I’m increasingly leaning towards getting assessed for autism, but before I go any further I’d like to understand whether there are any practical downsides to having a formal diagnosis.
Just to note: I’ve already spent quite a bit of time looking into whether autism might fit, so I’m mainly interested in the practical implications of getting diagnosed rather than whether people think I’m autistic.
I don’t really mean the emotional side of receiving a diagnosis, or worries about being labelled. I’m thinking more about things like insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, driving/DVLA, employment or occupational health, or anything else administrative or financial that I might not have thought of.
I’ve seen people mention that a diagnosis can potentially affect some types of insurance, which hadn’t occurred to me at all, so I’d rather understand the possible implications before deciding whether to pursue an assessment.
For those who were diagnosed as adults, did having the diagnosis cause any practical problems for you afterwards? Is there anything you wish you’d known before getting assessed?
I think having some confirmation from a specialist would help me understand myself better, but I’d like to go into it with my eyes open.