To think I might be neurodivergent ?

[chatenoire]

I've been thinking about it for some time, and I think I'm definitely somewhere on the spectrum. Coincidentally a GP once told me I had "OCD" traits, but I've also read people who are neurodivergent sometimes get told this.

So I took a test and this is the result!

It doesn't bother me, if anything it's a relief as it explains many things :)

I guess the question for you is if you don’t mind the fact your ND and you’re happy without formal diagnosis and they type of support that may bring for you, then carry on.

However if you feel you may need support at home and/or work it may be worth exploring this further for a formal diagnosis.

All that said, self diagnosis is a diagnosis and doesn’t preclude you from most support/therapy options (but you won’t get, for example, ADHD meds.)

Good luck (and perhaps welcome to the ND club?)

I think I'm just happy that there's a reason that explains my "quirks" which are mine and I actually embrace them.

I think my "functionality level" is fairly high, but it also means that maybe, I don't have to actively act/behave in a "normal" way that doesn't come natural to me

Im being assesed (4 year waiting list in some cases ugh) originally i was diagnosed with OCD, anxiety and anorexia. But now they think its Afrid (sensory issues with food in my case,) then Autism.

For me its worth being diagnosed as i am unable to maintain jobs due to the social aspect with colleagues. So for my team to understand im not mean just really dont get social cues its worth the very long wait.

I got referred by a psychiatrist. But pretty sure your GP can too. If its impacting you its worth a chat :)

I'm glad you're getting diagnosed :) . In my case I think it would have helped with a previous role in a different company, I just didn't get instructions really well, nor her "read between the lines" type of queues.

In the last couple of years I’ve started to think it’s probably quite common to be ND. I’m not saying the majority is, but a large proportion of the population compared with previously thought numbers.

My DS and DH are ND, my younger DC probably is too. I think I probably am. It explains an awful lot. I’m not planning on doing anything about it, but I might in the future - DH was diagnosed inattentive ADHD aged 40 and has recently started medication which he says is life changing. I have been tempted to try one myself to see if it makes a difference as a way of giving me an idea if I also have ADHD or not (the paediatrician who diagnosed my DS actually said, well if you want you can try medication and it will give you a definitive answer as to how he reacts or not!) although I would chicken out before actually taking a non prescribed stimulant I think.

So no OP YANBU. I think the more knowledge we have to understand ourselves or others around us, the better.

A good friend in her late 50s was recently diagnosed by medical professions. She feels as you do, relieved as it explains so many things.

I think you're right and many people fall "on the spectrum". My DH does too (his more on the deficit attention side of it though). I have an appointment with the GP in a couple of weeks so will mention it then..

I think the last statistics I read were that 20% of the population were ND (ASD, Adhd, dyslexia, dyscalulia, dyspraxia etc) and 1 in 36 are autistic which is quite an increase from previous estimates as so many people were not picked up previously, obviously the statistics only reflect the number of people who actually get a diagnosis and that isn't easy to do.

I also think birds of a feather flock together, ie we find our tribe and ND individuals are attracted to each other, this is quite noticeable in school friendship groups with lots of the quirky children being in the same group.

Out of curiousity, what are your symptoms that have lead you to believe you might be neurodivergent op?

I would be a bit wary of that "screening" test. No online test can diagnose someone with 100% probability. I would also disagree with the PP's comment that self diagnosis is diagnosis. Unless you are personally qualified to diagnose, it's not. So beware the black and white thinking of taking it as a certainty based on this quiz. But with that caveat, I hope you find it a useful avenue to explore.

I was told, from a source I trust, that the estimate for neurodiversity is now 1/3 of people. It is worth bearing in mind that quite a few of your friends and loved ones might be neurodiverse - it might actually give you more in common with them rather than being a difference.

There's quite a few but for example:

I don't look at people into their eyes when talking
I stare at people (and not notice)
I get annoyed by tags/labels and get itchy quite easily
I obsess over certain topics and gather as much information as I can about them
I find comfort in looking at patterns (or find them interesting)
I go through periods of listening to the same song over and over again
I sometimes have "no filter" in my opinions
I overthink in general, but also can take things literally

I know tests are not an "answer" but definitely have given me some guidance.

Where do you find that test online?

Where did you see 1 in 36 are autistic?

I've seen 1 in 100 but think it must be much much higher. I have so many nd friends... or with nd kids...

