To think if ASD is costing the UK 32bn per year we need to better early screening?

That poster must have had a reason to be in front of the person who was qualified to diagnose them with ASD though. You don't get to that position accidentally.

I don't need to get a diagnosis even though I more than suspect I am autistic. (The type that would once have been called Aspergers). It serves no purpose for me.

I'd once have laughed at the concept that I could be autistic but I now know enough to disregard those preconceptions.

Why is it offensive to wonder when I've struggled socially myself. I have zero chance of having a relationship or kids. My only brief relationship (you can't really call it that) was with an autistic guy as it happens. It lasted 3 months and the most we did was hold hands-we were 23. I've never even kissed a guy.

You know you can have sex and get pregnant without being particularly adept socially?

Not really, at least it'd be far more difficult. Living proof right here. I didn't say impossible, but it's something that has always confused me since I came on MN-I think other sites are more representative of the struggles autistic people face in this area. Obviously MN is more likely to have people with kids on it so it's possibly skewed towards the ND people who overcame their struggles with relationships.

The "not a disease" distinction is irrelevant.

All interventions (speech, OT, MH, and educational accommodations, etc) cost money. Respite for caregivers costs money. Residential care costs money.

Early, targeted behavioral and developmental intervention can greatly reduce the need for ongoing support for older children and adults.

I would wonder how my boyfriend would fit into this. He has a semi-decent job, and is great with life admin. He helps me with mine!
But he can not self regulate at all, and has been restrained by police in a public place when he has had a meltdown.

That is very much untrue.

I’m not an expert in genetics but the same way that some children are born with blue eyes whilst their siblings have green or brown.

There’s always throw back genes too. I have very big feet. My mum, sisters and grandma all have size 5s. Apparently my great aunt had ‘comically big feet too’.

Myself and my husband both have dark hair as per our parents. As we were expecting our child has dark hair too. I am ND and there’s a lot of family members on DH side on the spectrum. We decided that we’re not going to have children over the age of 35 as the odds aren’t in our favour. Luckily our child doesn’t show signs of being ND yet but I’m keeping a keen eye out as I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up having something.

@BusMumsHoliday

All healthcare decisions are made on a cost-benefit basis because it all costs money and priorities have to be established. Just as an example, routine screening for cervical and breast cancer and prostate cancer is done because of studies showing early detection results in less costly and more effective medical intervention. Childhood vaccinations are another routine medical intervention that saves money in the long run.

search.app/Guftr52YkgBNQje87
Autism is not an exception to the economics of healthcare.
The study referenced here showed that high quality, evidence-based developmental and behavioral intervention for children aged 12 - 30 months paid for itself in two years.

An organisation I used to work for and dealt with CHC had multiple DCs with care packages in the thousands each week. The costs are astronomical.

The high functioning / low functioning labels that came next weren't helpful either.

I have a relative who was diagnosed with Aspergers, then changed to high functioning autism. They were highly intelligent but burned out and ended up with severe mental health issues, panic attacks, social phobia and ultimately took their own life. High functioning is really high masking.

What would be useful I think is to somehow distinguish between autism vs autism with LD.

@Chesterdrawswalla I feel this too quite often. When things are ok it's easy to forget and be positive about it. Most the time it's so difficult.

I wonder in some cases (ASC Level 1), if it would be less difficult and stressful and have such an impact on families if the school system was perfected. So much more to it than that, but that situation alone in so many cases is the source and trigger of greatest upset / meltdowns/ aggression / MH collapse etc etc.

Would also say this is untrue. I have a friend who went for private adult assessment of autism. They said she didn’t show enough of the signs ( only in a couple of areas)

also, diagnosis rates at private clinics are going to be high anyway. Most people who go, do so because they’ve faced significant struggles. They’ve probably gone through various avenues ( counselling etc) so there’s probably already very clear signs of something ‘wrong’

this won’t be people who are just a bit shy

I recall seeing a comment on there where the poster was "shocked" to be given a diagnosis of ASD.
Now, don't people suspect they might be, then get assessed? It is not like you have a general test like a blood test, that can pick up all sorts, and you get told you have a B12 deficiency or something you were not expecting.

