Is family particiaption needed for adult assessment?

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What?

In spite of what some of the smug know-it-alls here will tell you, it is NOT necessary to interview family, or to have a home video documentary covering a person's childhood, to assess AS/HFA in adults. Specialists with experience dealing with autistic adults can recognize and evaluate the handicaps by identifying the sensory processing issues and other diagnostic criteria.

How do I know this? Because I was diagnosed myself at the age of 49 by a Psychologist with years of hands-on experience dealing with autistic adults, and though things my Mother has said since my diagnosis have only backed up his conclusions, he never spoke to any member of my family while I was being evaluated. You do not have to witness the development of a developmental impairment in order to identify it's presence after the fact. The impairments are the same even years later, though they may look a bit different.

In fact, it is that very self-assured narrow focus that makes those used to dealing with autistic children especially bad at even being able to recognize it in adults. They are so used to obvious, open and undisguised behaviors in kids that they completely miss the same traits when those traits are masked by years of developed coping mechanisms.

Don't let these forum 'experts' discourage you. Adults can be evaluated and accurately diagnosed for High Functioning Autism without involving family and I know because I've experienced it. And that diagnosis has been endorsed by other Mental Health Professionals and the United States Government, so I feel pretty confident that it's accurate.

And so do my parents, who had never heard of High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome before that diagnosis, but also agree that it describes and explains my childhood with 100% accuracy.

Sensory processing issues can't be tested. That was not even part of my assessment, and it's sensory issues are not necessary for a diagnosis. If you have them, it can be sensory processing disorder rather than autism.



Who here has been trying to discourage him. We're trying to give him accurate information. My psychiatrist, also a specialist in diagnosing autism in adults, told me that she was prepared to give me a diagnosis without family involvement, but that for anything "official", i.e. if I had to apply for disability benefits or the like, a diagnosis without evidence from childhood/family input would not be acceptable.

about bringing something tangible to the specialist on the childhood, what kind of video or school project etc could be useful? I have the symptoms but I was never a hard child, I was just quiet and would talk nonstop about something interesting but that's not noticeable unusual behaviour. School reports for instance, I guess I was generally invisible for teachers, except that they noticed I was intelligent. I didn't interact much at school when I was young, that's not exactly a proof or something.
to be more exact, my parents said I had two moments: focused and excited. On the focused moments I would be quiet , not talk to anyone and be spacey or observing all details of something or extremely concentrated on something. Then on the excited moments I was very lively, I would jump around the house, clap my hands, move nonstop and talk nonstop about something.
I guess that would fit the diagnosis but it's not exactly unusual behaviour. What could I take to the specialist?

I have no other family except for my daughter. So it is not always a requirement that there is a family there.

I can see how it might help with the assessment though.

If your diagnostician is good and keen on helping out, bring whatever you wish that you think would be especially indicative. Historically, there have been some strong AS diagnoses given to individuals who are now deceased. For an example, it is widely accepted that A. Einstein was an Aspie and there is more than compelling evidence. How were relatively modern-day diagnosticians able to do this? Because there was loads of evidence in the form if old grade school records (Einstein was a C+ student), writings from teachers, old reports, even letters he'd later written to his own son and others. A strong diagnostician will be receptive to such.

I was diagnosed at age 24 and my family was of immense help during the diagnostic process, mostly because they were so supportive of me doing it. My mom came to one of my assessments and brought years' worth of grades, assessments, and so on from school, which the doctor used to help him in his diagnosis. Sometimes having family members or even long-term friends there to give another perspective to our behavior is helpful, because we sometimes have a bit of tunnel vision about the way we see the world. So if your family is at all involved in your life, I would consider it, even if you don't feel an emotional connection with them.

My mom had to talk about my early childhood (but thankfully I wasn't there) to a psychologist. I wouldn't say that it was absolutely necessary. If the pysch says you have autism, then they should (be able to) diagnose you, whether or not your mom fills in the questionnaire. They just need to know about your early childhood (did you play with other children?, when did you start walking and talking?, etc.) - maybe you could find someone else who you trust (and won't tell people) who knew you when you were little?