Broader Autistic Phenotype?

[thousandDenier]

I had my screening assessment this week. The clinical psychologist who took the video call was unsure whether to take me forward to a full assessment and wants me to provide a questionnaire from someone who knew me as a child (not going to happen for various complicated reasons)

She said that I fitted what she called the Broader Autistic Phenotype, however.

Has anyone else been told this, or even heard of it?

Is this just a newer version of 'high functioning' now that they (quite rightly) don't use that term?

I'm disappointed of course, as I've researched and am entirely sure that I am autistic.

I think it is a term used to describe people who have some autistic traits but not enough of them to meet the full diagnostic criteria. Your psychologist should have explained it to you; it's not great to leave a patient with uncertainty like this.

There was no one to fill in my questionnaire - I'm middle aged and my parents can't remember what happened last week, let alone in the 1970s. I completed it based on my own recollections and left blank anything I couldn't answer. I would suggest taking this approach.

Hoping you get some answers soon

This is interesting. I’ve never heard this before but done a quick read up and feel like I meet this.

I don’t have a some of the typical traits e.g. sensory issues, need for strict routine, obsessive interests.

I do have:
stimming, difficulty in social situations and making friends, difficulty understanding humour. Maybe some more…

I can imagine it being hard to deal with if you still have struggles, yet apparently not enough to be diagnosed as autistic. Then what?

Thank you for replying. I think I will persist. I know the struggles I've had throughout life and how much I mask.

I don't want to carry on feeling neither one thing or the other, which what I took away from the appointment.