@PreferMyAnimals @soupfiend @myplace @VivienneDelacroix @biscuitsandbooks Thank you for taking the time to explain.

I have little experience but a friend has a 19 year old son who can't talk, wears a nappy, is highly aggressive with a diagnosis of autism and I don't want to add to her stress by asking any questions, so thank you again for helping me understand.

I would love to be assessed but there's no adult pathway on the NHS here and I can't afford private. I have an AuDHD child and another awaiting assessment for autism. I am 100% certain the second child is autistic but they are at the start of a 3 year assessment process (no right to choose in Scotland). If i am able to save up for private assessment I will go down that route.

If be willing to place a huge bet on me being AuDHD too. I have a job and kids but there are hundreds of ways it affects me every day. I had no clue until my son was diagnosed but now it makes perfect sense.

There were labelled differently, but people got up in arms about the term Aspergers because of the Nazi connotations.

@VivaVivaa im so sorry. Wanted to say I understand how you feel that way. Also sending a big hug.

my DS is AuDHD, but like @cookingthebooks DS, he is verbal and in mainstream school.

He is exhausting, and family life is very stressful. I love him dearly but sometimes I think I wouldn’t have had kids if I had my time again.

I get annoyed at all these overly positive comments about neurodiversity and talk of superpowers.

Not true at all. For a child to be diagnosed with ADHD there need to be 6 impairments in more than one setting. My DD went for a private diagnosis and despite hitting more than the required 6 criteria at home, her teacher could only describe her hitting 3 at school, because she is bright and masked her struggles.

They wouldn't diagnose her. They accepted she likely had it, but they couldn't give her an official diagnosis. So, no, not all private clinics have 100% diagnosis rates and your GP friend should be ashamed for peddling such falsehoods which devalue those with an accurate positive diagnosis.

Exactly, you can't just rock up and get diagnosed. It also costs thousands of pounds in many places - who is going to do that unless they're pretty certain they're going to end up with a diagnosis at the end of it?

I'm going through diagnosis on the NHS and they sometimes refer you privately. My GP and psychotherapist both said that the vast, vast majority of adults who get referred end up diagnosed because they wouldn't be referred if the GP didn't believe they had autism to begin with...

I think there should be different labelling classifications.
It never ceases to amaze me that a non-verbal adult in nappies and and someone who works full time and manages to look after children successfully have a condition labelled the same.
Yes, perhaps comorbidities could determine different names?
I do feel it can be tricky for carers of those unable to care for themselves, or speak or keep themselves safe and those who are capable of doing those things and more to exist in the same spaces. It’s not surprising, their experiences are quite different.

It's not a disease and therefore earlier detection wouldn't make it cheaper in the long run.

If it is genetic, its the same as many other genetic issues, not every child will have the condition,but they may carry it. Similarly with Down Syndrome which is caused by faulty genes, although not usually inherited, the level to which the individual is affected can vary considerably.

Yes, there has to be a good reason to go through the trouble and expense. I won't do it for myself for that reason. It serves no real purpose for me, though I know I'd get a diagnosis.

Have you thought why that might be though? No one randomly just thinks they might be autistic one day and pays hundreds (or more) for an assessment on the off-chance. You need to be absolutely certain to go to that expense and also the effort of multiple appointments. Corroborating evidence is required too.

Back in science class in school, we did a little table were mum was x-axis, and dad was y. Mum had 2 blue eye genes, and dad had 1 blue and 1 brown. Depending on the combination of genes from both parents, their child would either have blue eyes or brown. But they were more likely to have a blue eyed child. My brother has blue eyes. I have brown.
Sorry I am explaining it badly. If anyone can remember doing similar in school, then feel free to do better than me!