Should I get diagnosed officially?

Thank you Paul, just bought a copy of that book.

I should point out that this is essentially what others on this forum suggested I do back before Christmas.

Hello Grace

I watched the same program and came to the same conclusion, took an online AQ50 test and got 35.  I did send a letter to my GP with the result of the test and a list of symptoms/effects I have with ASD.  All this was way before Christmas and I found out last week from the GP that they have sent a referral letter so I should hear something soon.

I too 'know' I am autistic but I don't have too many social issues.  I do get random anxiety, I am not very good at conversation, especially in large groups and I cannot read people at all.  However, I think 53 years of ignorance and ingrained masking helps me deal with most situations.

On balance I think the assessment will be useful. I am happily married at the moment but to a much older woman.  Should something happen to her then it might be necessary to have access to mental health facilities and a formal diagnosis could be useful.  It will also be a very interesting process, I like the idea of discussing autism with a professional.  I just hope I don't get someone cold and uncaring as some people have when going through this process.

So I would say go to your GP, get a referral then you can always change your mind further down the road (there will be a looong gap from referral to initial session with the specialist).

Definitely take an AQ50 test https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient

Read this book I Think I Might Be Autistic by Cynthia Kim - cheap from Amazon and a quick read.

Take the result of the test to the GP along with a list bullet points of why you think you are autistic and you should get a referral.

None in relation to autism at the moment as I'm going through the diagnostic process.  I have had adjustments provided by access to work though.

I work on an IT service desk for the NHS but because of my MS I went hard of hearing about 3 years ago and use 2 hearing aids.  Almost 2 years ago I lost the ability to speak fluently and I'm currently losing my vision as well.

For my hearing, access to work provided some Phonak Roger equipment (about £4.5K worth) to enable the phone at work to connect directly to my hearing aids, blocking out all other sound from the office.

For my speech, access to work provided an iPad Pro with software named Predictable (around £1500 worth) which is AAC software which can speak for me and much more besides.  

For my vision the low vision clinic have provided me with an illuminated magnifier with a stand to read documents and some special glasses for reading computer screens.  I also need to wear varifocal glasses now as my regular specs.  The optometrist mentioned 3 times during the examination that it was "because of your age", I've just hit 45 lol!!

None-tangible adjustments have been doubling of sickness triggers and the ability to work from home one day a week as I have visits from district nurses for catheter care.

Mostly just little things around routine. I work in a secondary school and everyone's quite used to autistic students, so an autistic teacher wasn't too hard for them to get their heads around. Basically they don't change my routine at short notice - so they don't ask me to cover registrations or lessons if someone is off sick - they don't put me on duty in the main hall because the noise builds too much in there - and they don't schedule other lessons in my classroom when I have free periods because they understand that I need to hang out in my nice, quiet safe space, not in the staff room. 

Oh brill! What kind of support have you had from getting a diagnosis?

That's okay! I've never had an issue with it... I mean, they let me into Australia and they can be pretty picky! I don't think my travel insurance would have paid out if I'd had some kind of issue that could be blamed on autism, but that's a risk I'm willing to take.

Hello, thank you for your reply. I totally agree, it wouldn't change my perception either. I feel the same, I 'know' so embrace it :) I am worried about having issues with travel visas etc which is what I have read on other pages so I'm unsure what to do as I want to travel in the future. 

Hi Dan, thank you for your reply! What sort of adjustments have you experienced? :) 

Hi there and welcome!

I think there are benefits to pursuing a diagnosis. For me, it didn't change my perception of myself in any way - I "knew" before the diagnosis and had embraced it - but it is a useful thing to have in education and work situations. Because it is classed as a disability, however rightly or wrongly we might regard that classification, it does entitle you to some reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

Getting diagnosed is a bit of an uphill slog (if you can afford to go private, do), but all the more reason to get started asap. An appointment with your GP is the place to begin - some GPs are more receptive than others, so I would bring along the results of any online autism tests you have taken (provided they're legit and not from Buzzfeed!) to use as ammunition.

Hi Grace, I personally would say it is worth you getting a diagnosis; as you mention, you'll then be eligible for reasonable adjustments x