Robertson family paid for a psychologist to assess their son aged three Father Christopher said learning about child's autism was 'distressing' He has attended mainstream preparatory school since the age of four Parents credit turnaround on vigorous intensive educational therapy His grades are amongst the best in his class and he hopes to do GCSEs
By Chloe Lambert
PUBLISHED: 19:17 EST, 31 January 2013 | UPDATED: 20:11 EST, 31 January 2013
Like all new parents, Rhona and Christopher Robertson were mesmerised by their adorable baby son, and when he reached normal development milestones a little later than expected, at first they thought nothing of it.
But by the time Jamie was two, they were getting concerned.
He was walking at 18 months which was a wee bit late but speaking just didnt happen, recalls Christopher, 49, a technology marketing consultant who lives with his family in Cambridge.
Talented: Jamie Roberston, 11, who was diagnosed with a severe form of autism at the age of three
He would learn words but then seem to forget them. He was not interacting, he didnt have good eye contact, and was prone to running up and down the room repetitively.
Their GP and health worker both insisted that, like many boys, Jamie was simply a late developer.
But when Jamie was three and still not progressing or speaking, the Robertsons paid privately for a psychologist to assess their son for autism.