• Replies 2 replies
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 767 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

wrong diagnosis - impact

shopgirl

My son was diagnosed with ASD in spring last year and it was explained to us that they need to be 100% sure as its hard to overturn a misdiagnosis which i respect and undertand but having had a discussion with a mum with a son with similar issues who is as yet undiagnosed, she seemed quite concerned by the whole impact of misdiagnosis where as I just dont see why its even an issue.

Can anyone explain what the impact of a misdiagnosis would be? Just to be clear i dont think my son has been misdiagnosed at all. As far as im concerned if he had been though I cant see that it would effect him unless he outwardly told people "i was mis diagnosed with ASD". I guess there might be a small amount of jobs that in the future might be concerened that this was on his medical history but how else would it negatively effect him?

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    A diagnosis of a mind condition like ASD is not like a diagnosis of a broken leg or something for which there is a definitive test. An ASD diagnosis is only ever an expert's opinion and the opinion may turn out to be useful or not.

    SOI makes very valid points about the impact of having a label. I think it is easy to blame everything on the condition and to forget that the ASD is only part of us and that we can sometimes try harder at certain things but also be prepared to concede that we will never be good at other things. There is a school of thought in human resources that we should focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. Everyone has particular strengths and it is best to work on exploiting them rather than obsessing and trying to fix the things that, with all of the will in the world, cannot be fixed.

    The diagnosis is also private and need not be disclosed to potential employers. It also provides some protection in that we generally fall under the Equality Act. Some careers such as the armed forces are unsuitable for people with this diagnosis but there are lots of other types of work where our particular strengths (attention to detail, diligence, honesty etc) are seen to be particularly valuable.

  • I guess the danger for anyone diagnosed is that they or others may start to see everything through that filter, and either think that certain behaviours cannot be changed because they are hard wired, or that their behaviour or reactions to things are "abnormal", or that displaying certain emotions are not allowed. I think the technical term is "confirmation bias", and it is something I have been thinking a lot about. 

    Sadly there are some very narrow minded people around, who see AS through a purely negative filter, and this will always have to be weighed up against the benefits of receiving support. 

    I would recommend a book called Bright Not Broken

    www.amazon.co.uk/.../0470623322