What is the benefit of an ASD diagnosis as a high functioning adult?
May 31, 2020 7:08 AM Subscribe
How have you gained personal benefit from a formal professional diagnosis of high-functioning autism / Asperger's?
Well that's it on the tin.
For some years, I have felt that I have features of Asperger's but not fully sought assessment. I don't see it necessary for the substance of the question to discuss those features further.
I have achieved high levels of personal and professional success and have no substantial impairment that needs rectification by social or medical services.
And yet, this question recurs to me that I am unsure needs resolution.
What benefits have you found personally from a formal diagnosis?
Well that's it on the tin.
For some years, I have felt that I have features of Asperger's but not fully sought assessment. I don't see it necessary for the substance of the question to discuss those features further.
I have achieved high levels of personal and professional success and have no substantial impairment that needs rectification by social or medical services.
And yet, this question recurs to me that I am unsure needs resolution.
What benefits have you found personally from a formal diagnosis?
Mod note: Comment removed - please frame answers in a way that are helpful to the asker.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:11 AM on May 31, 2020
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:11 AM on May 31, 2020
have no substantial impairment that needs rectification
For me, the diagnosis is not about flaws that need fixing. It's about quirks that I can feel confused, proud, annoyed, amused, or a bunch of other ways about.
But hearing from other people who share those quirks is definitely good for me, whether it's reading stuff by other autistic people or following people from the autistic community on Twitter or whatever. It makes me feel less alone, and sometimes I learn things that are useful in my own life.
I think if you're already comfortable calling yourself autistic and learning from other autistic people — and maybe participating in autistic community if that's something you want — then a formal diagnosis might not mean much. But if you're second-guessing whether you belong in the community, or whether other autistic people's knowledge and insights apply to you, a diagnosis might well help with that.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:27 PM on May 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
For me, the diagnosis is not about flaws that need fixing. It's about quirks that I can feel confused, proud, annoyed, amused, or a bunch of other ways about.
But hearing from other people who share those quirks is definitely good for me, whether it's reading stuff by other autistic people or following people from the autistic community on Twitter or whatever. It makes me feel less alone, and sometimes I learn things that are useful in my own life.
I think if you're already comfortable calling yourself autistic and learning from other autistic people — and maybe participating in autistic community if that's something you want — then a formal diagnosis might not mean much. But if you're second-guessing whether you belong in the community, or whether other autistic people's knowledge and insights apply to you, a diagnosis might well help with that.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:27 PM on May 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
I've never gotten formally assessed but I'm definitely somewhere on the spectrum. My understanding is that most of the official assessment tests that are available to psychologists are only meant for children and most practitioners are not used to assessing adults so might do a poor job if asked. So honestly I didn't see much value in jumping through a lot of technical hoops to get some sort of actually official diagnosis when it wouldn't provide me any value.
But, about 10 years ago after switching psychiatrists and doing some self assessments online, I described my symptoms to them and said I suspected I met the criteria for DSM-V Autism Spectrum Disorder and wanted their opinion. They walked through the criteria with me and we both agreed that I met enough of them to qualify for a diagnosis. But we didn't make it "official" in any way and I doubt it's in my medical records as technically I was being treated for anxiety/depression. I found going through this to be very helpful as it gave me more confidence in my own self-assessment, which helped me understand myself better.
If I didn't already have a relationship with a therapist/psychiatrist I could ask, was aware of a local psychologist trained in assessing adults, they had availability, and I had good insurance, then I would look for a formal assessment. That is more likely now then when I was looking because of changes in attitudes. For me it was important that someone else with training told me "yes, that makes sense", but it wasn't important to have it written down on paper anywhere.
posted by JZig at 12:35 PM on May 31, 2020
But, about 10 years ago after switching psychiatrists and doing some self assessments online, I described my symptoms to them and said I suspected I met the criteria for DSM-V Autism Spectrum Disorder and wanted their opinion. They walked through the criteria with me and we both agreed that I met enough of them to qualify for a diagnosis. But we didn't make it "official" in any way and I doubt it's in my medical records as technically I was being treated for anxiety/depression. I found going through this to be very helpful as it gave me more confidence in my own self-assessment, which helped me understand myself better.
