Do you think it is wrong for someone to say they are autistic when they aren't diagnosed?

Do you think it is wrong for someone to say they are autistic when they aren't diagnosed?

I don't want to cause any arguments on here just wanted people's honest opinions because I am not diagnosed myself and not sure i want to go down the assessment route and feel at present that I would only be doing so for other people's benefit to prove I am and not my own.

Parents
  • Self realisation should be followed by extensive research about the topic. If someone says 'I know that im autistic' just after filling an AQ50 (whatever score they hit) then I would encourage the person to research more before saying, that they are autistic. The tests questions detect some issues, but not so specifically. For example not enjoying social settings can be due to trauma, anxiety or depression. The final answer comes from a professional. But not everyone has access to assessments, not everyone is in a situation that they should be assessed. In addition it's often that one professional says they would give the person a positive diagnosis,  other one says they would not diagnose. Same patient. And there is often imposter syndrom. I don't think it's bad to say, that you think/suspect or are undiagnosed autistic. People are in various situations. I only don't like it, when tiktokers make a fashion out of it to get attention,  get their way, push some narrative,  or I don't know what else. It harms those, who struggle. And I don't think that not hitting the threshold should not be automatically a denial in supporting an individual in need. 

Reply
  • Self realisation should be followed by extensive research about the topic. If someone says 'I know that im autistic' just after filling an AQ50 (whatever score they hit) then I would encourage the person to research more before saying, that they are autistic. The tests questions detect some issues, but not so specifically. For example not enjoying social settings can be due to trauma, anxiety or depression. The final answer comes from a professional. But not everyone has access to assessments, not everyone is in a situation that they should be assessed. In addition it's often that one professional says they would give the person a positive diagnosis,  other one says they would not diagnose. Same patient. And there is often imposter syndrom. I don't think it's bad to say, that you think/suspect or are undiagnosed autistic. People are in various situations. I only don't like it, when tiktokers make a fashion out of it to get attention,  get their way, push some narrative,  or I don't know what else. It harms those, who struggle. And I don't think that not hitting the threshold should not be automatically a denial in supporting an individual in need. 

Children
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