Helping adult DD with autism assessment

[amigababy]

DD is 25 and has long suspected she has ASD. She has anxiety, plus some physical disabilities. She's decided to seek an official diagnosis of autism, part of which includes us as parents providing information about her childhood to support her.

My difficulty is, I suspect I also have ASD, no diagnosis, and though I love words ( languages, etymology etc) when it comes to free writing, I literally Don't know what to write. I need questions and prompts which I can answer. And I'm struggling to remember her childhood too ( which sounds really bad, I don't know why I'm finding it hard) I can ask dh but he was always at work etc, really I was the hands-on parent.

Does anyone have any advice on how to structure a piece of writing which will support her application, which would help me put it together. Thank you.

I can so relate. My dd has a diagnosis bit is still a teen. I also suspect I am on the spectrum.

Perhaps look online for childhood autism traits and see if you remember your dd behaving in certain ways.

Off the top of my head my daughter has to be in control of everything or she has a meltdown.

Anything that is expected of her she views as an unachievable demand.

Anxiety is huge.

Says things that she feel despite upsetting people but doesn't realise it could cause offence.

Has great masking skills when needed bit then has meltdowns as the pretence is too much

Special interests/obsessions?

Prefers adults company. Not many or any friends.

I will try to think of more

Check out Blogs by autistic women too. There are lots around, I like this one. Not specifically for diagnosis, but just for understanding Here

Thank you both for the help. I'm starting to put together some notes now.

We've both read Odd Girl Out, I connected a lot with what the author said about growing up etc

Assessing the Diagnostic Measures for Autism

This is a study looking into the diagnostic measures used to assess children with autism via means of two questionnaires. The findings will help us to understand what traits are predominate in the differing genders and to highlight if the original diagnostic measures need to be changed to help more children be diagnosed earlier in childhood. Your participation will be a valuable contribution to understanding the traits underpinning autism. By filling in various questions, you will help us identify how the current diagnostic material might need to be changed. There is evidence suggesting that some children with autism display differing characteristics (Posserud, Lundervold & Gillberg, 2006; Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) leading to difficulties in diagnosing children. This study will help us understand and identity these differing characteristics within autism and thus be one step closer in putting forward a new diagnostic measure.
The first questionnaire is a well-established questionnaire - The Autism-Spectrum Quotient’ (Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, Skinner, Martin & Clubbley, 2001). The second questionnaire is composed of questions from varying pre-existing questionnaires and questions from the principle investigator.
Please be aware, that all participants must:

Be over the age of 18.

Be a primary care giver of a child with autism.

The child must already have a diagnosis of autism.

Please read the Information Sheet within the questionnaire.
This study has ethical approval from the University of Hertfordshire (Protocol Number: LMS/PGT/UH/04130). For more information please see the ‘Information Sheet’.

Here is the link:

herts.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bp8awdHa635eliR

6 year old Grandson has just started acting with anxiety and saying he can't go out as he wants to marry and kiss everyone. It is sad and strange

@amigababy My adult DD (23) is literally at the beginning of this process too. She had a telephone conversation with her GP who referred her immediately and a week later (this week) she was sent a form. She hasn't filled it in yet, but it seems to have the questions that you would need as prompts. It also asks for her to attend the future appointment with someone who knows her well.

As there is a genetic link, the person doing the interview will be sympathetic to any difficulties you have (and actually it may be relevant evidence)