If it isn't ASD, what could it be?

[Stopmakingsense]

My DD (18) is being assessed for autism via an NHS service. At the initial screening they had loads of questions about school age 4-5. Basically she had no problems really until around age 14. Beyond some slightly strange/eccentric obsessions (and they weren't really out of the ordinary), she coped well, did well, made and kept a small good group of friends. After that age, however, it seems to me that she ticks all the boxes, and in the last couple of years lots of things have fallen apart for her, basically. I know that girls are harder to diagnose, but surely all the professionals know that too, and would take that into account? My questions is, if she doesn't meet the critieria for autism, what else could it be? Would she simply be not autistic enough to meet the critieria? Or without early development problems is it not possible for her to have autism?

Keeping in mind I don't have a diagnosis (one day I may choose to pursue this) my mum describes my early years as incredibly shy as I wouldn't speak to anyone outside very immediate family, very "biddable" as in I did everything asked of me with no natural rebellion at any point, I never lied and I took everything literally. Yes I truly believed my uncle had a caved in head from picking his nose, he was much taller than me, and yes I did end up sobbing my heart out in the bathroom because I'd accidentally swallowed an orange pip and therefore it would be growing out of my belly button. In that incident I then just dried my eyes and went downstairs because my Nana was babysitting and therefore I couldn't speak to her. Now I know children can be gullible and take things literally, but it was constant. At 9 my parents joked some new pyjamas were a tracksuit and therefore I believed them and felt ashamed when I was going to wear them to play out and I was told they were pyjamas.

In fact my shame at always being "fooled" by people meant I never wanted ds1 to go through that and so I never lied to him.

Can she articulate anything she ever felt embarrassed by or what her memories were of things? Like my best memories of nursery were flying high into the air on the seesaw and the beautifully polished wooden climbing frame and slide and being inside the red barrel. I don't know if that's normal but together with other sensory rather than friend memories from childhood they do build up a picture I think.

With regards to her childhood you say words like obsession and coped, I don't think these are typical to describe a childhood. Maybe articulating them further would help.

Oh one from ds1 (being assessed in April). He used to incessantly ask what plans were and where we were going next from age 5. It was hugely annoying. When I brought up autism to him at 8 he told me that he needed to have a picture in his head of where we were going and each stage otherwise he was nervous. Nerves or anxiety are never something I would've associated with small ds1 but then he never showed it. Just like I never did.

Thanks both - am now beginning to remember quite a lot - crisp packet collection being one!

I read a fantastic blog about how well girls mask and are harder to diagnose as they try to fit in (mimic social behaviour) sometimes its only severe anxiety that makes the masking unable to be controlled.

I read a fantastic blog about how well girls mask and are harder to diagnose as they try to fit in (mimic social behaviour) sometimes its only severe anxiety that makes the masking unable to be controlled.

Crazybat if you find the blog I would be grateful - thanks!

www.specialneedsjungle.com/autism-in-pink-helping-to-identify-undiagnosed-girls-with-asd/

Good luck! X

Many thanks!

Crazy at thank you for the link. Will share with my DD. It's nicely balanced and she'll like that

You are welcome.x