Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all, I’m new here and was hoping for advice please. I had an autism assessment 2 years ago and was told that I had many symptoms of ASD but that I didn’t have autism. I was heartbroken as I have felt different all my life and really thought that autism could be the explanation for it all.
I looked back on my assessment and felt I didn’t explain my issues well enough and maybe masked etc. I am terrible at eye contact for example and the fact I knew they would be assessing things such as eye contact made me focus on it even more than normal so who knows what I portrayed. Also the assessor wanted to know about my childhood and I wasn’t able to answer the questions because I didn’t want to ask my parents or tell them about the assessment. Since hearing about the flurry of adult females in the media being diagnosed later in life I have requested a GP appointment to get a referral for a second opinion. Has anyone else done this before?
I swing from being absolutely certain I’m autistic to feeling a bit narcissistic and silly even suggesting it. My son and my Dad show signs which is another reason for me pursuing a diagnosis at the age of 36. It’s brought up so many emotions and I’m feeling so exposed and raw dredging through all the challenges I have faced to prepare for another assessment. I would be so gutted if they tell me I’m not autistic for a second time.
I don’t seem to have many relevant symptoms when I was a child and most of my issues relate to secondary school onwards. Do you know if you have to have symptoms from birth to be diagnosed as autistic?
Sorry to brain dump. Thank you for your help.
I’m sorry to hear this. Clearly you have the feeling you are on the spectrum. For that reason, I would pursue it.
If the NHS did your assessment, who was assessing you (job title), and what experience do they have of adult females? They aren’t always right, and they aren’t always strictly honest with their results. Sometimes, dare I say it, it comes down to budget.
Now, I always use my daughter as an example. They told us she didn’t have Autism. Maybe a bit of anxiety, and some sensory stuff. I won’t bore you with the details. I had to sit there, with a heavy chest, in disbelief. Professionals. How wrong could they be!
Getting a second opinion from the same assessment service, using the same ‘gold standard’ that is set up to diagnose males isn’t ideal, but you can try. It’s your right. Or do consider going for a private diagnosis. At least that way you WILL get a diagnosis or clear explanation of your behaviours if it’s clear you don’t have autism.
Privately, you’re more likely to be asked the right questions, as opposed to making up a story with items, or being asked if you know what friendship is.
Thanks so much for your reply catlover. It was an nhs referral but I don’t know the job titles of those who assessed me. Sorry you struggled with your daughters assessment. I hope you’ve managed to get the correct diagnosis and help for her now