Hi......I just registered here, as I believe I might be neurodiverse and have either ADHD or traits of Autism. I have been struggling all my life and been diagnosed with Bi Polar disorder. Currently I am not sure how to get assessed and where to get assessed, however I am grateful to charities as this as a lot of helpful information.
Hi Katja and welcome to the community!
You might find it helpful to compare the traits that you've noticed in yourself with those detailed in these NAS resources, which explain the main signs / symptoms / characteristics of autism. They might also help you to identity and note down any additional things that you recognise:
NAS - Signs that a child or adult may be autistic
This article might also be helpful in that respect:
NAS - Autistic women and girls
It includes, for example:
"Autistic characteristics in women and girls may differ from those of other autistic people. They might seem to have fewer social difficulties than autistic men and boys, but this could be because they are more likely to 'mask' their autistic traits (though the stress of doing so can result in anxiety and overwhelm)"
Also, this article discusses bipolar disorder in the context of autism:
This article explains how to get assessed:
NAS - How to request an autism assessment
It's from the NAS's diagnosis hub, which covers all stages of the process.
For those who live in England, it also includes information about requesting an assessment via Right to Choose (which enables access to private providers who might have shorter waiting lists than the NHS, but with your referral and assessment still fully funded by the NHS).
The NAS articles include links to some screening questionnaires that you can complete, to get a better idea of whether your suspicions are correct. But you might prefer to use the website below for this. It enables them to be completed online (with scores calculated for you), saved as PDFs and - if the results support your suspicions and you decide to seek a formal diagnosis - printed off to take with you to the GP.
The AQ-10 or AQ-50 seem to be the most frequently used / required by GPs in support of NHS referrals. (RAADS-R might also be helpful, but recent research has thrown doubt on its clinical validity as a self-report screening tool).
Embrace Autism - screening tests
In respect of ADHD, you can find similar information and advice here:
Finally, just a quick refresher on terminology, along with a link to a useful article on autism and neurodiversity:
"It is common for words related to neurodiversity to be misused. For example, people might say ‘Autistic people are neurodiverse’ when they mean ‘Autistic people are neurodivergent’.
Examples of accurate phrases include:
Hi Katja and welcome to the community!
You might find it helpful to compare the traits that you've noticed in yourself with those detailed in these NAS resources, which explain the main signs / symptoms / characteristics of autism. They might also help you to identity and note down any additional things that you recognise:
NAS - Signs that a child or adult may be autistic
This article might also be helpful in that respect:
NAS - Autistic women and girls
It includes, for example:
"Autistic characteristics in women and girls may differ from those of other autistic people. They might seem to have fewer social difficulties than autistic men and boys, but this could be because they are more likely to 'mask' their autistic traits (though the stress of doing so can result in anxiety and overwhelm)"
Also, this article discusses bipolar disorder in the context of autism:
This article explains how to get assessed:
NAS - How to request an autism assessment
It's from the NAS's diagnosis hub, which covers all stages of the process.
For those who live in England, it also includes information about requesting an assessment via Right to Choose (which enables access to private providers who might have shorter waiting lists than the NHS, but with your referral and assessment still fully funded by the NHS).
The NAS articles include links to some screening questionnaires that you can complete, to get a better idea of whether your suspicions are correct. But you might prefer to use the website below for this. It enables them to be completed online (with scores calculated for you), saved as PDFs and - if the results support your suspicions and you decide to seek a formal diagnosis - printed off to take with you to the GP.
The AQ-10 or AQ-50 seem to be the most frequently used / required by GPs in support of NHS referrals. (RAADS-R might also be helpful, but recent research has thrown doubt on its clinical validity as a self-report screening tool).
Embrace Autism - screening tests
In respect of ADHD, you can find similar information and advice here:
Finally, just a quick refresher on terminology, along with a link to a useful article on autism and neurodiversity:
"It is common for words related to neurodiversity to be misused. For example, people might say ‘Autistic people are neurodiverse’ when they mean ‘Autistic people are neurodivergent’.
Examples of accurate phrases include:
