I suspect I have ADHD/ Autism what should I do?
I’m from the uk (20) F everyone around me suggests I take a test for adhd or autism because if my behaviour. How should I do this? I’m unaware of the processes of getting a diagnosis.
Talk to your GP in the first instance. The waiting lists for these assessments tend to be pretty long on the NHS though, you may want to go private if you can afford it. Good luck out there!
Original post by Anonymous
I’m from the uk (20) F everyone around me suggests I take a test for adhd or autism because if my behaviour. How should I do this? I’m unaware of the processes of getting a diagnosis.
What behaviour makes you friends think this ?. Reason I ask is that I think that I have been undiagnosed (Neurodivergence to cover whole spectrum of different brains) with "autism" for long time.
Elon Musk (Tesla electric cars etc, one of wealthiest men) also has the same so cannot be all bad.
I would be interested and if you feel free to do so please post the symptoms, or dm if you prefer,
Hi
So what we did (I was 15)
Was went to the GP with a list of traits and situations that were "concerning" or things I struggle with and spoke to the doctor and then they agreed and referred me, and then the waiting list was 3 years.
The assessment is mainly an interview and depending on the centre they will ask you to do things like tell a story or act something out but nothing too bad.
If obvious then they will give you the diagnosis on the day or they might want to discuss and compare notes with others and you will get given a date for the diagnosis.
Normally going to the doctors and asking for an assessment doesn't work (from the people that I know) the best way is to discuss some challenges then say I think they could be related to --- what are the next steps
So what we did (I was 15)
Was went to the GP with a list of traits and situations that were "concerning" or things I struggle with and spoke to the doctor and then they agreed and referred me, and then the waiting list was 3 years.
The assessment is mainly an interview and depending on the centre they will ask you to do things like tell a story or act something out but nothing too bad.
If obvious then they will give you the diagnosis on the day or they might want to discuss and compare notes with others and you will get given a date for the diagnosis.
Normally going to the doctors and asking for an assessment doesn't work (from the people that I know) the best way is to discuss some challenges then say I think they could be related to --- what are the next steps
Original post by Anonymous
I’m from the uk (20) F everyone around me suggests I take a test for adhd or autism because if my behaviour. How should I do this? I’m unaware of the processes of getting a diagnosis.
Here are a couple of really good article's related to autism.
Just Click the "X" on middle right of Page to read and also also maybe "I'll Do It Later" then can read all you like.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/03/i-can-only-love-100-or-0-chris-packham-on-navigating-a-neurodiverse-relationship
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/01/the-truth-about-adhd-and-autism-how-many-people-have-it-what-causes-it-and-why-are-diagnoses-soaring
Original post by anonymouse2024
What behaviour makes you friends think this ?. Reason I ask is that I think that I have been undiagnosed (Neurodivergence to cover whole spectrum of different brains) with "autism" for long time.
Elon Musk (Tesla electric cars etc, one of wealthiest men) also has the same so cannot be all bad.
I would be interested and if you feel free to do so please post the symptoms, or dm if you prefer,
Elon Musk (Tesla electric cars etc, one of wealthiest men) also has the same so cannot be all bad.
I would be interested and if you feel free to do so please post the symptoms, or dm if you prefer,
A lot of family members have pointed out my behaviour saying I’m clumsy, forgetful, get easily distracted.. though my friends haven’t noticed anything different about me so I’m very conflicted
Original post by Anonymous
A lot of family members have pointed out my behaviour saying I’m clumsy, forgetful, get easily distracted.. though my friends haven’t noticed anything different about me so I’m very conflicted
Thats not sufficient for Autism or ADHD. People are in too much of a rush to find a syndrome/excuse/reason for their behaviour. Perhaps you are just forgetful and clumsy - go see your GP or get a private assessment.
Original post by Jess_Lomas
Hi
So what we did (I was 15)
Was went to the GP with a list of traits and situations that were "concerning" or things I struggle with and spoke to the doctor and then they agreed and referred me, and then the waiting list was 3 years.
The assessment is mainly an interview and depending on the centre they will ask you to do things like tell a story or act something out but nothing too bad.
