Definitely NOT autistic...

Hi recombinatsocks,

Thanks for sharing your ideas, I will refer your point about needing further clarification re childhood evidence to a more senior moderator so that we can hopefully help.

Sofie Mod

Bukko,

Are you being over literal in interpreting the results of the diagnosis (perhaps the people doing the diagnosis are being over literal in requiring this evidence). Also, do you have a problem that requires diagnosis and treatment and are they denying you any treatment because they are unable to come to a diagnosis?

Also, this topic comes up over and over again. Can the NAS advise or can they push to clarify what should happen if there is no evidence from childhood? I've flagged this to the moderators for NAS input. 

Longman...

         ...its that old problem of 'Neurotypical Disorder' displaying one of its primary traits;  lack of logic.

This one puzzles me. The reason they want to know about childhood is to see if you had the right kind of delays or competencies at that time to fit autism. But surely that test was designed for childhood autism diagnosis.

There must be lots of adults who don't have living parents who can describe their childhood, or don't have extant school records.

It particularly raises an important question with regard to homeless people. There is evidence that a high proportion of rough sleepers have autism traits. Some may have had a diagnosis but have long been separated from their records. Others might need a diagnosis but would be denied help by this reasoning.

Challenge the decision. You may be able to get a conditional diagnosis at least, ie one where the evidence requirement is complete, but the diagnosis is otherwise likely.

I do wonder who has the condition - us or the professionals?

I was diagnosed without parental input. They are probably both on the spectrum but very different personalities. My mother is very emotional and got very upset when I asked questions about my childhood, as if I was labelling her side of the family as mad. Didn't involve my dad as he has very little interest in other people, and was abusive to me as a child. Though we get along OK nowadays and have a certain cameraderie in our impatience and intolerance of idiots. 

As others have said, parents are often not available or agreeable or competent to assist the process. In my case, both were dead by the time I went for diagnosis at age 56. you are entitled to a second opinion http://community.autism.org.uk/search/node/%22second%20opinion%22

Also, an abusive father could actually indicate that he was struggling with being on the spectrum himself. Autistic people can become abusive and difficult as they are unable to use normal social means to achive their aims. (I had an abusive grandfather apparently)

Actually from what they have told you they can't actually say that you aren't autistic, they can only say that they aren't sure. There is a saying that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". They don't have childhood evidence either way except possibly some anecdotal evidence from someone who isn't trained to identify the signs. 

bukko...

I went the route of a private assessment because over the years I had grown to have no confidence at all in my GPs.

The clinical psychologist (an ASC/Asperger specialist) checked all my results of the AQ, SQ and EQ tests, and read all the childhood information I had sent her first... to see if she thought there was a possibility I had Aspergers. The assessment appointment was arranged within a few weeks of my first contact with her and I was given the diagnosis at the end of the assessment. 

My partner had pretty much the same 'seamless' experience with the private assessment he had with a different ASC psychologist. 

By this route you do not necessarily have to inform your GP... it is up to you and the nature of any help you might need.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

Thanks for all the replies, all really encouraging. :)

I'm going to try writing to them, probably the best way as they do seem to be rediculously busy so speaking on the phone with the right person is nearly impossible.

If that fails I'll explore the private assessment route.

In the meantime I'm going to stick around as this looks like a great site!

I am newly registered to the forum and think I may have "replied" in the wrong area?

Your post bukko is a shame, I recently had an assessment in North Yorkshire with a fantastic professional in the NHS, it took best part of two hours and I was very honest and deliberated over a lot of the questions.  I still managed 7 out of 10, 6 being the "pass" mark, but I know from the questions I cold have fudged my responses either way to get 10 out of 10, or 1 out of ten.

I had little confidence in the NHS before going and had found private centres for an assessment £250

bukko said:

my local Asperger's centre told me I only got 4 out of 5 ticks so a positive diagnosis wasn't possible.

The tick that was missing was the "Evidence of childhood history" one. 

Hi bukko!

I wonder, does your local 'Asperger's Centre' refuse diagnosis for everyone who does not have sufficient 'Evidence of Childhood History'. If so, they may be turning away a lot of people who have Asperger's. As Classic Codger shows, that childhood history part can be less than straight forward.

Both my partner and I have Asperger's, both with very high IQ's, both of us 'trip-up' frequently in social situations, and both take things literally. 
When we were each assessed and diagnosed, neither of us had parents to offer a childhood history. I relied on my 'super-memory' and the details it provided. My partner produced (very) old school reports that showed some of his difficulties.
Our different assessors (both Clinical Psychologists specialising in Asperger's) were happy that enough information was provided to fulfill that part of the assessment.

I wonder if diagnosis often depends upon the knowledge and confidence of the assessor. That is why a Psychologist specialising in Asperger's seems to be the best option, though so many people who post on this site appear not to have that service available.

I think the most important thing about a diagnosis is that you get to know why you have had such difficulties in life to that point. The knowing is probably all the help you will ever need.  It enables you to concentrate on the things you are good at and work around, or deal with, the things you do not find so easy... which will in time help to build your confidence. (No way are you not smart, with that IQ!)

Good luck with any attempts you make for re-assessment... let us know how you get on! 

I'll just drop by and say 'Hi', since I don't feel I really have much advice for you - sorry.

I suppose I might say, though, that I feared a conclusion similar to yours, and that's what put me off looking into seriously for so long. It is disappointing to hear what you've been told, not least because I, too, was assured the "childhood evidence" part of it was not particularly crucial and, in spite of my Mum saying everything I was sure she shouldn't have - I was still given the official diagnosis.

I know it will be hard, but yeah, surely the only answer is to persist at the GP or some other form of second opinion! Good luck and keep us informed, OK? 

I too feel stupid, but have an IQ of 144 to 150.  However, I am about to set forth on a PhD, though I don't still feel intelligent enough.  One question I was asked was to write briefly why I wanted to attend that University.  They gave me three lines, so I wrote three lines.  They've come back to me to say where is my brief statement - they had assumed I'd missed it out!  I wrote briefly, the three lines - they wanted 500 to 750 words!  Total misunderstanding.  At least they've given me another chance - now they have explained it.

Yes, gp back again and get them to say you're on the spectrum, if you are.

M

I didn't have any 'childhood' evidence either, apart from what I reported myself, but only because by the time they got around to assessing me, my parents and sister were dead. I'd reject that, if I were you, and ask for a second opinion. I've heard some stupid things from NTs, but really, an Asperger centre?

I think you need to revisit this with your doctors - my assessor told me clearly that while it might have been helpful, it was far from essential to the process, and this is not uncommon.

I'm at the same, so-called IQ level (Mensa tests) but regard it as just another trick of my brain and nothing to do with me, so feel much the same as you about it. In the past, I've often wondered why, if I'm so smart, I do stupid things and feel so inadequate. I don't have to any more, now that I know why.

I urge you to go back and try again. We keep hearing about this 'ticks in boxes' rubbish, and it makes some of us very angry that they're so ready to miss the point.

Oh, by the way, Hi!