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What is actually atypical autism?

Alien0n3arth

I had my session on Wednesday, my therapist after talking to me again said he is more convinced I’m autistic. He also saw some of my works and my “brain massage” the notebook with 10 digit numbers and he said in his opinion I’m an atypical autistic. It’s not the final diagnosis, it’s his opinion. I couldn’t actually find much about it. I only know that atypical autism now is actually not considered autism, but communication disorder and includes lower IQ level (under 80), also that this disorder does not meet the criteria for Asperger or Kenner Syndrome. I’m not so sure why it’s atypical autism in his opinion, but I’m not gonna argue with his opinion. I think maybe because I get sometimes totally blocked and can’t speak, only communicate with pictures, that happened during the last session, maybe because of my untypical perception and strong repetitive behaviours… or because of my weird reactions- laughing in stressful situations, not showing emotions when talking about trauma etc. I couldn’t really find much about the atypical autism. Now all autism is just Autism Spectrum Disorder or Condition and the only differences used in medical records are the levels of support needed. 
mom angry at myself because during the last 3 months  I have written a lot in my diary about autism and about my life, but when the appointment came, it turned out I couldn’t say anything. I just kept repeating one word from the doctor’s question “what have you found out about Autism” and I only repeated “found out, found out” and couldn’t speak. I don’t know why it was so hard for me. I have IQ tested online on the Mensa official website, the result is 107. Not Einstein, but pretty ok. But sometimes people may think I’m under 70. The doctor also pointed that I understand everything literally and straightforward. The only thing I could actually say at the end of our appointment was about my early childhood, what I know from my parents and grandparents also my sister. The doctor asked me if I can imagine myself having this diagnosis. I told him I don’t know. It’s something unusual for me that a doctor asks me if I imagine myself having a diagnosis. Is there anything weird or I should be worried or change the therapist or is it all ok?

  • in reply to Iain

    Thank you, I don’t think his knowledge about autism is low, it just sounds weird to me that s doctor is asking me if I can imagine having this dx. I struggle with selective mutism my whole life. Teachers at school wondered if I can speak at all and they were the first to suggest autism to my mom. But. SHe ignored. I worked a lot past three months and I identify my struggles already much much better than before. Also changing therapist is hard in my area because most of them are fully occupied and have no capacity for new patients. 

  • Alien0n3arth said:
    Is there anything weird or I should be worried or change the therapist or is it all ok?

    I would be a little concerned about your therapists lack of knowledge about autism so I would look at getting one who has a strong track record of successfully helping their patients.

    It seems you are good at observing your autistic traits so I would use a reference list of them to work from then identify which ones have an impact on your life with a one sentence description of how that affects you.

    A list can be found here https://thespectrum.org.au/autism-diagnosis/checklist-adults/

    When you are working with either your therapist of during any assessment, you can present this to them as background (also giving a quick cover letter to say that you often struggle in verbal interactions during the sessions, sometimes with limited mutism.

    If you have any specific issues you want to cover with your therapist then communicate these in detail in advance so you are not struggling to get the info across in the session which may make it flow in a way that makes it more accessible to you.

    Just some thoughts that I hope may be of use to you.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Thank you for your answers. For me “a” means “a”, so he would have to ask specifically if I recognize myself on the spectrum. I mentioned before during the conversation that I recognize these traits in me. But was unable to refer about the autistic traits and criteria. 

  • in reply to Alien0n3arth
    Alien0n3arth said:
    but about him asking me if I can imagine myself having this diagnosis. 

    It's an odd question especially the word 'imagine'.

    Perhaps he was just asking if you are able to recognise it in yourself for confirmation/affirmation? 

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Thank you, based on the information in the article I think he might be right. I’m concerned not about him suspecting this condition in me, but about him asking me if I can imagine myself having this diagnosis. I had diagnosed Tourette and depression and none of those professionals asked me if I can imagine myself having Tourette for example. I got the dx, I accepted case closed. I only couldn’t cope with the terrible side effects of those meds, this led me to being examined again by neurologists and the result was that it’s not Tourette but no further information, what then. 

  • I searched and found this description quite accessible 

    https://www.thechelseapsychologyclinic.com/uncategorized/atypical-autism/

    I'd try not to be too concerned as he isn't the person diagnosing you.