Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, I just joined. I was diagnosed with Autism in January 2019 when I was 31. When I was a child I had a lot of issues with my speech and talking too fast and mumbling, had problems with eating and finding foods I liked the taste and texture of, I didn't like loud noises and found it hard to be in social satiations and preferred to be on my own doing my own things among other things.For most of my childhood I had problems with social anxiety and found it hard starting conversations with people and even using the phone made me nervous so I found it hard maintaining friendships and often felt lonely. I didn't know what was causing my issues, nor did my parents. When I was 12 I was diagnosed with Dyspraxia as I had problems with my coordination and used to have issues with bumping into walls and doors which since my diagnosis, I got help with and my coordination has improved greatly.
In 2018 I was watching television and saw an interview where two teenagers with Autism were being interviewed and what they said and how they acted seem to parallel me and the way I acted. I told my mum and she started to think maybe that is what I had as well. I did some more research on Autism, then decided to ask my GP if I could get a test. The first time I asked, I was referred to someone who just told me that it wouldn't matter if I did have a test as there wasn't any help for adults with Autism and that went nowhere. That was frustrating.A few months later, I decided to ask my GP again and said that he could see that I had some traits that might be Autistic and that the person who said it wouldn't matter if I got a test or not was wrong, and referred me again. A few weeks later I got a test and I found out that I did have Autism. That was such a relief to finally know why I am the way I am. I was given help for a year until the Pandemic started. A woman came to see me once a week and told me about my Autism so I could understand it better, then gave me help in doing some things I liked to do.In 2021 I thought I might also have ADHD as some of the issues I have, seem to conflict with some of my Autistic traits. I sometimes have the ability to hyperfocus, but there are times when I can't focus on anything and get distracted easily or I would lose concentration in what I am doing and my mind would start to wonder and I'd find it hard to regain focus. I also have issues with not being able to sleep at normal hours of the night. I can get a full 7-8 hours sleep and a good sleep, just I can't always do that before 4am which isn't good. I sometimes feel like I have too much energy when I know I don't, among other things. I talked with the woman who diagnosed me with Autism and she sent of a letter, referring me for an ADHD appointment.That was in mid 2021 and I am still waiting for an ADHD test. Last I have been told is that it could take up to 4 years before I can get a test! That is very unhelpful. I would like to be tested as back in 2021 when I first thought I had ADHD, I was taking driving lessons but had to stop as I found that after a certain point in the lessons, my mind would start to wander and I could no longer concentrate easily and you have to keep your concentration to be able to drive. I ended up having to stop with lessons.I used to suffer social anxiety, found it hard talking to people and being in social situations. Now I don't find I am mostly no longer nervous in social situations and feel more confident than I used to. I still struggle with certain things. I find it hard to initiate a conversation with someone or maintain conversations and I sometimes feel I can't get the words out I want to say. I was looking up Dyspraxia one day and read about Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia, which I was not told about when I had my Dyspraxia diagnosis. I sometimes know what I would like to say to someone but find it hard getting the words out I want to say and I sometimes mispronounce the odd word wrong, I wonder if I could have Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia.
Hi David,
Welcome!
I was screened for ADHD at the same time as I was screened for autism prior to my full autism check. They used the ASRS-5. I don't have ADHD.
https://embrace-autism.com/asrs-5/
It's fairly obvious stuff, but it may be enough for you (in the same way that a lot of people here are self-diagnosed autistics and that is enough for them.)
I don't know about DVD.