Some deeper thoughts

I can see quite much disagreement around the spectrum. There are people, who say that autistic people with lower support needs shouldn't be actually diagnosed with autism. There are people, who get angry, that their diagnosis is not being taken seriously anymore. There are people, who get diagnosed just to have the information/ confirmation of their experience. (And its fine) I think, that it's not only about their lives. The more late diagnosed autistic people,  the more insights into the possible future of autistic children. It's always being talked about autistic children,  but very little about adults. I myself found another reason, to go through the process. Half year ago, I also shared that story here, my daughters teacher in nursery approached me and asked me if I would like to share my experience with one family, who's son is probably autistic.  I told her I'm also only probably autistic, it's not sure yet. But I agreed. I described my early development,  which turned out to be very similar to that boy's, my difficulties at school. I prepared that carefully, to not make my story dramatic, but useful instead. The boy got already diagnosed,  I'm awaiting assessment. His mom, who I talked to, expressed her gratitude for sharing my story and lending her a book about autism. So I think that late diagnosed or recognised people are not problematic (as many say) instead, they can help families to prepare and understand their autistic children better. 

When it comes to disagreements around the "what is autism and what's not" I can only say- it's duty of professionals, who work on it, to categorise this or that condition.  For me the most Important thing is having proper diagnosis,  that describes my difficulties correctly. I used to be misdiagnosed multiple times in my life and also mistreated. I think that the spectrum with levels of support needs make a lot if sense, especially because there are many people,  who tick the same list of symptoms,  but their needs change throughout their lives, and autism is a life long condition. 

If anyone has any thoughts about this topic, can share them with me.

Parents
  • The media is telling people now that people can buy a diagnosis or that people are being over diagnosed for a very mild  trait of autism which many have and can cope with. A diagnosis may be just to know and not serve more purpose. I do find it a bit strange sometimes that some late diagnosed are getting a diagnosis after a liftetime without coming into the attention of services before or having a crisis in their lives before this point. I am a female but for me I was more like a boy growing up a typical tomboy in behaviour. This female type exists but not so much in my case. This over diagnosis and buying diagnosis private must be a myth. It was noted that I had autistic traits in 2015 and when I had testing it was a stringent test. They showed it on TV once someone getting a diagnosis without much difficulty with ADHD private. I think the merging with aspergers is a bit difficult for some people. Many diagnosed late would have had aspergers and not what we think of as classical autism. Hopefully it will settle down. I have read of some people getting sternly buffed of unfairly by some accessors now.

Reply
  • The media is telling people now that people can buy a diagnosis or that people are being over diagnosed for a very mild  trait of autism which many have and can cope with. A diagnosis may be just to know and not serve more purpose. I do find it a bit strange sometimes that some late diagnosed are getting a diagnosis after a liftetime without coming into the attention of services before or having a crisis in their lives before this point. I am a female but for me I was more like a boy growing up a typical tomboy in behaviour. This female type exists but not so much in my case. This over diagnosis and buying diagnosis private must be a myth. It was noted that I had autistic traits in 2015 and when I had testing it was a stringent test. They showed it on TV once someone getting a diagnosis without much difficulty with ADHD private. I think the merging with aspergers is a bit difficult for some people. Many diagnosed late would have had aspergers and not what we think of as classical autism. Hopefully it will settle down. I have read of some people getting sternly buffed of unfairly by some accessors now.

Children
  • I was late diagnosed ASD simply didn't exist as a diagnosis when I was younger, when I was diagnosed it was still quite unusual for women to be diagnosed. I'd had lots of problems growing up and all through my life, looking back it was obviously ASD, but because of lack of knowledge or acceptance, I went down the usual female route of ever increasing gynaecological and mental health causes. I wonder if many of the doctors who treated me would still think having a baby would make me less ASD? 

  • Does it mean, that they don't allow right to chose anymore? I'm not in UK, I'm living in Germany. Here it's a bit different. 

  • People often go private, because of astronomically long waiting times. There are also people gwtting their family members with classicsl autism assessed private. It is expensive,  but many people who work can actually afford it. It costs more or less same price of holidays overseas calculating prices of flights, hotel, etc. People have money for holidays, so having money for a private diagnosis is not impossible. I hate traveling, I hate flights and crowds etc. So I don't spend my money on that. Neither on clothes fashion etc. Neither on alcohol or cigarettes. So I have savings and this cosy of 1000 euro is for me absolutely affordable. Because if this I can be assessed with the evidence I have of me having differences and difficulties since my early childhood, I don't need any informant from my family (my husband is enough) and I have to wait only several months, not years. Since now it's 5 months ahead. I already filled out the tests she asked me. Now i only habe to repeat blood tests. Finding a doctor who would offer a date was not easy though. They are mostly fully booked.