Diagnosis for Autism
Getting a Diagnosis
Are you considering a diagnosis of ASD for yourself, a friend or a family member? Please read on for further information.
Why Diagnose?
You may feel nervous about pursuing a diagnosis. After all, will it make any difference? What will others say? What if they get it wrong? What if I don’t get a diagnosis, then what? Will it affect job prospects?
These are all normal and valid concerns. There are, however, many positive reasons for knowing whether a diagnosis of ASD is applicable to you or someone you know.
Misinterpretation
Behaviours associated with ASD can be easily misinterpreted. Teachers or colleagues may, for example, assume that the person is being deliberately obstructive, argumentative or rude. The truth, is in fact, usually quite the opposite. Problematic behaviours are rarely intentional. Knowing the underlying reason for the behaviour is likely to make people more tolerant and accepting of difference.
Autistic individuals often carry emotional pain because they cannot understand why they get it wrong so often. They frequently attribute negative qualities to themselves such as “I’m stupid”, “I’m not a nice person” or “I’m a loser”. Similarly, parents of autistic children may have been accused of bad parenting by others or even themselves. A diagnosis provides an explanation for the difficulties which often brings a sense of relief to the individuals concerned.
Signpost
A diagnosis helps to signpost people to the kind of support that would be most helpful. There are many strategies and support structures that have been developed as well as services that cater for autistic individuals. Clarity on the diagnosis focuses you on the relevant areas to find the support structures that you need.
Post Diagnosis Support
There are many different emotional reactions to a diagnosis of ASD and you may have a lot of questions. Some services offer post diagnosis support whilst others do not. If the service you have engaged with does not offer further support, this can be accessed via many different avenues. In the UK, the National Autistic Society (http://www.autism.org.uk/) has a helpline (Tel: 0808 800 4104) and also local branches which provide information, training and services. There are many online communities as well as services which provide support post-diagnosis.
Please see the articles below for further helpful information.