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Frustrations with 'past and present behaviour schedule' questionnaire (suspected late diagnosis)

Quietdude

I've recently been progressing towards an assessment. My GP contacted me following a referral from my therapist and requested that I complete a couple of questionnaires. One of those questionnaires - the past and present behaviour schedule' seems seriously flawed, and not at all geared towards possible adult diagnosis.

Has anyone else experienced similar frustrations and can you offer any guidance in terms of how significant these questionnaires prove to be in the wider context of assessment?

The questionnaire presents scenarios in stark, noticeably biased terms often asking the interviewee to comment on whether the subject exhibited certain behaviours or was a "good" child/infant. I asked my 80 year old mother to help answer some of the questions about infancy and early childhood, and honestly, it seemed like a absurd undertaking, and quite frustrating. 

  • in reply to Quietdude
    Quietdude said:
    there was a palpable sense that a judgement of her parenting was being made

    Oh I know what you mean, I had to do one when they assessed my son (who is a child), but I referred to it myself as the judgemental questionnaire, as it felt like it was saying, what have I done to cause his autism, like it was made during the horrendous 'refrigerator mother' theory phase. It could really be better worded.

  • Hi there,

    I also found it very annoying. I didn't want to stress out my parents (in their late 70's and also likely neurodivergent) by asking them to do my report so I got my husband to do it. We just had to say 'don't know' to all of the early childhood-related questions. 

    My dad in particular felt I was perfectly neurotypical, so I guess it was a shock to him when I received my diagnosis. Parents are not always the best judges!

  • in reply to Lemon slice

    Thanks LS, 

    Honestly, as you say, the questionnaires seem pretty pointless. Asking my 80 year old mother about my infant behaviours from 40+ years ago was kinda funny but didn't help at all. Also, there was a palpable sense that a judgement of her parenting was being made, which was not helped by the poor design of the questionnaire. Like you, I've filled it in best I can, along with the ASRS 18 item questionnaire but it's not exactly left me with a sense of confidence in this process. 

  • Hello there

    Yes this is frustrating, it seems the whole process for late diagnosed adults needs a complete overhaul.

    Most late diagnosed autistics are probably high masking so asking anyone else's opinion can be pointless as the presentation can be all internal. I was asked about getting input from parents or another during the diagnosis process, but ended up I didn't do this and they were fine with that.

    I also had to do some puzzle type things which were obviously set up for children! It was very strange.

    Good luck.