• Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 34 subscribers
  • Views 1418 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

autistic or not?

G306

Hi all,

 

Is there anyone out there that is wondering whether or not they are autistic?

 

I have a son that was diagnosed at 2.5 years old (he's 4 now) and he is very much a stereotypical autistic boy, but the more I read about autism in females the more it sounds like me.

 

But then i think I can't be because I don't have huge sensory issues but i do have other autistic traits.

 

Thanks for reading! 

 

  • You don’t have to have all the traits, you just need to meet the the 3 main areas of diagnostic criteria.  One of us have the same issues nor at the same degree.

  • Hi, Welcome :). Autism is a spectrum, meaning that there numerous autistic traits and for each of these you might have them strongly or a little or not at all . And we are all very different. Not having sensory issues does not mean that you cannot be autistic and you can have a diagnosis too without having sensory issues (in fact the consultant psychiatrist told me that I had already met enough of the criteria to get a diagnosis before we even got to the sensory questions... I'm not sure what the exact guidelines are on the cutoff for diagnosis but not having sensory issues does not rule out that you are autistic).

    Also are you sure that you do not have sensory issues? I actually thought that I didn't have any (and therefore also doubted if I could be autistic...) but then when I was being assessed and I was answering the questions related to the sensory sensitivities, I was told that in fact I do have quite a few sensory issues- I just didn't realise that's what it was, partially as it's hard to compare or know what it is like for others, partly because I avoid a lot of the environments where I could have sensory issues anyways (I can't deal with loud places at all like loud restaurants and I could never go in a club- but I don't really go to restaurants anyways ... and just spend a lot of time in my room anyways) and I didn't really realise my fussiness with food etc. could be related to sensory issues but when I was being asked I realised that texture etc played a big part... then I also realised  that in fact it is smells too but I just didn't realise other people weren't as bothered by them as I am (I think I just assumed they could hide it / cope better). So you might have more sensory issues than you think but just not realise it and even if you don't, you can still be autistic and meet the diagnostic criteria. 

  • Sensory is one of several aspects.  And it can be sensory seeking as well as sensory avoidant.  I don't hear the lights or stuff like that, but I do find it harder to listen in noisy spaces.  I used to think it was normal, but apparently not.

    The reason we call it a spectrum is because there are lots of different aspects, like a colour wheel, with highs and lows in each area. 

  • in reply to G306

    I think Autism can effect every person so differently. Not everyone will have the most known traits associated with Autism.

  • in reply to Sporadic Sparkly

    Thanks for your reply!

    That's good to know, I will look more into it.

  • in reply to Steven

    Oh really? Thanks for your reply! 

  • I barely stim at all, don't have meltdowns or experience burnout; but I was still fast-tracked into the assessment process regardless of all these 'contradictions'.

  • It's possible that you may well be autistic, even though you don't have major sensory issues.