• Replies 30 replies
  • Subscribers 88 subscribers
  • Views 14391 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Adult female diagnosis - mum doesn't think I had many childhood traits

NAS72736

Hello. I am an adult female (35) and think I might be autistic and have self-referred to my local autism service. They sent me 3 questionnaires to fill so I did mine (the EQ and AQ tests) which came out with a high likelihood of autism. But my mum filled out the CAST questionnaire for childhood autistic behaviours/traits and I scored quite low on that and my score indicated low or no autistic traits. I have just posted these off and am now waiting to hear.

I am wondering if this will affect the chances of me getting diagnosed with autism. I am worried that based on this CAST questionnaire I will be refused an appointment for diagnosis. My mum just seems to think I was a quiet and shy little girl but that I did very well in school, had no learning disabilities, had friends and had no problems with eye contact, strange behaviours, adherence to routines, etc. I just think my mum probably can't remember what I was like as I am 35 now and it's probably all a bit hazy, either that or she just didn't think any behaviours I did have were unusual (when actually they were!). I also think that the CAST questionnaire focusses on stereotypically male autistic traits.

I think I have so many autistic traits now as an adult woman (including social anxiety, general anxiety, obsessions, rigid thinking, resistance to change, and problems sticking to education and employment) that I am very doubtful that I had so few traits as a child.

Does anybody here have any experience of adult female diagnosis and problems with the developmental history part, especially perhaps with parents not thinking you are autistic or that you had any traits as a child? Would a low CAST score on its own be enough to refuse a diagnosis appointment or do they take into account current traits?

Thanks!

Parents

  • I think we have the same Mum.  I'm not going to ask her when I go for my assessment, she thinks exactly the same of me as yours does of you.  She seems to have forgotten or ignored everything negative about my childhood, I mean, they brought her in for parenting lessons because I cried all the time! 

    I'm going to ask my Dad and my brother for their POVs instead.  My brother just accepts that I am autistic and will just tell the truth as he sees it, since he is my bridge to neurotypicals I can be confident with him.  My Dad is less knowledgeable but just as supportive and he has always noticed stuff that fits but just not known what it meant.

    My point in the process is that I've had a first appointment with a psychiatrist who has diagnosed depression and PTSD, changed up my meds and recommended EMDR.  Since I have both of those things, along with anxiety, I'm happy to go along with that until I can guide myself to the right place to get a proper diagnosis.  I think mental health is a conversation, not a be-all-that-ends-all diagnosis, and you may have more than one counsellor or psychiatrist, occupational therapist and so on through your life.  Whether the actual diagnosis happens or not, the rest of it will still help as long as you participate in the process.

Reply

  • I think we have the same Mum.  I'm not going to ask her when I go for my assessment, she thinks exactly the same of me as yours does of you.  She seems to have forgotten or ignored everything negative about my childhood, I mean, they brought her in for parenting lessons because I cried all the time! 

    I'm going to ask my Dad and my brother for their POVs instead.  My brother just accepts that I am autistic and will just tell the truth as he sees it, since he is my bridge to neurotypicals I can be confident with him.  My Dad is less knowledgeable but just as supportive and he has always noticed stuff that fits but just not known what it meant.

    My point in the process is that I've had a first appointment with a psychiatrist who has diagnosed depression and PTSD, changed up my meds and recommended EMDR.  Since I have both of those things, along with anxiety, I'm happy to go along with that until I can guide myself to the right place to get a proper diagnosis.  I think mental health is a conversation, not a be-all-that-ends-all diagnosis, and you may have more than one counsellor or psychiatrist, occupational therapist and so on through your life.  Whether the actual diagnosis happens or not, the rest of it will still help as long as you participate in the process.

Children
  • in reply to Nezumi
    Nezumi said:
    I think mental health is a conversation, not a be-all-that-ends-all diagnosis

    You're right, I think.  It has to start by making you feel supported and adapt to need and we are all different. 

    Having said that, I have read a good deal on the adaptations of assorted therapies for Autism because the thinking styles are so different.  I could be looking at a catalogue of their failures with me.  Not the be all and end all, for sure, but I don't think I can get any nearer a solution without it as a start point.