If obvious then they will give you the diagnosis on the day or they might want to discuss and compare notes with others and you will get given a date for the diagnosis.
Normally going to the doctors and asking for an assessment doesn't work (from the people that I know) the best way is to discuss some challenges then say I think they could be related to --- what are the next steps
So what we did (I was 15)
Was went to the GP with a list of traits and situations that were "concerning" or things I struggle with and spoke to the doctor and then they agreed and referred me, and then the waiting list was 3 years.
The assessment is mainly an interview and depending on the centre they will ask you to do things like tell a story or act something out but nothing too bad.
If obvious then they will give you the diagnosis on the day or they might want to discuss and compare notes with others and you will get given a date for the diagnosis.
Normally going to the doctors and asking for an assessment doesn't work (from the people that I know) the best way is to discuss some challenges then say I think they could be related to --- what are the next steps
The waiting lists are very long on nhs but I’ll try and see if they can diagnose me on the spot if not I’ll look into private Tyy
Original post by Xleh-8
The waiting lists are very long on nhs but I’ll try and see if they can diagnose me on the spot if not I’ll look into private Tyy
They can't diagnose on the spot, the waiting lists are between 3 and 5 years. There is such thing as masking which is when some traits aren't as present however things like forgetfulness and distracted can't be hidden from people. They are some signs of ADHD (though lots more need to be present and in all circumstances through all life)
Also for it to be ADHD it has to be things as simple as forgetting to close a draw straight after opening it or forgetting to lock the door not things all people forget or get distracted. People I know with ADHD can't focus for more than 5 minutes normally but is different between people
Nothing you have described suggests ASD
Original post by Anonymous
They can't diagnose on the spot, the waiting lists are between 3 and 5 years. There is such thing as masking which is when some traits aren't as present however things like forgetfulness and distracted can't be hidden from people. They are some signs of ADHD (though lots more need to be present and in all circumstances through all life)
Also for it to be ADHD it has to be things as simple as forgetting to close a draw straight after opening it or forgetting to lock the door not things all people forget or get distracted. People I know with ADHD can't focus for more than 5 minutes normally but is different between people
Nothing you have described suggests ASD
Also for it to be ADHD it has to be things as simple as forgetting to close a draw straight after opening it or forgetting to lock the door not things all people forget or get distracted. People I know with ADHD can't focus for more than 5 minutes normally but is different between people
Nothing you have described suggests ASD
That’s what I think because I could do things normally before but even then I was scolded at for minor mistakes, but now I am unable to complete anything like certain tasks my 13 year old version could complete easily and it’s become a thing in my family that I’m very incompetent, forgetful, messy and they do say I have issues like adhd so I thought I’d get myself figured out 😅
Original post by Anonymous
That’s what I think because I could do things normally before but even then I was scolded at for minor mistakes, but now I am unable to complete anything like certain tasks my 13 year old version could complete easily and it’s become a thing in my family that I’m very incompetent, forgetful, messy and they do say I have issues like adhd so I thought I’d get myself figured out 😅
If you could do it when 13 then it wouldn't qualify for either diagnosis as they are developmental and present since born
It sounds more like anxiety and stress from being scolded for minor mistakes and now your worrying about doing something "wrong" that your having other issues, which would make more sense why friends don't see traits as you aren't as anxious around them
I think speaking to a professional for mental health would be beneficial and might help but I don't think ASD or ADHD is the cause of the challenges
Original post by Anonymous
If you could do it when 13 then it wouldn't qualify for either diagnosis as they are developmental and present since born
It sounds more like anxiety and stress from being scolded for minor mistakes and now your worrying about doing something "wrong" that your having other issues, which would make more sense why friends don't see traits as you aren't as anxious around them
I think speaking to a professional for mental health would be beneficial and might help but I don't think ASD or ADHD is the cause of the challenges
It sounds more like anxiety and stress from being scolded for minor mistakes and now your worrying about doing something "wrong" that your having other issues, which would make more sense why friends don't see traits as you aren't as anxious around them
I think speaking to a professional for mental health would be beneficial and might help but I don't think ASD or ADHD is the cause of the challenges
Ignore this condescending codswallop over here. First of all, if you think you might have it, schedule an appointment with a GP. It's harmless either way, if you do - great, there's an explanation for why you do some of the things that you do and you can get support, if not, they may be able to help with other things that may be affecting you or give you support.
