3 days to go. What will happen.

Hi all. I have my formal diagnostic assessment on Tuesday 5th June. I’m really nervous. I have spent the last year coming to terms with Autism being the reason I am who I am , and I am quite content and at peace with that. But I still need it confirmed by a professional to be totally at peace. But what if I’m not autistic? What if its OCD or ADD? That would totally throw me! My longsuffering husband is coming with me. Can anyone tell me what they will be looking for, or what kind of things they will ask. Its a 3 hour appointment with a diagnosis at the end.

thanks

Parents
  • Who is driving to the appointment? Might be better if your husband drives you. 

    They will ask you questions based on a combination of the info they have on you from what's been said in earlier sessions, plus stereotypical things that people on the spectrum struggle with. They will probably want as much information about your childhood as possible, since that was how you behaved before you learned to mask. 

    The above are just starting points, and they will then ask more detailed questions to get to the bottom of what difficulties you have. 

    I would advise being open with them about your nervousness. They will probably be very motivated to reassure you and make you feel comfortable. 

    It is a good idea to take along some notes in simple bullet-point form, itemising the current state of your life, relationships, and what you feel you struggle with, or other info that may be relevant. One side of handwritten a4 should be more than enough. 

  • Hi Donfeng. Yes taking some notes is a good idea. Things I fond difficult. Not sure why you think my husband needs to drive me though. I’m quite capapble of driving myself. I’m going back to work afterwards anyway.

Reply Children
  • Hi Lellynelly. You can edit your comments to correct things by clicking on the 'Edit' button hidden under 'More'.

    They might ask you about why you think you are autistic, so that would give a chance to say what it explains to you. They'll probably ask you about your special interests, how you coped with difficult social situations, ability to pick up social cues and understand metaphors, whether you were bullied or seemed an outsider or different as a child, problems with relationships, sensory sensitivities to touch and so on.

  • that should say find not fond! Haha