Preparing for Online triage appointment

I had a voice only triage a year or two back - I can't remember how long it was, but I think << than 1 hour.

Have you done some of the Autism diagnostic tests (AQ50 etc.)? The questions encouraged me to think about my behaviours (rather than just live them!).

To prepare for triage I went through the symptoms of autism (eg: as shown here https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism), and noted down real-life anecodotes from my past for each applicable symptom.

They seemed particularly interested in my childhood examples, so if possible I suggest noting down how the symptom manifested in both childhood AND as an adult. Talk to siblings, parents etc, if possible for insights on possible autistic behaviour when you were young.

Before I realised I was autistic, I assumed that everyone (in general) thought at least vaugely like me. Once self-diagnosed, I was quite surprised to find for example, that not everyone masks when they leave the house. So it's worth having discussions with any neurotypicals you know well about the way you think, what you find difficult etc.

I have my actual autism assessment via video in September... I'm trying to practice NOT masking in front of people - but after 50 years I'm finding it very difficult... stuff like not looking people in the eyes if I don't want to (since normally I force myself to stare at their nose) and also just stimming if I need to (I like to set my leg auto-bouncing with golgi reflex).

Good luck. I hope you reach enlightenment.

The person assessing you is medically trained to spot camouflage or masking behaviours so you don't need to worry. I don't know how to put this, but if you escalating your behaviour during the assessment they will think that your faking it and not take you seriously. Just be as honest and truthful and try your hardest to explain the how it effect you on a daily basis. you never know they may diagnosis you with autism and refer you to another specialist to be assessed for ADHD or PTSD. 

The person assessing you is medically trained to spot camouflage or masking behaviours so you don't need to worry. I don't know how to put this, but if you escalating your behaviour during the assessment they will think that your faking it and not take you seriously. Just be as honest and truthful and try your hardest to explain the how it effect you on a daily basis. you never know they may diagnosis you with autism and refer you to another specialist to be assessed for ADHD or PTSD. 

I have talked about this in post autism support sessions with my support worker, the professional who diagnosed me picked up inconsistencies in my masking, camouflaging and assimilating behaviours in my pre autism assessment meeting I had. before the actual assessment. I was a really unusual case as I am male but presented with the more feminine profile of autism spectrum disorder as I was actively masking my issues & relatively well according to the professional. The professional who diagnosed me had a hard time figuring out whether the autism caused behaviours that led to events that developed into post traumatic stress disorder or I had post traumatic stress disorder caused symptoms similar to autism spectrum disorder.

It wasn't until the actual assessment that the professional who diagnosed me with autism had worked out that I also had quite a lot of undiagnosed commodities like Dyslexia, Dyspraxia , Dysgraphia and Attention Hyperactive Deficit Disorder by reading through old school reports. Because my family had forced me to and traumatised me to behave in such as way and keep me from after school activities and school trips the professional who diagnosed me decided to ignore the questionnaire she sent my family to fill out and manged to get into contact with teachers who had taught me in primary and secondary school to back up evidence to my diagnosis.

I've asked the professional who diagnosed me with autism how they instinctively knew I was somewhere on the spectrum as so many doctors, CAMHS workers missed it and they basically said even though i was masking it extremely well they had this unsure feeling around me and went onto explain how some people pick up on that vibe which can unsuspectedly make you a target to certain individuals or just make other people uncomfortable around you or have a suspicious attitude towards you which explain some of the issues i had in the workplace as an adult. 

Know this is where it get really interesting as both my oldest brother and brother in-law decided to seek an autism diagnosis. My oldest brother is a nasty individual who basically though the diagnosis was easily obtained as I had received it and that the diagnosis could act as an excuse for his appealing behaviour and attitude. one of the supporting evidence is that he doesn't eat vegetables and is aggressively blunt, he also tried to mimic and replicate my non masking behaviour during the assessment and the same professional who diagnosed me didn't give him a diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder but referred him to a specialist in negative personality disorders which at the time a though was hilarious.

My brother in law tried to get autism diagnosis as he thought it would be something he could use to play the benefit system so he didn't have to work and he did the exact same thing as my brother a faked the behaviour and he was thrown out during the autism assessment.

basically i am telling you they can tell when your faking it and when your being genuine with them.                    

Agreed - not advocating escalating anything.

I am dubious that any normal level of medical training can see through my mask if I am in good form... I am just practicing letting a little of my natural/desired behaviours manifest when I am out in public.