I'd recommend going through this - the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) - which is what a GP should give you anyway if you think you have ADHD. There's a certain number that you are supposed to "get" (bad word, but you get me) to go on to the next stage, where they ask about your personal experiences etc. This is to get an initial picture of whether you could have it or not and weed out anything else. I was quite shocked about how personal/relateable these were when I first did it, so I don't know, if you feel the same you may be more likely to have it.
https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf
After that, perhaps see if there's a genetic history for it in your family as this can help your case a bit more and help you understand yourself a bit better. That's what I would do for the ADHD part, not sure how it works for ASD but it's probably something similar. Ignore anyone saying that "everyone wants a diagnosis these days", it's your life - you know yourself best.
(edited 8 months ago)
Original post by Anonymous
I’m from the uk (20) F everyone around me suggests I take a test for adhd or autism because if my behaviour. How should I do this? I’m unaware of the processes of getting a diagnosis.
Research (extensively) the symptoms of both (make sure you’re aware of the difference), and spend a little bit of time reading and listening to the experiences of a variety of people with autism/adhd in order to get a general idea of life with the disorders, and once you’ve done that just do some self reflection to see if you experience those symptoms and if you relate to those peoples experiences, it could also be good to share some of the symptoms with people you spend a lot of time with and ask if they notice them (as you may not). If you come to the conclusion that you think you have one (or both) you could either go through the NHS or go privately (I recommend the latter if you are able to afford it)
@marvelous-layup did a great job explaining the ADHD pathway.
From mine and others the ASD is slightly different, when I had my appointment we talked and they asked questions a few people were asked to do the AQ50 https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient before referring.
After this the NHS then sent a form for the school to fill In (wouldn't be relevant at your age) and then a question booklet with open-ended questions for you and and someone who has known you since birth (not friend) to fill in.
After this they collect all the information at this point and if they think you have a chance of diagnosis they add you to the waiting list and if your answers are very inconsistent with a diagnosis they won't put you forward for an assessment.
(the reason they ask the school is traits have to be present in multiple situations you don't always realise it until they ask the right questions)
I found with the AQ that because the answers are check boxes the questions can be hard to answer such as "I prefer to go to the library than a play" for me I would however when I read the question I was like what play is it and many other questions so if you find the questions challenging to answer that can also sometimes be a sign.
Please let me know if you have any other questions about traits etc.
What the person was saying about before 13 I wouldn't worry about too much. In the old criteria it said traits had to be present before 3 for ASD but now the criteria states "Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities or may be masked by learned strategies in later life)."
I've added the full criteria below, if you would like any of it explaining or questions about it feel free to ask, remember to do what you feel is right
A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text):
From mine and others the ASD is slightly different, when I had my appointment we talked and they asked questions a few people were asked to do the AQ50 https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient before referring.
After this the NHS then sent a form for the school to fill In (wouldn't be relevant at your age) and then a question booklet with open-ended questions for you and and someone who has known you since birth (not friend) to fill in.
After this they collect all the information at this point and if they think you have a chance of diagnosis they add you to the waiting list and if your answers are very inconsistent with a diagnosis they won't put you forward for an assessment.
(the reason they ask the school is traits have to be present in multiple situations you don't always realise it until they ask the right questions)
I found with the AQ that because the answers are check boxes the questions can be hard to answer such as "I prefer to go to the library than a play" for me I would however when I read the question I was like what play is it and many other questions so if you find the questions challenging to answer that can also sometimes be a sign.
Please let me know if you have any other questions about traits etc.
What the person was saying about before 13 I wouldn't worry about too much. In the old criteria it said traits had to be present before 3 for ASD but now the criteria states "Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities or may be masked by learned strategies in later life)."
I've added the full criteria below, if you would like any of it explaining or questions about it feel free to ask, remember to do what you feel is right
A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text):
1.
Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
2.
Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
3.
Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.
Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior.
B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):
B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):
1.
Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypies, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases).
2.
Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns or verbal nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat food every day).
3.
Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g, strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interest).
4.
Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement).
Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.
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