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First Autism appointment - any advice?

Papermoon

So I have my first autism appointment via video call in 17 days! There's not going to be a diagnosis made at the end of it. Any advice for this appointment? Things I should know and do?

  • Like others have said make a list of things that make you think that you are Autistic, especially concentrate on this makes life difficult or stressful for you.

    Eg social situations, work, sensory issues, eating fads etc etc

    Take the AQ & EQ tests and present your answers and results.

  • just be yourself. if you prepare then youd end up coming across too well and neuro typical wont you? lol if you go in with no prep as you are then they would judge you as you are and your more likely to get the correct diagnosis i guess? but alot of people end up saying to prepare and make lists, but then if you do that then you will be very masked or whatever and professional sounding which may not reflect who you truly naturally are. but ofcourse i wouldnt say this is really advice as alot of people would advise on the contrary to prepare instead. its just my thoughts, id have thought it would be better to not prepare and be as you are and not be worried about sounding clumsy.

  • in reply to Dara

    Yes that's what I mean, a triage appointment!

  • Make a list of reasons why u think u are autistic.

    include blood relatives in your family who are autistic or adhd or called weird/different

    and a list of occasions when u have been called weird, autistic, different

    the list should be electronic ie so you can email it to anyone who wants it.

    ask to email it to them because they are human and may forget things you have mentioned and an email can fix that. It also saves them loads of typing so  they are very likely to cut and paste your text where ever they need it :)

  • After my GP, I had a triage appointment, so you might mean that one? I'm not sure if it's always the same. They asked me what had brought me to the point of asking for an autism diagnosis, then some of the questions were clearly about traits such as asking about social experiences, but then others were more indirect like what did I do for work. I don't think they would be the same questions every time. But I would have a list of trait things you want to tell them and then if they haven't been covered, ask if you can send it or go through a few it. At the end of the appointment they let me know that they think I might be autistic so I would get another two appointments soon, so that was good, because I didn't have to wait to find out their opinion. I stim constantly, so I made sure the video was arranged to show enough of me that they'd see it!