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ASD Non Diagnosis Help

Helleh

Wondering if you lovely lot can help me. 

I had an ASD assessment last week and got the outcome that they have decided not to diagnose. 

Below are some of my reasonings for why I feel I may be on the spectrum (be here forever if I put them all):

  • Repetitive behaviours such as watching/listening to the same thing over and over, list making, picking my nails etc
  • Can't cope with routine change
  • Smell food constantly before eating it 
  • Obsessive behaviours 
  • Sensory issues with food/noises
  • Struggle with people/communication
  • Socially awkward 
  • I think very much in black and white 
  • Hate eye contact 
  • Can come across as rude 

Now they have decided on a non diagnosis due to the below reasons (will be something quite sensitive so be warned): 

  • Wasn't repetitive enough in the assessment
  • I have a small amount of friends and a partner 
  • My vocabulary is good 
  • I'm capable of using my imagination 
  • and lastly because of a trauma that happened during my adult life which was a rape/attempted murder (which they were aware of prior to the assessment)
  • I'm aware of other people's feelings (just about) 
  • showed understanding of responsibility
  • ability to offer information (well it was an assessment?)

They themselves have said that I display 

  • Sensory issues
  • Uncomfortable social interactions 
  • Not in touch with my own feelings
  • limited facial expression/enjoyment
  • made repeated references to making lists

I believe I may have High Functioning Autism. 

Now those wouldn't neccessarily be an issue but I feel as though they pretty much ignored all my behaviours/the discussion with a family member - which have existed prior to the trauma and focused their decision from the trauma onwards. I could be wrong but I feel their other reasonings are very outdated and don't adhere to the fact that EVERYONE on the spectrum is different, no person is the same. Nor have they considered the fact I am a 31 adult female and have learned to mask/copy a lot of things since I was a child. 

Anyway, I have the oppertunity for a feedback meeting and was wondering what advice any of you have in doing so. If you think I have good reason to do so and how I should argue my case. I have no issue with the non diagnosis itself per say, it's their reasons behind it that don't sit well with me and make me feel as though they could potentially be wrong in their decision. 

Any help going forward would be appreciated. Thank you. 

Parents

  • You can challenge the decision and get another assessment done. But most of the time the will stand by the initial diagnosis. When you challenged their decision ask them what they think you have instead of 'Autism' such as ADHD and PTSD which have the same behavioural profile.

    the difference is how you are neurologically processing information to manifest these behaviours and not the behaviours themself which is why they may think you have PTSD or ADHD instead of Autism. 

    Alternatively i wood look into the possibility of you have both Autism and either or both ADHD and PTSD as the autistic profile is affected by both comorbid disorders and have been known to camouflage or mask their behaviours as a result.

Reply

  • You can challenge the decision and get another assessment done. But most of the time the will stand by the initial diagnosis. When you challenged their decision ask them what they think you have instead of 'Autism' such as ADHD and PTSD which have the same behavioural profile.

    the difference is how you are neurologically processing information to manifest these behaviours and not the behaviours themself which is why they may think you have PTSD or ADHD instead of Autism. 

    Alternatively i wood look into the possibility of you have both Autism and either or both ADHD and PTSD as the autistic profile is affected by both comorbid disorders and have been known to camouflage or mask their behaviours as a result.

Children
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