To think that anyone who has an autism assessment gets diagnosed as having autism.

[Cruncheyleaves]

If you had an autism assessment and weren't diagnosed with autism o
what happened?

Were you offered/suggested other assessments?

Was there any support available?

Did they think your behaviour was down to trauma/upbringing instead?

How did you feel?

My NHS assessment decided I have traits (sensory and social communication) but definitely did not have autism because:

1. I always sought out friendships, therefore I could not be autistic. My very real and painful difficulties with certain aspects of social communication did not matter.

1. I had no fascination with spinning objects or numeric patterns from childhood. I had spoken about my obsessive interest (animals) but he said that didn't really count.

Diagnosed with ADHD instead, after another two appointments.

I don't doubt I have ADHD but sometimes i still wonder about autism!

@Nat6999 PDA is autism. You can also have both Autism and ADHD

Why can't that does sound odd. My autistic daughter has v intense friendships whoch i dont think is uncommon for autistic girls.

Your obsessive interest certainly does count

one of mine's assessors picked up on the red flags in teh report from school despite them thinking it was all down to parents..

as it happens it was down to parents, seems to be genetic.

I think it's quite hard for adults, especially women as your social and life skills (and trauma) can make it more difficult to diagnose.

My son had an autism referral but shouldn't have. He went to a very dodgy preschool (the person running it was sacked soon after) and they were adamant he had 'traits' (he liked trains..thomas the tank engine! And playing with sand...good lord!) She was on the SEN panel so he was referred because she could and got a similarly dodgy person to do an assessment who actually believed that my son couldn't really talk, just copied language and that the conversations I 'thought' we had were really just one sided.

We were appalled, because like people say getting a genuine referral is really hard. Which made things worse, no smoke without fire and all that.

Anyway the paediatrician was great, saw my child for who is is and we had a conversation with him and he listened. My son didn't even have any traits, he was just a 3 year old that hadn't been to nursery and although he was very good at building train track it wasn't a disorder!

So, I'd see if you can cut out the middle man because they're not qualified and see if you can get yourself infront of a doctor that diagnoses autism in women and see what they say. I'm not sure how you go about it, but from people I hear of that have done it (same for ADHD) it makes a huge difference.

So, I'd see if you can cut out the middle man because they're not qualified and see if you can get yourself infront of a doctor that diagnoses autism in women and see what they say. I'm not sure how you go about it, but from people I hear of that have done it (same for ADHD) it makes a huge difference.

I agree - finding someone who knows about how autism presents in women would be ideal. A psychologist who specialises in ASC might be a better bet than a doctor.

I thought of this thread last night as I found out my 6yo relative had his assessment and wasn’t diagnosed. My reaction was “SERIOUSLY?!” and apparently his school reacted the same way! But they’ve diagnosed him with anxiety.