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Original poster

High functioning Autism - Assessment & Diagnosis

29 replies

MamaLlama123 · 15/02/2024 05:12

Hi Mumsnet,

I am fairly certain that i have undiagnosed autism and whilst i understand there is no cure, I would like to be assessed for this

My husband has commented many times that i'm autistic and also that our toddler is. Whilst i'm hesitant to label my child so early- it would be helpful to know for myself in case issues arise with my child in the future

I have very special interests and prefer to talk in depth on these. I struggle with communication with my child for this reason - he is not capable of having these deep conversations. Engaging with child in small talk is very difficult for me - if I have autism, it might offer explanation as to why i struggle so much with this

I am capable of working full time and actually work in a field that i have special interest. In the past, i have been disciplined - the underlying problem was my bluntness/ lacking social skills/ not understanding that criticising colleagues for not following guidelines is not the way to be popular

Overall I believe i mask and this has resulted in me being able to function well in work etc.
Due to this i feel that seeking NHS diagnosis is not an effective use of NHS resources - especially given that there will be people who seriously struggle and cannot work etc

I can afford to pay for private assessment/ diagnosis - could anyone please advise on this? are there any highly regarded companies?

Am i best to gather evidence first to support my diagnosis? any other tips

Thank you so much

OP posts:

ZebraPensAreLife · 15/02/2024 19:25

cryinglaughing · 15/02/2024 18:47

No but my dd is, she was diagnosed at 14.
Has it helped her? No - literally sent a letter saying there was no disparity in the questionnaires and she was without a doubt autistic. That was that, our final contact with CAMHS. She got a bit more time in her GCSE'S, that was pretty much the only advantage of having a diagnosis 🤷🏻‍♀️
Has it helped us? No

Show quote history

It will allow her to apply for Disabled Students Allowance if she wants to go to university.

It will allow her to apply for jobs which offer guaranteed interviews for people with disabilities

Likewise, it gives her some protection in employment

The biggest value for me was knowing and understanding more about why I am the way I am.

AmazingLemonDrizzle · 15/02/2024 19:28

I'm posting to read up later. I am really struggling and have had forms to send back to doctor for a year.r

cryinglaughing · 15/02/2024 19:40

Jellycats4life · 15/02/2024 19:21

I doubt you’ll find a parent of an autistic kid here who hasn’t had the same experience. Child gets diagnosed - thank you and goodbye. I think a lot of people imagine that diagnosis opens the doors to help, in many and varied forms, but it doesn’t. It doesn’t really exist. And so we get right back to the issue of autism only being manageable, not curable.

School wise, I’ve found primary school was awful at acknowledging the needs of high masking, high anxiety kids. But secondary? They’ve been amazing. I think I’ve been unusually lucky in that my daughter got into a grammar school who, unsurprisingly, has quite a lot of autistic students.

When my daughter was diagnosed, I spent a lot of time getting her the right books to explain her neurotype to her. I didn’t want to force an identity on her, but I thought it was important that she understood her social-communication issues, her sensory needs etc. It helps her SO much just to understand why she’s different. Has your daughter at least got that self-understanding?

Show quote history

My dd too went to a grammar and they were amazing with her.
She is adamant she isn't autistic 🤷🏻‍♀️
If that is her way of coping for now, so be it.
She is in employment now and is doing very well, they seem to like her, quirks as well 🫣

AmazingLemonDrizzle · 07/09/2024 03:37

Ha I've just come back to this thread 7months later googling adult autism assessments.
I'm going round in circles looking at both adhd and autism assessments.

I'm tempted to pay private for autism assessment but concerned I don't have anyone who knew me in childhood.

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