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RADDS-R and Social Communication Questionnaire

Roy

It’s now been 7 months since seeing my gp for a referral. I completed an AQ10 and a questionnaire which has now been processed. I have now received a more detailed questionnaire in the form of a Radds-r and general background form that’s straightforward enough 

I’m really struggling with the Social Communication questionnaire, it needs to be filled out by someone who knew me as a child. I’m 55 soon and have one surviving parent. My mother is 76 and really doesn’t acknowledge my autism, she can’t even use the words autistic / autism. I’ve tried to slowly let her in but she comes back with her proof that I’m normal. I just know she is going to mess up my chances of a diagnosis. She will bring school workbooks to my house to show that I was normal. I have asked if she knew that I was actually in special lessons as I wouldn’t bond with others. She was totally unaware. Some of my childhood was spent living with relatives as my mother would  be sectioned under the mental health act.

My sister is 10 years younger than me so doesn’t really remember much. I don’t have much of a paper trail, I just kept my head down as a child and stayed under the radar. My wife has known me since I was 19 and is a long serving NHS nurse she sees the struggles I’ve always had as she has  born the brunt of many of my meltdowns. Any ideas would be helpful.

Parents

  • Yes, as has been said by others, you need to inform those undertaking your assessment that your mother is unreliable as a witness of your childhood traits and is hostile to you receiving a diagnosis of ASC. As both my parents were deceased, and my only surviving elder relative was 91 and frail, I received a diagnosis on my own memory of childhood and the testimony of my wife, who has known me since I was 26.

    It is surprising that some autism assessors seem to want almost legalistic levels of proof of childhood traits, when for virtually any other medical condition personal history of symptoms is quite sufficient. It's not like being diagnosed as autistic leads to any notable advantages for the majority of adults; who have, presumably, managed to function for years, more or less successfully, in society.

Reply

  • Yes, as has been said by others, you need to inform those undertaking your assessment that your mother is unreliable as a witness of your childhood traits and is hostile to you receiving a diagnosis of ASC. As both my parents were deceased, and my only surviving elder relative was 91 and frail, I received a diagnosis on my own memory of childhood and the testimony of my wife, who has known me since I was 26.

    It is surprising that some autism assessors seem to want almost legalistic levels of proof of childhood traits, when for virtually any other medical condition personal history of symptoms is quite sufficient. It's not like being diagnosed as autistic leads to any notable advantages for the majority of adults; who have, presumably, managed to function for years, more or less successfully, in society.

Children
  • in reply to Martin

    Thanks for your reply, I do have one elderly aunt who I lived with sometimes, she is also 91 and was always a very stern person, being different wouldn’t have been tolerated. I do have an excellent memory and can go back to pre school. I still wonder what the remedial lessons were for, I was quite a high achiever even in infant school, when the other children were playing with clay I was playing chess. Infant and middle schools didn’t do school reports, I have found one from Secondary school which just states that I don’t join in or make my presence felt. My mother can remember that every parents evening was exactly the same, “ he’s very quiet and doesn’t join in.” The forms are from Oxford NHS and it does have contact details if you don’t have relatives who can help. Im going to contact them tomorrow and let them know that I want my wife to be included, I’ve lived with her for over 35 years, I only lived at home for 19 years. My only worry is that they try to discharge me. I’m seven months in, after the forms are processed, the clock only starts then which they state will be at least 2 years. Thanks for your help.