• Replies 33 replies
  • Subscribers 34 subscribers
  • Views 502 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

Some deeper thoughts

Alien0n3arth

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

  • Another thing that came to my mind, when it comes to "overdiagnosis" in both conditions- autism and adhd. This overdiagnosis may apply not only to adults. Children too. Especially children, who are addicted to tablets/smartphone/ other technology. The symptoms of this kind of addiction often mimic symptoms of autism and adhd. And it happens, that children get diagnosed with one of them or both because professionals were unable to see through the behaviour. Many kids with technology addiction display traits such as: speech delay, inability to recognise emotions, communication difficulties,  anger management difficulties,  inability to concentrate,  disruption of sleep etc. Sounds pretty much like audhd. So sometimes a diagnosis given to an adult who had many of these symptoms in childhood may be more certain to be correct, than given to a child now. Because someone who is now in their 40's for example had no access to all this wold overstimulation that children have now. So I find the argument, that only children may be diagnosed withthese conditions correctly, wrong.

  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Oh didn't you know that autism along with many other things you were born with or acquired and can do nothing about, all go away in a puff of smoke the minute you turn 18? Well if you talk to adult services once you turn 18 they're amazed, stunned and bewildered that you've come to them with "paediatric" condition and instead of reading your notes and continuing care and accepting your diagnosis you have to do it all again. They wouldn't do this with things like cancer, a broken leg, the need for kidney dialysis, so why do it with a learning difficulty or a mental health problem? I can see the point of having your needs reassessed every few years as they can change.

    I also can't help but wonder if there's a class issue with who get diagnosed with what and when? I remember when dyslexia was first widely recognised and it was always middle class kids with very articulate, well off professional parents who got the diagnosis, everyone else was just thick?

Reply
  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Oh didn't you know that autism along with many other things you were born with or acquired and can do nothing about, all go away in a puff of smoke the minute you turn 18? Well if you talk to adult services once you turn 18 they're amazed, stunned and bewildered that you've come to them with "paediatric" condition and instead of reading your notes and continuing care and accepting your diagnosis you have to do it all again. They wouldn't do this with things like cancer, a broken leg, the need for kidney dialysis, so why do it with a learning difficulty or a mental health problem? I can see the point of having your needs reassessed every few years as they can change.

    I also can't help but wonder if there's a class issue with who get diagnosed with what and when? I remember when dyslexia was first widely recognised and it was always middle class kids with very articulate, well off professional parents who got the diagnosis, everyone else was just thick?

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    My home county is a very affluent area, many celebrities live locally, there are as many private schools as state run. Some of the private schools are ruled by the parents cheque books. My previous job was a coach driver at Grammar Schools and Secondary. Two different worlds. The Grammar School will remove the problem as stats are all important, the Secondary School has to school all with no rich parents.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Yes, the class issue definitely exists. Once I saw a comparison of autism and adhd diagnosis in two US states. I don't remember which one, but one of them had higher income, other was poorer. And the state with higher income had significantly higher number of diagnosis. Is it that there are much more ND kids and adults? Of course not. These people have better access to medical services and it's also about the quality of these services.