I’d be interested to learn which online test you carried out

embrace-autism.com/aspie-quiz/

Although you can Google aspie quiz

Sounds like me! That's why I asked. But I've never considered myself neurodivergent. Food for thought I guess.
I've also done this thing from very young where I move my hands back and forth (stimming perhaps?) when alone when trying to vividly visualise a scenario in my head. Sound familiar or no?

Yes, I didn't realise why I was surrounded by ND people until I learnt about it and started the diagnosis pathway. I just have a radar for them/us ... out of all the people I dated probably only a couple were NT. Husband is ND.

I do have this theory though that while ND people have always existed in the same numbers, and of course we have better diagnosis now, the ease of coping with the world is and well 'things' to think about that while being 'ND' previously might have meant you were just a bit quirky now it's much harder to cope.

I’m diagnosed as autistic. Here’s my results for the same quiz you took OP as you might find it fun to look at- although mine is version 4.

The relationship line is purely to due the fact I’ve been married to same person for ages. Not sure I agree that long term relationships/marriages are a NT “thing” given divorce rates 🤣

Anyway, I do agree you can’t diagnose yourself on this test alone.
But I also agree it’s likely you might be austitic.
The assessment is alot more than doing this quiz.

@HorsesForTenners yes I agree, I've always thought that historically the ADHDers would have been our explorers, or sat around the cave listening to stories fidgeting with a stick and discovered fire etc.

I think life was much easier to cope when there were fewer sensory inputs, even something as simple as going to a supermarket has gotten louder even since the 80s with music and beeping tills, humming air con etc.

I did the test as well and got 68% neurotypical which as far as I know I am, and DD got 100% neurodiverse although she did tick that she already had a diagnosis which may have changed the figures I suppose

What does the assessment entail?

The thing is I live a fairly "normal" life, so I don't know if they'll tell me to get lost.

I think you're right too. My father definitely has what used to be called 'Asperger's' and I work in an office with 5 other women and two of them have daughters diagnosed with ASD, and both have said (and I can see it's probably true) that they suspect they too are autistic. I suspect I too might be just like my father.

@chatenoire for my teen DD (and I believe for adults too) the assessment involved an interview with an Ed psych where we went over a full developmental history of her from my pregnancy, birth, toddlerhood right through to school. For adults this can be trickier and I believe they often ask for. A parent to attend if possible. Signs of ASD have to be present from a young age. So things like did you role play, when you did did you do so freestyle or did you replicate books, TV shows or just copy what others did. Did you line up or categorize toys. Did you have any restricted or repetitive behaviours/ did you require sameness, did you have a special interest - these can be different at different times. Did you struggle with sensory things, labels loud noises like hand dryers, do you feel hot/cold/ hunger/ thirst? A lot of these things you can learn to cope with as you get older which is why they like to look at your earliest years.

Then we had a day at the clinic where she was assessed by a multi disciplinary team where she carried out the ADOS assessment which is basically where she was given various toy, book and puzzle props and they carried out various activities and assessed her social and communication skill whilst using the props as well as what she did with them

In the afternoon she did a range of cognitive tests on an iPad that showed the typical ASD spiky profile showing her strengths and weaknesses. These tests showed that she was extremely gifted in 3/5 areas but her working memory and processing speeds were much lower in comparison which made sense as this meant her ability had been masking her disability and was why school had never picked up on it but also why it takes her a couple of minutes to answer questions when cold called in class.

We went straight for a private assessment as it's 4+ years on the NHS waiting list and I didn't think she would reach the bar as she is not a problem at school. However her ASD was causing significant problems for her and her MH was declining rapidly as she thought she was going insane and didn't understand why she couldn't cope.

I have no doubt DD will live a very normal sort of life as an adult but the benefit of having the diagnosis means she understands herself, it validates her feelings and has done wonders for her self-esteem and confidence. When she goes into the world of work she can confidently ask for the adjustments she requires (and tell which employers don't suit her if adjustments are not forthcoming) and hopefully her life will be a little easier for knowing that there is a reason she reacts differently to the world. It was very expensive £2.5k but worth every penny.

My autism assessment involved an ADOS, alongside a detailed history. The clinician also spent 3 hrs with Dh ( I wasn't at that appointment).

My ADOS score was high, despite me thinking that I masked well.
This was a private assessment. But it was multidisciplinary and very detailed. The NHS accepted the diagnostic report with no questions and added it to my medical records.

Aspie Quiz doesn't sound very professional given that Asperger's isn't a term that is used anymore. How sure are you of it's source?