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Revisiting diagnosis

NAS72187

I’m hoping to get some advice I think after speaking to someone recently. I’m struggling and reached out to someone professional and after hearing her reaction it’s made me want to re visit my diagnosis. 

I started diagnosis just before lock down and my assessment was via zoom call. To cut a long story short the doctor told me he doesn’t think I have autism because when I worked in an office I would join some friends if going for a coffee on lunch break. I’m powerless to question his decision but after hearing how shocked the psychologist was who I was speaking to this week it’s made me want to go back. 

Has anyone done this and been reassessed and diagnosed? Anyone else had a zoom assessment? 

Parents

  • Autism is not merely about being able or unable to do certain things, it is equally about the disparate cost for the autistic person of doing certain things, in anxiety, exhaustion and distress.

    Can I present a seminar to 10, 50 or 100 people, yes I can, I have done so. However, unlike most neurotypicals, I would then be unable to do anything involving interactions with other people for a couple of days. That is the difference.

    My advice would be to take some online autism tests. AQ10 and AQ50 (sometimes called just 'AQ') are the most commonly used by clinicians in this country, but the RAADS-R is the most definitive. They can be found here: https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/

    If you score in the autism range it will give you more certainty about following up on a diagnosis. Test results will also give you ammunition with which to persuade your GP to give you a referral. If this doesn't work, you could try changing GP. Of course, if you have a spare £1k, you can get a private assessment, which takes much less time than the NHS and does not need a GP referral.

Reply

  • Autism is not merely about being able or unable to do certain things, it is equally about the disparate cost for the autistic person of doing certain things, in anxiety, exhaustion and distress.

    Can I present a seminar to 10, 50 or 100 people, yes I can, I have done so. However, unlike most neurotypicals, I would then be unable to do anything involving interactions with other people for a couple of days. That is the difference.

    My advice would be to take some online autism tests. AQ10 and AQ50 (sometimes called just 'AQ') are the most commonly used by clinicians in this country, but the RAADS-R is the most definitive. They can be found here: https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/

    If you score in the autism range it will give you more certainty about following up on a diagnosis. Test results will also give you ammunition with which to persuade your GP to give you a referral. If this doesn't work, you could try changing GP. Of course, if you have a spare £1k, you can get a private assessment, which takes much less time than the NHS and does not need a GP referral.

Children
  • in reply to Martin

    I did the AQ50 and scored 42. I know it’s not all about what you can and can’t do. I do most things because I have to. I’m an adult and a mother. But do they take over my life and cause so much internal pain that I’m exhausted mentally and physically? Yes. 42/50 but hey, I can go for a coffee so I’m ok. Pensive