Neurodiversity support thread for women with suspected, diagnosed or self-diagnosed autism, ADHD and other NDs #18

[PolterThreadStarter]

As usual, latest support thread.

Welcome

I am beginning to wonder if I am dyspraxia and DP is on the autistic spectrum. Ds1 18 does have a diagnosis of Aspergers. Do is convinced Ds 2 does too though I am no convinced. I think he is stressed from living with us.
I always had difficulty with motor skills learning to catch a ball, skip, write, drive a car etc. Have managed all with lots of practice. Always socially awkward.very shy, Always untidy. Unaware position of my body parts.
Dp is becoming more and more controlling as he is becoming more and mor anxious. Very sensitive to noise, struggles with the sound of breathing. Worries about noises outside o one else can hear. Difficulty with empathy. Easiely pressured and will get very angry of shut down for a few days. Struggles with change. If furniture is moved around. If someone sits in his seat he knows because it feels different.
Or is this just stress. His parents say he was like this as a child.

Hi everyone

I'm going for my first assessment this afternoon with a follow up next Friday.

I just wondered if anyone could give any tips on what to expect? They haven't given any hints in the letter on duration or types of test.

Hi Quickquestioner - I had a test which involved playing games, reading a story and stuff which tested my imagination. It’s best not to google to much about it because if I had been able to plan my behaviour my autistic traits probably wouldn’t have come out the way they did. I also had to do a cognitive test which I found less draining than the others. Good luck!

Ok, so, when I woke up I discovered I had a missed call from the Lorna Wing Centre... they’ve got an appointment for me NEXT WEEK on Monday. Having been told the waiting list was six months, I’m kinda surprised to say the least. I’m assuming there was a cancellation.
But still, next week...!!!

Well, it happened. Monday 20th November was the day I received an official diagnosis of ASD, with an Aspergers “profile” as the assessor put it. Arrived at 10:30 and diagnosis was made just past three that afternoon. I feel OK right now; I suppose because I’ve suspected it for so long i feel pretty much the same, just with a solid diagnosis behind me.

Great news Toffee. I felt very relieved when I got my diagnosis

Brilliant, Toffee. I got mine in April, same “verdict”.

Received my formal diagnosis today ... feel strangely "nothing" about it, sort of "yes of course, I knew that". Was anyone else like that?

Yeah, I’m the same quickquestioner.

Hello! Can I join? I’m on the Lorna Wing waiting list, struggling to fill out the childhood questionnaire. My parents aren’t helping and I can’t really remember anything. I strongly suspect I was so clueless that I didn’t know when I was being ‘odd’. Any tips??

What exactly does it say? I’m sure you could just write that you can’t really remember your childhood, they must have had that before!

Yes I probably could. I suppose I’m worried that if I don’t do well on my test they might not diagnose me! You can tell I got very anxious about exams!!

I had the ADOS and I saw the autistic me come out! It was so illuminating actually.

What is an ADOS?

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Scedule

Crikey the thread has gone quiet! I expected to find that it had got to thread #20 or more. I'm not staying - way too many stressors in my life at the moment - but thought I'd drop in and wish everyone a (belated) Merry Xmas

Thank you Wings - and to you too. I have found that my parents are much kinder to me since my diagnosis. I've just met someone I really like (unusual). I hope it works out but the fact I'm not neurotypical can complicate things.

Hi all - hoping someone may have an angle on this for me - wrote main thread on it but no answers so far. I'm on the NHS waiting list in my area for ASD assessment and got a letter to say I can avoid another 6 month wait by applying to be assessed by a private company called Healios which the NHS in my area has commissioned for ASD assessments. Anyone had any experience with this? You do it via love video link rather than in person.

LIVE video link.....

Thanks so much for swift reply Deckoff. Funnily enough that was my instinctive thought too about body language etc. My counsellor who suggested ASD in the first place specifically cited my (apparently! ) inappropriate facial expressions as one of the things that stood out for her. And I'm not sure that does come across clearly on a screen. And all the other body language issues.

Big spike in demand and big drop in funding is causing a bit of a crisis. I was warned at preassessment that it could be a year to wait or even indefinite. So it's tempting. But I'm uneasy.

No I don't. I have a very supportive work environment already, very lucky. It's just for me. Can't have any grey areas, huh?!!

Good luck with the Healios assessment Daisy. Will be interested to see how you find it. When I spoke to the doctor who referred me she said that there's so many people applying for referrals where I live that they have to select those who are more profoundly effected by autism. Because I was deemed too high functioning the assessment centre decided not to see me. If Healios is introduced here then that might help with the big demand.