Neuroatypical Without Autism/Disorder?

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I was seeing a psychologist at school a while back for counselling. We talked about ASD and she observed many very prominent autistic traits, but insisted that I was simply neuroatypical, not autistic. I have never really heard of this happening, let alone it actually being a thing. (I realize that other neurodivergent conditions exist, but those are not a concern for me, so for now we will exclude them.)

The same psychologist also tried to tell me that she believed I would have qualified for a diagnosis of Aspergers from the DSM-IV but not a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the DSM-V. Is this possible? I didn't think it was considering that the old Aspergers criteria fits pretty nicely into the newer ASD criteria.

She ALSO told me that my autistic traits were a result of my apparently high intelligence. She never ran an official IQ test but she told me that she frequently evaluates the intelligence of people and as a result of being familiar with such work she can just tell that I'm above average without running an assessment.

Keeping in mind this psychologist is not an autism specialist, when she first told me she didn't think I was autistic much of her reasoning seemed very uninformed and kind of insulting. She cited ability to look her in the eye, understand very basic body language (like pointing with an index finger), and "having friends" as evidence of not having autism.

I know you guys aren't medical professionals but I'm a self-diagnosed autistic person currently struggling in various aspects of my life because of this. I'm struggling to get my paper dx and a lot of people don't take me seriously because I lack one, but I'm still struggling a lot because of my traits. Guidance from much more experienced autistics would be super helpful.

It's pretty common for one to be self-diagnosed here on WrongPlanet.

I'm 55 years old; I've been autistic for at least 54 of those years. Lots of experience!

How are you doing in school? Are your struggles primarily in the social realm?

Lately I've been doing awfully in school. This is partially due to other issues that have cropped up within the past year or so, but being on the spectrum really tacks onto that. I often find myself preoccupied with sensory difficulties in the classroom. While it's not usually severe enough to cause any sort of dramatic overload or meltdown, I often find myself unable to move past my discomfort in order to pay attention or work efficiently in the classroom environment.

I've never been socially adept, but it seems to have 'gotten worse' as I've gotten older. I don't think it's actually gotten worse or that I've necessarily changed, it's just that as I begin to mature into a young adult, more is being expected of me that I am unable to provide. I find keeping friends quite hard to do; I have only two at the moment and I've only befriended them quite recently.

What is your parents' attitude towards you and your autism?

If it's positive, maybe they can take you to a clinic which specializes in autism--especially the high-functioning variety.

Are you on any medications now?

My mom seems to think it is highly likely. Dad is relatively indifferent and has done no research.

I actually already had an appointment back in May with a specialist. I was promised another appointment in July, but July came and went and I never got it. I suspect my mom may have cancelled it without telling me and for an unfounded reason. (Our relationship is very strained.)

Currently not on any meds, why do you ask?

I can relate to your posts a lot. School was like that, and I go through the same thing at work, now. I hope you get whatever help you need, but it's tough when you need some help, but not constant support. The system can kind of leave you to solve your own problems (especially if people think you're intelligent), and then sometimes people complain when you try taking on too much yourself! But, it's good you're looking into all this at your age.

It's nothing to be ashamed of (meds). Many people in therapy are prescribed meds.

I was prescribed meds once when I was 13. It was Ritalin. It made me nuts. They took me off it after two weeks.

You don't really show signs that you need them. I'm the type that believes that if one can survive without meds, that they shouldn't be given any meds.

I'm sorry you have a strained relationship with your mom. I had a strained relationship with mine, too.

Thanks for the kind words. It's looking like I'm still a long ways away from a diagnosis, though. hope I can manage whatever school, work, and life in general throws at me until then.



I actually was on meds not too long ago. Relatively low dose of fluoxetine pills. (30mgs/day) I stopped taking them because they were ineffective after a while and we were hoping the psychiatrist I was supposed to be seeing would prescribe me something better.

Can you speak to some teacher you get along with, and ask for "informal" accommodations?

I had a good enough relationship with the aforementioned psychologist from the original post that I probably could have had her be able to make a few minor ones since she's employed with the school board. Unfortunately, next school year she is leaving my school for a new position somewhere else, so I'll have to see how far I get with the new person coming in. Otherwise, I have one teacher who is nice enough and I feel comfortable enough with who might be able to do me a couple favors. It's pretty much too bad for all my other classes though.

I've heard this story before. Generic psychologist tells patient they don't have autism based on anecdotal evidence. Basically the good old "you don't look autistic" diagnoses. I think autism is more of a matter of neurology than psychology anyways.

She's technically a neuropsychologist I believe. I do trust she does know something so I was a little shocked and disappointed with her reasoning. She told me that the more she spoke to me and got to know me the more autistic I seemed. She liked to describe me as "Aspergersy". I just don't understand how one could be "like an autistic person, but not autistic".