Is it possible to get a proper diagnosis if you don't have anyone who can speak about your behaviour as a child?

Yes it is. It is not a requirement of diagnosis even if the person doing the diagnosis insists it is.

Hi,I was diagnosed with ASD last year  and deliberately  did not  provide any family evidence for reasons like yourself.As far as, I know adults undergoing autism assessment do not  formally require any supporting evidence from family members so try not to worry too much about this.

yes it is possible. i did. and AFTER my diagnosis, i noticed i began exhibiting a number of aspie-like behaviors that i'd previously never done............. but only when i was high on pot. strange.

Thanks Ben. I'm definitely more hopeful after reading the replies. Been let down & fobbed off so many times by so-called professionals over the years I'm worried it will happen again.

Trei,

Like several of those above,  I too couldn't produce anyone who knew me as a child yet was still  given a diagnoses. It doesn't seem like it's essential, so don't worry, you can explain the situation if they ask.

Ben

That is brilliant guys! Thank you so much everyone! Yes, I have several school reports & am mid compiling a life history, which is in itself very random & all over the place. Quite upsetting to do, but every time I remember something I'm adding it to my word document. Would definitely rather not involve my dad, as I left home 32 years ago & he was barely around then, so doesn't know me.

My husband, who's known me for 14 years knows me better than anyone. Plus the kids (who share my traits between them) are now in their early 20's so perhaps they could add input too? I will have to force myself to chase the assessments. I'm struggling so much at the moment & seem to be deteriorating by the day. Don't know if its ADHD, ASD, Menopause or early Dementia. :( 

I didn’t feel comfortable speaking to my parents about it so I got my wife to fill in the family questionaire to best of her ability. While not ideal the Psychologist I saw was able to get enough from it along with my recollections of my past to diagnose me 

Yes it is.  I received a diagnosis two years ago.  My parents are still alive, but in their mid-eighties.  I didn't want to trouble them, and I've kept my autism diagnosis from them.  I was also concerned that their "evidence" may actually not help, as it was so long ago, and they may not remember, or they may prefer a different outcome. I also didn't use my brother, as he didn't agree with my assessment of the situation.

I was able to take my wife along.  After all, she's lived with me longer than my parents and brother have.  She was interviewed independently from me.

I did recall childhood incidents myself during my diagnosis, and also took along school reports, although the latter didn't really add anything.

So yes it is.  I know I'm autistic and always have been.  The assessors also quickly diagnosed the same.

Good luck.

yes it is possible to be assessed without having anyone speak for u as a child ---- its harder, but possible and depends on the traits u present. My assessors didnt need my mum to be there ( she was ill at the time ).

Go for it  

You would need to choose wisely - I suspect my mum was undiagnosed aspie and, being old school, would never admit to any negative or odd behaviours and was in total denial of my quirks.      Even ones that I remember from my childhood 'never happened'.       She would have been no assistance for my diagnosis.

Yes it is!  There are things you can do.

Have you any school reports?  They often show traits you had as a youngster.  Remarks like 'Does not listen', 'Clumsy',  ' Not communicative', 'Fidgets' 'Does not pay attention in class', 'talkative', 'Intelligent but under performs', 'Slow to pick up', 'Does not understand what is required', as well as inconsistency within a subject or over a range of subjects, and different performance between written and spoken work.

Even if you haven't got the reports, can you remember what was said.  I wrote a potted history which went on forseveral thousand words, about my life, both from the aspect of myself and what I had been told.  I included difficulties I had in finding work, problems in interviews (I couldn't work out what was being asked) and difficulties you have with sensitivities such as not liking wide range of foods because of strong smell, appearance, or taste.  Have you been pulled up for staring, not making eye contact, or fidgeting when you didn't realise you were doing it?  Anything in fact that you think might help.

Print it out and send a copy as well as keeping one yourself for the assessment.  And don't be afraid to refer to it during your assessment.  

I was in my sixties when diagnosed so the whole process relied on what I said and my answers and reactions to questions.  The more information you can give, the easier it will be for the psychologist/psychiatrist to reach a conclusion.  And there is something that makes you think you are autistic, and if this proves not to be the case, the assessor should be able to get an idea of what the problem may be.

Yes it is... My memory is more accurate than anyone who could hve spoken for me - in fact my memeory of other peoples lives is more accurate than thier memory of their own lives - life events, things they did, things they owned, people they knew, etc etc. I usually do eulogies at funerals simply because I remember more than anyone else. For example my uncle - I wrote his eulogy because nobody in his family could remember any details even though I had hardly seen him in the last 20 years. So the perosn who asseses you can take your word for it on how you were as a child.

Both my parents are dead. I am the oldest left in th family at 44 when they all died.