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Not diagnosed with autism

NAS90504

I am 49 and recently went for my autism assessment and they have rung me this week to say I don't fit the criteria as I can communicate well, understand and use body language and have good eye contact.

It baffles me that in 3 hours of questioning they can just say that. 

Surly they should know that after a lifetime of masking some people can do quite well at acting the correct way.

Does the way adults are assessed need to be look at to reflect years of masking.

Parents

  • I am very glad that I was assessed and diagnosed by a psychiatrist, rather than a clinical psychologist, as the psychiatric approach leans more towards a person's history and self-described traits, rather than mere observation. I do not think that observation, obviously of vital importance for the diagnosis of small children, should play any great role in diagnosing autistic adults. I make apparently 'normal' eye contact, but I do it consciously, I time it. I told my assessor that I do this to disarm the 'no eye contact fallacy'. Also I am a professional scientist (now retired), so I can obviously communicate well generally, However, I told my assessor that I have great problems in conversation if there is background noise, I have difficulties in timing my interjections in conversations involving more than one person and my facial expression and tone of voice mean that my intentions are sometimes misinterpreted. The only observation referred to in my diagnosis report was that I have 'a rather flat affect'.

    I studied the diagnostic ICD criteria for autism beforehand and ensured that I covered all bases in my preliminary questionnaire. I was not leaving things to chance. I have experience in teaching medics and do not trust them to divine things or necessarily ask the right questions.

  • in reply to Martin

    Looking back I think I should have done my home work. It's almost like you have to be on your worse day when you get assessed. That would mean to me almost lieing about my day to day life.

  • in reply to NAS90504
    NAS90504 said:
    Looking back I think I should have done my home work.

    Were you asked for specific examples of things and then did you find it hard to think of any? It can be hard to think quickly under pressure like that. Even if you could think of something, you'd probably be wondering if it was a good example or not.

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