Did my autism assessment go wrong?

[Glittarain]

I recently had an autism assessment under right to choose. I feel I probably don't have it. Its more of a tick box thing because of other things.

I'm not sure if it was done in right way there was about 8 tick box forms I had to do each with around 50-90 questions each. You have to tick a box for what answer fits you. But alot of them didn't fit me but I was forced to tick something. So the answers don't show a true me. I said this to the person doing doing the assessment and she said there was several options for the answer. Which there was but they didn't fit me.

She asked me a bit about school about going from primary to secondary. How did I cope with the change I said I went to a sen school the primary and secondary were one school. I just moved rooms with the same peers we stayed in the same class for most lessons apart from things like PE but that was the same as primary the only change was the tutor teacher and I already knew her. She said ah ok then asked the question again the reason I found it hard to answer is because i wouldn't have had the big change that children in mainstream have wheh goung from primary to secondary.

She didn't ask about my learning difficulties maybe it wasn't relivent I'm not sure.

I had also written about how when i was a teenager I used to sit on the floor behinde the teachers desk and avoid everyone. When i was told to move because lesson was starting i would move my chair right back so I was away from people as much as I could be. I didn't talk for a whole school year if I was asked a question I would only ever say yes,no if it was an open question I would say don't know even if it didn't make sense. I wasn't asked about that either. Maybe it wasn't relivent either. But when I mentioned it at the end of the assessment she did have a brief shock face.

Does that seem right?

Have you name changed from previous threads?

Yes

Try not to worry. I don't think it went wrong.

I think I'm going to question it regardless. A thought gos through my head i question that then another then a what if then something else. It just gos on.

Op, I am autistic so this may be blunt, but it's meant gently. You are looking at the test like a neurodivergent person would, as a means to understand you. But you are complex, as we all are. The test is simple, it doesn't need, or want to understand you because it's not about you, it's about a neurotypical definition of autism.

It's designed to give a simple, yes, or no. All it needs is for you to choose the answer that fits best. Some may be more relevant than others, that shouldn't matter. There should he enough questions that any dud ones won't alter the overall pattern that points to a simple yes or no diagnosis.

Good luck. A friend of mine realised she was autistic before she recieved her result. The multi-page answers to each question said it all!

You just pick what’s closest to the truth OP, as you did.

There is rarely going to be a perfect described option.

It’s a validated tool presumably and one aspect of the assessment.

All the best with the rest of the process.

If possible, try yo get an appointment to see a consultant psychiatrist who will be able to help you with a personalised diagnosis.

But that can mean things being missed/assumptions another poster gave a really good example i have screen shot it.

@mamaof4losingmymind

I do think it’s very obvious from your posts here that you will fit the criteria and get a diagnosis.

Why were you referred for an assessment?

But that poster answered no because they don't do those activities, whereas the question was about whether they fall asleep when they are doing something sedentary (reading), or something when they should be alert (driving). It doesn't matter if they don't read or drive. It's about whether they fall asleep during everyday activity, when you wouldn't normally expect to fall asleep.

It isn't really the point. The point is that you answered the questions as you interpreted them and they can draw information out of that.

I get what your saying but I think its partly people don't get what I mean. I asked gp to referr me. So I'm not in denial if that's makes sense i just want to know that if I am or if im not. That I can trust the answer. But either way I would either come across like I'm in denial or that I don't accept the answer of not having autism

Yes I hear where you are coming from, it sounds like the free tick box tests they offer online that anyone can do. When a child I know (about 10 years old and very capable of both reading and writing, though numeracy was a problem) he was interviewed by a psychiatrist who asked him all the questions verbally and discussed his issues with his mother. Maybe this was because he was a child. If you are not happy with your final diagnosis and results I would make an appointment to see your GP and explain why, as correct diagnosis will affect the benefits and support you need. Wishing you all the best, please don't be afraid to query it and take a trusted friend or family member with you for support.

😭 I don't get it. I mean I get what your saying but its hard. like do you find it hard to start a conversation and then stop. How do I answer that if I don't start conversations then how do I finish them?: if I put never that seems like conversations I have are standard like I'm saying i don't have an issue starting a conversation or an issue finishing a conversation so there's no issue.

"do you find it hard to start a conversation and then stop"

Well the answer to that is always. Because it's so hard that you don't do it.

I dont want you to take this the wrong way, because there is absolutely nothing 'wrong' with being autistic - its just a difference. And I also don't want to be unprofessional because we spend hours and hours with clients before we diagnose. But totally off the record, and based on your communication here, I would agree with PP that my gut instinct alone is saying you are very much autistic. The fact that you deeply are questioning the questioning in and of itself, in an extremely overthinking, rigid way jumps out. There is nothing wrong about that though - you are clearly a very deep critical thinker (which I am too) and the world needs more people like you! You sound fabulous regardless.

But yeh, I hope you take this the way it is intended, but I do think its pretty obvious you are on the spectrum. Welcome to the club. :)

Well i think I may have answer wrong then. I don't know what i have done at this point

I know i over think things. I will question something in my head. I explore it and then question the exploring and then go to the what if how about. Or but it could be xyz i question why do people do certain thing's why do people think in certain ways I thought that was all normal its just people don't say it out loud?

I over explain because I think i haven't explained well enough so then i explain more and then some more

The bit about from reading this thread that it seems like I probably have autism that's because of how much i have been saying on here. I almost feel mumsnet have better insight to diagnose me more than the person who done the assessment because she knows much less. I know that probably sound's a bit horrible because she's probably worked very hard to do the job she has. And obviously mumsnet can't really diagnose

And now I don't know if i have misunderstood and I just spoke a load of shit.

I think you should relax and wait for your report. You can PM me when you get it if you like if you have any questions about it. Id be happy to help you.

Or post about it on here, and we can all go through it with you.

That's really kind thank you. Meant to get it today don't think l will though. Let's see any way

Is it likely harley street would send out emails on a Saturday?

Well of course you find it hard to start conversations if you don’t have them…

This question is asking if you find it uncomfortable to have to start conversations and if you then don’t know how to appropriately wind them down rather than just choosing to suddenly stop and be done with them. If you don’t have conversations because they make you uncomfortable then yes you struggle with the boundaries around conversations.

You’re being rigid and specific in your reading of the questions which is an indicator that you may have autism. This nuance wouldn’t bother most neurotypical.

There are many clinics there, which one did your assessment?

I still don't get it.
If it had ashed as separate questions I wouldn't have found it so confusing. Because it could have been do you find it hard to start a conversation ? Yes ... do you find it hard to stop a conversation ? No. Its throwing me because its 2 questions on one. That have different answers.

I guess it doesn't matter now its been done. Just got to wait.

The do you find it hard to stop a conversation question isn't asking if you find it hard to stop talking. It's asking if you find it hard to know how to wind a conversation down and stop it at the end. Do you know when the conversation is getting to the end, or do you feel awkward and not know what to say, etc.

Oh. Hows anyone meant to know.