’s plight
‘We didn’t know what was going on, like most parents, we thought she might have had a hearing problem. We got a hearing test done and that was fine, and it takes you a while to figure out what is going on.
‘We knew nothing about autism at the time, we hadn’t a clue about what we were even looking for, so that was an even bigger obstacle for us to climb.
‘When she was about 18 months old, this word autism kept coming into our lives, and we were put on a waiting list for diagnosis of two-and-a-half years, and yet anybody you speak to will tell you early intervention is essential for any child on the spectrum.’
Keith confessed: ‘It was absolutely terrifying… We knew nothing about autism at the time, we hadn’t a clue about what we were even looking for, so that was an even bigger obstacle for us’
Autism is a developmental disability – not an illness – that affects how people communicate and interact with others.
It’s characterised by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities across multiple contexts.
It’s something you’re born with or first appears when you’re very young and stays with you for life.
Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a ‘cure’. But some people need support to help them with certain things.
He added: ‘I see families and people on the street all the time that come up to me looking for advice, it’s so frustrating as I don’t know what to say anymore.
‘Unless someone on the broad of education is directed affected by someone being diagnosed with autism, really not enough is being done.’
He continued: ‘Mia is doing fantastically well, I am very very proud of her, she is in her first year of university studying enterprise computing…
‘It wasn’t a surprise for me at all, it’s just the way Mia is, she’s a very selfless person, she’s absolutely wonderful.
‘I found out on her Facebook page she told people on her 21st birthday she didn’t want any presents, that they could donate to a charity here in Ireland for assistance dogs for people with special needs.’
Keith has been passionate about raising awareness about autism, and back in 2017 he took part in the TV documentary, Let Me In, which examined how autistic children and their families are treated in different countries around the world.
Speaking at the time, the father-of-two admitted he and wife Lisa were initially ‘distraught’ when Mia was diagnosed but said they learned to ‘find the positive’ in the situation and urged other parents of children with autism to ’embrace’ their child for who they are.
He said: ‘One of the most important steps for a parent of a child with autism is to stop mourning the child that they thought they had and and start embracing the child that they have.’
Cute family: Keith has been passionate about raising awareness about autism and has urged other parents of children with autism to ’embrace’ their child for who they are