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Adult Diagnosis: not enough primary school symptoms

Amy

Hi,

I had my assessment today.

She said I have significant strong autistic indicators, however, I appear to have been too social at primary school and that is not an autistic trait. The next step was for my mother to complete the background questionnaire for them to get extra information about my early years.

I have autistic indicators in all other age groups, including toddler, but not enough in the primary school age. 

She said if there isn't enough indicators then I will likely be diagnosed with a childhood trauma anxiety that is giving me autistic-like symptoms as an adult. But I have no childhood traumas!

I am so confused. My mum did the questionnaire with me there and (imo) it looks normal. She kept saying stuff like "like a normal child."

I have been emotional and confused ever since she finished the questionnaire. I can't process how I can have significant strong autistic indicators and not be autistic? She did explain that the current criteria has the consistent childhood symptoms as a requirement... but that doesn't make sense to me if I have it through the rest?? 

The assessor won't see the questionnaire until tomorrow (if she's free). Ye, I could still "be autistic". But I don't understand how if the criteria says I need to be consistently autistic throughout childhood. I am an adult female btw. My mum is also having issues distiguishing between her memories of me and my sister.

Please, does anyone have any advice?

----

Update:

I have been diagnosed with autism! The assessor said that, reading between the lines of my mum's questionnaire, my social circle at home was very small, so I wouldn't have displayed autistic traits to a noticeable level. :) 

Parents

  • It sounds like you need to delay handing in the report in order to have a long talk with your mother, to get her onboard with your need to get a positive diagnosis. It is sometimes difficult for parents to admit that there is anything 'wrong' with their children, as they may feel that it reflects badly on them and their parenting. You will have to explain to her that autism is entirely due to 'differential wiring in the brain' and has nothing whatsoever to do with her skills and committment as a parent. 

    The diagnosis is not entirely reliant on your mother's report, your report is more important. Do you remember any of the following: reluctance to go to school, fear or hatred of school, feigning illness to avoid school, being bullied or ostracised by other children, being distracted by noise or lighting in the class room, instances of selective mutism, finding it difficult to make or keep friends, having a small number of friends, finding it difficult when changing classes or schools, difficulties with food tastes or textures etc. etc. ? The list is almost endless.

  • in reply to Martin

    The report has already been sent! This explains why we had a conversation about my sister asking if mum dropped her on her head because "that was the only reason" she could have the diagnosis she had (non epileptic seizures). I didn't make the connection. I know she doesn't want me to be autistic, but she has been open with me about my childhood :) 

    I have since emailed the assessors and updated them about still feeling exhausted after social interactions as a kid, copying other kids, and having trouble learning how to read and write as a kid... but I'm dyslexic :-/

    I did fake being ill a lot so I didn't have to go to school, but I loved studying and learning things. I'll email them and let them know this too Neutral faceNeutral face thsnk you!

  • in reply to Amy

    I have sent an email with everything I can remember that may be considered strange.

    Most of these things my mum keep saying are perfectly normal though. E.g. ever since I was a baby I would copy my sisters reactions. They ended up trying new things on me first to prevent this. To be this seems like classic imitating? I haven't been around a lot of kids, is this common for siblings who are close in age? My sister never did it.

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  • in reply to Amy

    I have sent an email with everything I can remember that may be considered strange.

    Most of these things my mum keep saying are perfectly normal though. E.g. ever since I was a baby I would copy my sisters reactions. They ended up trying new things on me first to prevent this. To be this seems like classic imitating? I haven't been around a lot of kids, is this common for siblings who are close in age? My sister never did it.

Children
  • in reply to Martin

    Thank you Martin :) A lot of this is still very new and rather confusing for me! I remember that when I was a teen I did a lot of in-depth research on how to behave and make friends and try to put it into practice, but I once received some feedback that I came on too strong lol. I told my assessor this too. Thank you, it makes more sense when people explain these things to me. It doesn't always make sense if I read it from an article or something :-/ 

  • in reply to Amy

    I think the difference is in degree, the copying behaviour of autistic girls tends to be more intense and prolonged, and the copying of one particular other girl, rather than many, is also a feature of autism. This is because autistic people do not absorb social conventions subconsciously like allistic people do, they have to do this consciously, using their intellect. A good short cut to acquiring social skills, especially true of autistic girls, is to copy one specific other girl, who is popular and socially successful.