Do you need your parents to get a diagnosis?

Post Reply New Topic

I'd like to get a diagnosis but for various reasons, I dont want my parents (or anyone else for the matter) to be involved. From reading online (e.g NAS website), your parents or your siblings are usually required to give evidence, particularly about your childhood. I know the cases of two people whose parents weren't involved in their diagnosis so I am guessing it is possible? However, I am hesistant as I don't really remember my childhood.

The parents can give valuable information about your childhood, but as far as I know, their contribution is not a prerequisite for a diagnosis. Teachers, siblings, other relatives, even partners (e.g. a boyfriend) can help too, or if there's really no one who could tell about your younger years, a diagnosis is still can be established. However, the more information is available, the more accurate and reliable the diagnosis will be.

That would not be possible for me. My mother is deceased and i am still under protective orders from my father who had vowed to kill the whole family. But with my memory, including what my mother told me about early childhood, i could give enough information about a diagnosis.

As far as I know, only a minor aged or ret*d adult would need a parent to go with them for an evaluation. A mentally competent adult doesn't need parental permission to seek medical care. As for input from a parent or other family member, while it would be helpful in diagnosing an adult, it shouldn't be absolutely necessary, as the adult being diagnosed can speak, write, or type their own answers to questions posed by the psych docs. It would also be helpful to bring in printed copies of any online Autism/Asperger's tests that the patient may have taken.

My own mother passed away some years ago. My father is in his mid 80s, 2 of my sibs live out of state, and the one near me works nights. Also, I am perfectly able to answer any questions put to me without the family being there, too, and can remember, and list my many problems, should I ever go for an official diagnosis. I have almost all of the traits listed, so I have no question in my own mind that I am on the spectrum. I am too old for the children's/teens treatment programs, I am no longer able to work due to other health problems, so I don't need the work assistance programs, and I am an introverted hermit who is okay with that, so I don't need the socialization programs. Since I don't need any help from the gov or insurance companies to pay for any of these programs, I see no benefit in going for an official diagnosis. Also, I have an aversion to therapy due to having been dragged to many, many psych docs and therapists as a kid and teen. That was back before Autism spectrum disorders were recognized for what they are, so naturally the docs and therapists had no clue what they were doing and didn't help any at all. I really hated all those sessions, and the drug therapies. I would prefer to avoid going through that again.

More is known about these disorders now, so sometimes people can be helped by therapy. I feel if you haven't tried it and are having problems, it is a good idea to give it a try, but do seek out psych docs who have experience with Autism spectrum disorders.

It's certainly helpful to take a parent with you.

If you're seeing a professional for a diagnosis, there's only so much that they can tell from observing you and asking you questions.

Having a relative or friend there means that the professional can ask things like:

How you were as a baby
How you interacted with other children in pre-school years
Whether you were different from your siblings (if applicable)
Whether they think that you have good non-verbal communication
Whether there was any delay in your language development

Without knowing these things, they can't really get the full picture.