Getting a diagnosis

Hi everyone,

I am new to all this so please forgive me. I was recently told by a counsellor that I have a lot of asperger's traits. I was quite surprised by this but the more I looked into this ( I read empowering aspie girls by rudy simone and have been watching a lot of youtube video blogs by asperger's girls) I really do think that I may be on the autistic spectrum.

I really want to get a diagnosis but the thing is, I am not so sure that I will get one, mianly because of the lack of repeatative behaviours. Growing up, I had a lot of ocd like repeatative behaviours, certain twitches I would have to do to make me feel settled, I would have to touch objects an even amount of times with both hands, things like that. However, nowadays I dont really have any of that. I'd say the most repeatative behaviour that I have now is listening to the same songs over and over. I am thinking that this will stop me from getting a diagnosis?

I feel that I have a lot of things on the social/communication side of things; I am able to socialise but I can find it quite tiring and I do struggle with idle chit chat and large groups. I am rubbish with eye contact and talking about my feelings.

Can anyone out there who has recently been diagnoised tell me the sorts of questions that may be asked and the criteria I will be judged up against? (I know its the ICD criteria in the UK but it all seems rather vague?)

Any help and advice would be much appriciated

thanks

Kelly

Parents

R over 9 years ago

Austism Spectrum Conditions are not defined by repetitive behaviours and not everyone on the spectrum has them, so you shouldn't see your lack of them as a barrier to getting assessed if that's what you feel is right for you.
If you start reading into the subject you'll hear a lot of talk of the "Triad of Impairments", such as this www.autismbedfordshire.net/.../
If you think you might be on the spectrum, I would go talk to your GP about getting referred for an assessment. The waiting list where I live is about 2 years, which will give you plenty of time to read up on what they might ask you if you're interested!
Also, you won't get referred if your GP doesn't agree that you have traits and my expereince is that after that you won't get accepted onto the waiting list until you have at the very list answered some questionaires that show the assessmet team that you have traits.
It is commonly accepted that females tend to be underdiagnosed with ASC and may not present in the same way as men.
Good luck with it all.

Reply

R over 9 years ago

Austism Spectrum Conditions are not defined by repetitive behaviours and not everyone on the spectrum has them, so you shouldn't see your lack of them as a barrier to getting assessed if that's what you feel is right for you.
If you start reading into the subject you'll hear a lot of talk of the "Triad of Impairments", such as this www.autismbedfordshire.net/.../
If you think you might be on the spectrum, I would go talk to your GP about getting referred for an assessment. The waiting list where I live is about 2 years, which will give you plenty of time to read up on what they might ask you if you're interested!
Also, you won't get referred if your GP doesn't agree that you have traits and my expereince is that after that you won't get accepted onto the waiting list until you have at the very list answered some questionaires that show the assessmet team that you have traits.
It is commonly accepted that females tend to be underdiagnosed with ASC and may not present in the same way as men.
Good luck with it all.

Children

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