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Female 67 years old. Should I get assessment?

Ice Swimmer

Hi

I am trying to decide whether to get a formal  assessment or not.
Due to a number of events and conversation, I have reviewed my life and taken some online autism tests. In the tests I score highly. I have been shocked by how high, but I have a distrust of online tests, even though I believe I have only used ones which are offered by reputable groups with academic backing as far as I can tell.
I am 67 year old woman. If I was 20 years younger, I would definitely get tested as a diagnosis can help in the workplace. But, I am now retired and I can't help thinking that the meagre resources available should be used by those who will get the most benefit - ideally children. I have considered a private assessment but I have only seen 4 figure sums quoted, which is more than I can afford.
A diagnosis of autism would explain some character traits and a number of the difficulties I have had in life: accusations of being abrupt, finding social situations and making eye contact difficult, having hobbies, activities and interests that I focus on obsessively for a time, liking patterns which led to a love of Mathematics, being a "loner", disliking certain food combinations (e.g. custard and ice cream), meltdowns etc. It could also help with my mental health (hospitalised - including 2 sections - 4 times for extremely severe depression and anxiety + social care) and the type of support I get.
Parents

  • Hi, I finally had my diagnosis at 58 following a very long wait for an NHS assessment. Because there was nobody alive able to discuss my behaviour as a young child I received the diagnosis of atypical autism. Now a child who only communicated with a mother would be immediately flagged up in school, not in the 1960s.

    I am now 65, for me my diagnosis has been mostly positive. When in hospital recently I could insist my curtains stayed closed, some medical staff even showed additional interest as most had not somebody my age on the spectrum. Unfortunately most didn't have a clue, not good enough in a hospital setting. I was told I 'looked normal' also,  'isn't that something children get', I could go on....

    I can now say sincerely to people that I cannot do something or I find it difficult because of my ASD. Previously it just wasn't the same saying I thought I had autism, it felt like a lie.

    My diagnosis has helped me accept myself, also undo some of the self loathing I experienced over the years for my social anxiety and 'odd' behaviours.

    I have had mixed responses from others when I disclose my diagnosis, most adults don't have a clue about allowances someone with autism may need making and so can be uncomfortable around you. Several people have asked why someone my age would want a diagnosis. For me, it is a beginning of the life I should have lived. I still feel like a confused adolescent socially but at least I feel I have the start of discovering the 'real' me, behind all the masking or avoidance.

    As I head towards later life I also hope that the adjustments to make me feel more socially comfortable have more chance of being made, this would have been unlikely without a diagnosis without a diagnosis.

    Covid has played havoc with my mental health, having to isolate and not mix for me was like Christmas and birthday rolled into one. Now 3 years on I have no idea how to get out of my austistic ' prison,,'.

    Apologies for waffling, I assume it is an autistic trait to not be able to voice the important facts and in order!

  • in reply to NAS85937

    Well, if all waffle was that informative, I am all for it.

    Just as you say, I think getting a formal diagnosis will help me accept myself. Already, having just scored highly on an online AQ50 test, and so having some justification for considering myself on the spectrum, I can understand some aspects of myself and life better.

    It constantly surprises me how ill-informed some medical staff are about relatively common conditions (the worst being menopause) so unfortunately the comments you received in hospital I find unsurprising. I hope you are fully recovered. 

    I live on my own and have no living relatives in the UK. In later life, if I ever need care, at home or residential, I think having a formal diagnosis will mean that that care hopefully can be better tailored to my needs, so long wait for assessment or not, I think I will go for a diagnosis. 

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  • in reply to NAS85937

    Well, if all waffle was that informative, I am all for it.

    Just as you say, I think getting a formal diagnosis will help me accept myself. Already, having just scored highly on an online AQ50 test, and so having some justification for considering myself on the spectrum, I can understand some aspects of myself and life better.

    It constantly surprises me how ill-informed some medical staff are about relatively common conditions (the worst being menopause) so unfortunately the comments you received in hospital I find unsurprising. I hope you are fully recovered. 

    I live on my own and have no living relatives in the UK. In later life, if I ever need care, at home or residential, I think having a formal diagnosis will mean that that care hopefully can be better tailored to my needs, so long wait for assessment or not, I think I will go for a diagnosis. 

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