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Adult diagnosis - parents input

miaxx

Is there a way you can be diagnosed without the assessor speaking with parents?

My parents often tell jokes about how I was in childhood, and they are almost always symptoms of Autism that they failed to realise.

So, they know full well I was different, however wouldn't have thought Autistic (they think of Autism as the 'little boy who likes trains' trope.)

I can remember a lot of my childhood and what I was like, so I can give examples in my assessment, but do they NEED to speak with my parents?

My problem is, if I speak to my parents about it, they will dig their heels in. They will either refuse, or they will fabricate. They don't want an Autistic daughter. They don't believe I could be Autistic and they are ~always~ right. They would think they'd be terrible parents if they raised an Autistic child. So they will lie. And I don't want that going against me in my assessment.

So, can I be diagnosed without parents input?

  • in reply to Catlover

    Telling the time is my enemy!

    I really hope I can and will be assessed without parental input. I don't have any other people who would be able to vouch for my childhood. 

    Here's hoping.

  • It is entirely possible. I know this because I was told by my Psychologist, during my initial consultation. She can attend, or I can ask her questions, or I can just go in what I can recall.
    My assessment isn’t yet, but I do worry what my mother will say. She cannot recall much, as there were us 3 girls, and she was in an abusive relationship, and she too is probably in the spectrum. She knows I was quiet, had a best friend, didn’t like to join in with games and frivolity, had an exceptional memory, and otherwise, she keeps saying I was just a normal child. However, I wasn’t at all like my siblings, and I recall things like not being able to tell the time, getting into trouble at school, and not being able to lace my shoes. Or hold scissors. She can’t remember any of that.

    Anyway I’m going off topic. 
    You should be fine with or without her. It may be what she doesn’t say may be important. In any case, you can bring along someone else who knows you well, or even a sibling.

  • Some people get diagnoses when their parents are deceased, so it should be possible. You can get parental input and just flag that it is not likely to be entirely candid or accurate, due to their own issues. If you have an alternative person who has known you for a long time, older sibling, aunt or uncle, or family friend, who you think would be more sympathetic, you can always suggest them. As the diagnostic criteria require evidence of traits from a young age they like to hear from someone who knew you as a child, but your own recollections should be the most cogent of all.