If I didn't already have a relationship with a therapist/psychiatrist I could ask, was aware of a local psychologist trained in assessing adults, they had availability, and I had good insurance, then I would look for a formal assessment. That is more likely now then when I was looking because of changes in attitudes. For me it was important that someone else with training told me "yes, that makes sense", but it wasn't important to have it written down on paper anywhere.
posted by JZig at 12:35 PM on May 31, 2020
Definitely. I used to hate myself and blame myself for every one of my social failings because I was some sort of miscreant or broken, and now I simply know my brain is different. I don't get as emotionally bent out of shape or angry and my self-loathing has mostly been eradicated. I also have learned to be patient with others and to learn how to be more socially attuned and I am far, far more comfortable. It also allows me accommodations at work, which I haven't had to use, but I can if I need to so that my mental health is not completely eradicated.
It literally saved my life.
posted by Young Kullervo at 1:03 PM on May 31, 2020 [6 favorites]
It literally saved my life.
posted by Young Kullervo at 1:03 PM on May 31, 2020 [6 favorites]
I have a friend in a similar situation who recently made the decision to get a formal diagnosis. For her, it has been a way to try to make sense of whole bunch of characteristics that previously just been a set of random quirks. The goal is to build a more coherent sense of self (why am I the way I am), a chance to connect with others with similar divergent experiences and perhaps access to tools that she might not have considered. For example, she recently bought a hammock chair and has already found it helpful when she feels overwhelmed or over stimulated.
And if you are AFAB, you should know that this presents very different in girls than boys and in adults than children so if you want an assessment, you should be sure that the person is familiar with what high functioning autism looks like in adult women. If you haven't seen it already, you might be interested in Tania Marshall's book, I am AspianWoman. There is a summary of the characteristics here but my friend found it very helpful to read the individual profiles to get a sense of where there similarities between her experience and theirs.
posted by metahawk at 1:12 PM on May 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
And if you are AFAB, you should know that this presents very different in girls than boys and in adults than children so if you want an assessment, you should be sure that the person is familiar with what high functioning autism looks like in adult women. If you haven't seen it already, you might be interested in Tania Marshall's book, I am AspianWoman. There is a summary of the characteristics here but my friend found it very helpful to read the individual profiles to get a sense of where there similarities between her experience and theirs.
posted by metahawk at 1:12 PM on May 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
I took the same assessment and talked to my psychiatrist about getting a formal assessment while my youngest was also going through her formal assessment. He agreed I am autistic but pointed out that getting formally tested brought no additional benefit to me. It would have been on my medical records and denies me even more insurance and other legal stuff due to the frankly awful situation here. I don’t benefit from the meagre accessibility a formal diagnosis would give as an adult. I have pushed for clinical diagnoses for my children to get access to highly subsidised treatment, legal protection and school help but that was also double edged Re insurance and rights. Check your local disability laws before you get formally diagnosed.
It’s been a huge benefit in parenting because I can see what is likely autism shared by us and what is regular parenting stuff not, and I look at resources for autistic parents which are more helpful than mainstream. It also makes me aware that my sociability is performative and thus a job that is tiring. I need to and do plan social events as work, enjoyable but an effort. I don’t feel awkward about reading the same book or watching the same show a dozen times or spending an afternoon sorting things by colour. That’s now my normal, not a weirdness to tamp down. And I’m a lot more protective about noises and smells and sensory exhaustion because I’m not being over sensitive, it really is bloody annoying. My house is a lot calmer (not less messy though!).
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:13 PM on May 31, 2020 [6 favorites]
It’s been a huge benefit in parenting because I can see what is likely autism shared by us and what is regular parenting stuff not, and I look at resources for autistic parents which are more helpful than mainstream. It also makes me aware that my sociability is performative and thus a job that is tiring. I need to and do plan social events as work, enjoyable but an effort. I don’t feel awkward about reading the same book or watching the same show a dozen times or spending an afternoon sorting things by colour. That’s now my normal, not a weirdness to tamp down. And I’m a lot more protective about noises and smells and sensory exhaustion because I’m not being over sensitive, it really is bloody annoying. My house is a lot calmer (not less messy though!).
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:13 PM on May 31, 2020 [6 favorites]
This is not my own personal experience, but someone else's - I was very moved by this article:
The best $500 I ever spent: My autism diagnosis
which I found via this discussion on the blue:
“She’d watch & watch & watch, but could never figure out when to join”
I hope that's helpful.
posted by kristi at 9:20 PM on June 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
The best $500 I ever spent: My autism diagnosis
which I found via this discussion on the blue:
“She’d watch & watch & watch, but could never figure out when to join”
I hope that's helpful.
posted by kristi at 9:20 PM on June 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cabingirl at 7:32 AM on May 31, 2020 [6 favorites]