#autism evaluation

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

5 Things to do While Waiting for an Autism Evaluation

Mrs Speechie P

[chthonic-pain]

In my autism evaluation today, my evaluator said "whether or not we can give you an on-the-books diagnosis, you do have autistic traits. I would never want to take away language that has helped you find a supportive community or skills and tools that help you navigate the world. Don't use the diagnosis as the be-all end-all measure of your validity."

[probablypeoplepleasering]

I really don't understand the problem with self diagnosing. Please tell me what's wrong with finding a word that describes your entire life, and then going through the DSM-5 and learning everything about it and fully understanding yourself, and then making accommodations for yourself now you really understand. Instead of having panic attacks everyday in the school toilets, I bought myself earplugs that really help me. Instead of crying after a social situation, I no longer blame myself. Instead of partaking in unhealthy coping mechanisms whenever I feel the urge to stim, I now let it out and make myself feel so much better. I let myself rest. And no, I have never said to anyone "I am autistic" because I am not diagnosed. I don't scream it to every person I meet, I'm not faking anything. I'm letting myself feel, because for the first time in forever, I realise that I'm not alone. There are people out there that feel the same way!! I'm not pathetic for crying and "acting out" after a plan or my routine change. I'm not stupid for not knowing how to speak. I'm not immature for taking longer to learn how to do things that other people find easy. I'm not alone!!! It feels like a breath of fresh air, because the DSM-5 for autism is literally my entire life written into words, and I can't even begin to explain how it feels. Maybe self diagnosis isn't valid, but what harm am I doing? I feel so so much better now I have a word for how I feel.

[awetistic-things]

just got my autism assessment report back and—

[goblinwithartsupplies]

Autistics! (Or people who have at least been professionally assessed) I have a question!

Now many autistics at least those in North America and the UK,are familiar with the floating frog book. Or Tuesday by David Wiesner.

The thought process by the doctors is that autistics wouldn’t be able to generate a story based on the pictures with no context as well as neurotypicals. But would rather get caught up in the biological impossibility of the pictures. The whole “Autistic people are purely logical beings and can’t be creative” thing. Which is absolutely not true as evidenced by the many autistic creatives.

But I was at my old ABA therapist office (they technically weren’t actually ABA but they called it that so they could be covered by insurance. Much less ableist.) a while ago because they were donating a bunch of their old stuff because they’re moving offices and they need to replace stuff anyway. So cool free stim toys.

And I found this!!

I was wondering if anyone has ever been evaluated with this book as the therapist said that they used it to encourage less rigid thinking, specifically because it was so similar in structure and style to Tuesday (frog book).

[hail-mary-full-of-rats]

had my appointment to get evaluated for autism and adhd today!! had big anxiety and I'm still kinda anxious and worried about the result but yeah, we did it. got some other stuff to do still but yeahhh. it wasn't terrible, doctor guy was nice.

[91vaults]

Self Diagnosis for Autism is totally valid

Diagnosis is ultimately an imperfect set of parameters we use to determine treatment. It's not a big gold stamp of approval that says "the way you experience the world and your struggles is valid and not a moral failing" but unfortunately society treats it like one and I totally understand people for whom an official diagnosis was the thing that brought it all together and gave them that understanding and validation they never got their whole lives (diagnosis as a barrier to support and treatment is another topic).

I was diagnosed as kid. I have a twin brother who has always been a bit of "quirky" guy, it never even occurred to me (or anyone else) until it suddenly did. Honestly I reckon a lot of people would be like "oh yeah...that checks out". I once asked him on the phone "You know, have you ever considered you might be on the spectrum?" his answer?

"I really don't care. It would mean absolutely nothing to me if I went and got a diagnosis"

But he often refers to himself as "a bit autistic". To him I don't think it's an identity thing, rather he explained it as a useful shorthand to describe himself, more so to other people, where he fears he comes off as perhaps a little emotionally distant or cold, and a bit awkward, among other quirks.

As for me, who does have the golden stamp of validity (which is hilarious given girls rarely ever got diagnosed back then) I don't really identify with it as an identity. I don't really tell people cause I don't see the need. I don't consider myself as part of the Autistic community (for a multitude of reasons) and I never have and don't refer to myself as Autistic. rather I say "I have ASD" because that clinical label and the distance it implies feels most true to my experience. Especially now when many people are reclaiming the label as an identity.

I know self diagnosis can be controversial and I have a lot of....thoughts about neurodivergent tik tok. But if someone feels it is true to their experience and they find comfort and community in it...If it's something they find helpful to understand themselves and in turn help other people understand them. Then why not? to use a clumsy analogy it's a bit like how physical and biological characteristics are relevant in some contexts when it comes to gender...but gender is so much more than that, its not just about chromosomes or whats in your pants its about how you experience and move through the world, how the world responds to you and how you understand yourself and relate to others. Medical definitions aren't everything.

[quixotickaya]

In case you were wondering where I went, I'm publishing my work on Medium now:

As it Turns Out, I’m Autistic

After 41 Years, I Finally Know.