Been told I may have ASD today

[JustPondering]

Went to a feedback appointment today following my 7 year olds autism diagnosis a couple of weeks ago, all was going as normal and then the consultant asks me how I would feel about going to my gp and asking for an assesment for asd as in his opinion he thinks I am on the autistic spectrum.

So what do I say to my gp? He said he can give me something to take to the gp but he didn't have it with him and he will give it to me at next appointment which is in February. But that's a long time away so I think I might make an appointment next week. But I just don't know what to say.

Also is there any point as an adult? And does anyone know how long it will take?

Thank you.

My DS's psych diagnosed me too Just but I never did follow it up.

My view is that's it's pretty pointless. We probably know more about the condition than most GPs and we have developed strategies to help us overcome any social/communication problems.

I really don't see what a formal assessment would achieve.

Ds was dx'd with Asperger's, when we went for the last appointment the psych at CAMHS kept referring to books about girls on the spectrum and how much more difficult they are to Dx, even though we were there for DS?? I panicked a little because I thought maybe they had seen my Dd but she hadn't ever come into contact with them.

It would make sense TBH if they were indirectly referring to me, I find it so hard to tell people the strategies I use with Ds because I have always treated him as I would like to be treated

You've come this far, I don't really see how an assessment would help either. Do you feel as though it's something you need?

I don't know, it would be good to know for definite so that I'm not always wondering whether I have it or not but there's nothing that would come from it other than confirmation in my mind I guess.

I think I definitely do, especially as I walk on my toes at home and had speech therapy till I was nine, also along with my recently diagnosed 7 year old, there is also my elder DS with aspergers and my younger day is on social communication pathway. So I think it probably is very very likely but I would never really know for sure if you know what I mean.

Oh I don't know, I suppose I don't have to do anything right now anyway.

I have been thinking about asking my gp for an assessment. I dont know how likely it is I would get one. But I do feel that I want to know. I think my lack of understanding social situations is causing me problems and it would make things easier if I could say to people I have asd. It might help my family understand me better. But I dont think I will ever have enough courage to see my gp. What do you think you will do?

You see I think that saying to people that you have ASD is the wrong approach.

You are you - you don't need excuses for being you.

My biggest nightmare would be eventually persuading some gormless GP that I needed an assessment only to be told by equally incompetent Psych that I was perfectly NT.

We are absolute experts on ASD compared to most in the medical profession and I include the MH services in that.

Surely, you would know if you had it withouty it being rubber-stamped by the NHS.

And, if you do have it, then there's absolutelt nothing the NHS can do for you. You have the remedy in your own hands through the reserach you've done into the condition.

DS is 25 and has had on/off contact with psychological services as an adult.

What a waste of time!

They simply don't understand ASD. He has to explain to them what it's all about.

It's all 'one size fits all' and the 'all' are all NT - not ASD.

My son's consultant said that for the past couple of years here in bolton that we now have an asd adult diagnostic team and we didn't have that before. I feel like I would like to know as it would explain all my social awkwardness. Also I have tics, both vocal and also motor such as eye blinking and jaw clenching. People sometimes ask me if I have tourettes which I have to reply that I don't know. If I had an asd diagnosis it would make life easier as I could say that no it's aspergers. I wouldn't want any help, although maybe for tics but I don't think anything can help with them.

Also it could help when it comes to diagnosis time for my youngest as portage has just been taken away from him as he is too clever apparently. He still has weekly speech therapy and the local special school are going into nursery to observe him soon. It took four years to get my 7 year olds diagnosis as there was always something that didn't quite fit into the box, it took him having to go to camhs asd day unit for 8 weeks for him to get his autism diagnosis and I don't want that for my youngest. I think that if I had a diagnosis it would help them come to a a conclusion faster.

I don't know what I would say to my go, no idea what I should say, but my son's consultant said he can give me something to take to the the go, but I didn't ask him what that was.

*gp

tacal I wonder whether diagnosis would help in regards to social situations also. I have been told I am very blunt and can be rude which at the time I can't see but with hindsight I can. I think it would help with at least the people I know well to know there's a reason and I am not just rude.

Also I apparently come across as aloof and as if I'm not interested in people which is really really not true at all, I just don't know what to say and what I do say sound a awkward. Also I never know whether someone wants me to speak to them or not which makes me anxious so I often don't bother but I wish I could just speak to them like everybody else. And although I definitely have empathy, lots in fact, I cannot at all express it, my worst nightmare is for someone to receive bad news whilst in my company.

I am ok speaking to consultants, teachers peadiatrician etc as there is a purpose but chit chat is excruciatingly awkward for me like when people ask if I'm going on holiday this year and I know that I need to ask them too but then it feels awkward so I often don't and it makes me feel quite down a lot of the time .I avoid hairdressers for this reason. I think knowing without a doubt that I have asd would help me, I would know it's just the way I am.

I'm very like you in a lot of ways Just

Am always being told I don't make eye contact.

Treat invitations to people's houses or parties like being given the Black Spot.

Hate meeting new people.

Hate change in routine

My best friend told me I was a control freak!

I can't wear fabrics that are manmade next to my skin.

I spend hours reading maps and atlases - for fun.

That's just a few of the weird things about me.

But knowing that I have less/do those doesn't mean I actually change my behaviour. i recognise that my dislike of social contact is because of AS but that doesn't make me want to accept invitations - I still have to grit my teeth before I go.

Would hate to tell anyone in RL, family or others, that I had AS and never intend to work again, so can't see what an in depth assessment would provide me with.

Good luck with the funding. What is joint commissioning?

I meet many of the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's and always score very high on those online questionnaires.

A diagnosis might have been useful when I was 8, but I am forty now, have developed compensation strategies and am happy with who I am.

If you feel that you are struggling to function at work or in a family setting, then it might be worth pursuing an assessment in the hope that it could potentially lead to help/support.

Hi JustPondering, I can relate to everything you say. My family say I am blunt and it causes them to fall out with me. I really struggle with social events at work and tend to avoid them. This has gone against me at work in the past. I have turned down promotion in a couple of jobs because there is no way I could handle the people management side of things. This is something people just dont understand. I have also recently realized that I am a visual learner and always struggled at work when instructions were given to me verbally. I think having a diagnosis would help with family and definitely with work. But probably I will just continue without one.

My Dad had something. Not sure what but his attitude was that people either liked him or they didn't. Lots didn't for his apparent rudeness and bluntness but he shrugged and just spent more time with those who did, or could put up with the less social behaviour on the basis of what he could offer outside of that.

He was dedicated and committed to all he set out to do and unwavering in his integrity and principles. Annoyingly inflexible according to some but admirable and an innovative leader to others.

I'm not saying you shouldn't get a Dx, and it may occasionally offer you protection and accommodation if you do but please don't think you are incomplete without one. I'm certain that what you offer the world is cherished by many around you however awkward or self-conscious you feel. Try to just not 'care' so much. NT people are good at the superficial mask but many of them don't actually give a shit about others.

I hope this info might be useful
www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/all-about-diagnosis/diagnosis-information-for-adults/how-do-i-get-a-diagnosis.aspx
My 31 year old sister has just asked her GP for an assessment who was very supportive but wanted to speak to the adult diagnostic service first to discuss her history/difficulties and ensure that it was the right place to refer her, which it was.

www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/all-about-diagnosis/diagnosis-information-for-adults/how-do-i-get-a-diagnosis.aspx