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Ectryon
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08 Jul 2014, 2:46 pm

So I received my autism diagnosis report and my score was quite high apparently. Spoke to my mum and she said she wasnt surprised. We had a conversation beforehand where I gave examples of things she could say from my own childhood memory. My mum used this is a way to say that because of this my diagnosis was assured since I had researched asperger's and knew exactly what to say.

Logically I know this doesn't really follow as these examples were real but its created a niggling doubt at the back of my mind. Most of the examples cited in the report were ones I had no memory of but my mum is suggesting that she knew exactly which examples to pick and that she used examples to "ensure I got the diagnosis".

Is that possible? Genetically autism exists on both sides of my family so there's a foundation there and I scored above the cutoff in all the categories. My independent test was also positive. I just worry that theoretically any parent could selectively use examples from anyone's childhood to create an autism diagnosis. Im concerned my mum did this which invalidates my entire diagnosis.


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Last edited by Ectryon on 08 Jul 2014, 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Adamantium
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08 Jul 2014, 2:55 pm

Childhood details are only part of the diagnosis. No diagnosis can be made solely on the basis of memorized facts, no matter how well those facts conform to the diagnostic criteria. The person being assessed by the diagnostician has to exhibit traits and require support.

I wouldn't think this was worth worrying about. Better to focus on working the best strategies for making the most of life and compensating for the issues you have in the present.



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08 Jul 2014, 4:47 pm

I would ask the person who assessed you the reasoning behind the positive diagnosis.


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08 Jul 2014, 4:50 pm

I don't think it matters either. And if what she said is true than it is true. Also the clinician should know how to observe you and even if you could not produce a lot of childhood examples, like let's say your parents had passed away and they had to diagnose solely on what you showed and said, they could still do it. And I think it's better that she picked the examples to show your autism because it would waste time if she picked examples that did not show it and I believe a lot of these professionals are paid by the hour or per session so the less time you waste the better. But if the examples are really from your life and they are accurate than you have nothing to worry about. You should be able to trust that the diagnosis is correct.


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Ectryon
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08 Jul 2014, 4:55 pm

Thanks ive overcome the doubts enough to feel confident in the diagnosis solely because of the examples my mum picked such as not being able to engage other kids in my play auditory sensitivity not being able to read anger or frustration and little emotional sharing I was more autistic as a kid and as ive grown older the representation of my traits has been redistributed across the main areas but I still struggle with social interaction and all my interactions are learnt and re enacted.

Oh and I realise that "most of the examples I had no memory of" sounds as if my mum made them up. I had no memory because they were too early. One example involved me packing loads of jumpers to go to Malta on holiday as well as my being uncomfortable in holiday environments. Looking back I had alot of issues adjusting to the environment and fell apart a little. My memory conveniently omitted that.


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My history on this forum preserves my old and unregenerate self. In the years since I posted here I have undergone many changes. I accept responsibility for my posts but I no longer stand behind them.
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Magnanimous
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08 Jul 2014, 7:21 pm

Ectryon wrote:
So I received my autism diagnosis report and my score was quite high apparently. Spoke to my mum and she said she wasnt surprised. We had a conversation beforehand where I gave examples of things she could say from my own childhood memory. My mum used this is a way to say that because of this my diagnosis was assured since I had researched asperger's and knew exactly what to say.


My father used to say things like that.
Then he died.
Good riddance.



... Ok, kinda joking. He was mostly a cool guy, not that I saw him much... but he did say some damned stupid things sometimes.