I've been given a non-diagnosis by HEALIOS, what do I do now?

Hi 

I'm a 24 year old cis-female. I was referred to Healios by my GP for ASD assessment after asking for an ADHD assessment (still on NHS waiting list). 

Process was very quick from referral to the final report but I was given no diagnosis for ASD. I scored more than triple the threshold on the RAADS-R screening but hit non of the markers for the DSM-5. This is incredibly frustrating and now I feel like I'm back to square one.

I was unable to speak to my parents or use them as informants as I'm no contact with them. 

I had an appointment with Healios on Tuesday to discuss the outcome of my assessment. 

My assessor told me that although I show a lot of autistic traits and scored 204 on the RAADS-R screening, I hit none of the markers for the DSM-5. She told me that my experiences in childhood and adolescence (neglectful & abusive parents, moving during adolescence, abusive and manipulative relationships, being 'quirky') could be a cause of my current behaviours and traits, and while I don't disagree that I hold a lot of unresolved trauma, I don't necessarily agree that I'm not autistic. She also told me that my experiences point towards ADHD and she's mentioned this in my report to pass on to the ND team I'm working with. 

I told her that I feel that I'm so efficient at masking that I've become a hindrance to myself. 

I understand co-morbidities and similarities between ASD and ADHD but I just feel like I've slipped through the net. 

Parents
  • If you’ve also been referred for an ADHD assessment I would wait to see the outcome of that because it could be that you have both and the ADHD is masking a lot of your autistic traits. My assessor told me that if you go on the ADHD medication it would make any ASD traits more prominent so you could see it that happens for you and then get a second opinion on ASD.

Reply
  • If you’ve also been referred for an ADHD assessment I would wait to see the outcome of that because it could be that you have both and the ADHD is masking a lot of your autistic traits. My assessor told me that if you go on the ADHD medication it would make any ASD traits more prominent so you could see it that happens for you and then get a second opinion on ASD.

Children
  • Hi Elise

    Definitely going to wait for my ADHD assessment until I get a second opinion! 

    I told my assessor when I had my feedback session that I feel that I've learnt to mask so well that I'm doing myself an injustice by appearing neurotypical Grimacing 

    Fingers crossed I get some more answers Fingers crossed tone1