Diagnosis

Page 1 of 1 [ 12 posts ]

Previous topic | Next topic

StillThinking
Emu Egg
Emu Egg

Joined: 16 Apr 2023
Gender: Female
Posts: 3
Location: 32162

19 Apr 2023, 2:11 pm

Is there a down side to getting a formal diagnosis as opposed to self diagnosing?

rse92
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Oct 2021
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,223
Location: Buffalo, NY

19 Apr 2023, 2:18 pm

No.

skibum
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jul 2013
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,449
Location: my own little world

19 Apr 2023, 2:44 pm

StillThinking wrote:

Is there a down side to getting a formal diagnosis as opposed to self diagnosing?

It can cost a lot of money if your insurance doesn't pay for it but other than that, no.

_________________
"I'm bad and that's good. I'll never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me."

Wreck It Ralph

Double Retired
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 31 Jul 2020
Age: 70
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,352
Location: U.S.A. (Mid-Atlantic)

19 Apr 2023, 5:04 pm

Self diagnosis is cheaper.

Most formal accommodations and treatment would probably want a formal diagnosis.

In some contexts it might be required to report a formal diagnosis.

It would be up to you to decide how much you trusted a self diagnosis.

Some characteristics of Autism are also characteristics of other conditions; a formal diagnosis should be less likely to be confused by that.

Having some characteristics of Autism is not the same as having enough characteristics of Autism to qualify for the diagnosis; a formal diagnosis should correctly take that into account.

I thought the formal assessment was kind of fun!

I think your age and credentials should be considered. If you get a formal diagnosis and are young and still getting established then people might not see past the official label "Autism"...they might just assume some stereotype. On the other hand, if you have firmly established your credibility then that would likely overshadow the label. (For instance, I think Elon Musk, Dan Ackroyd, and Anthony Hopkins have established themselves adequately enough that the "Autism" label is just an interesting bit of trivia about them.)

Personal preference is also a consideration. I wanted to know! I would always have had doubts if I had relied on a self diagnosis (and that's me...some other folk are quite sure their self diagnosis is correct).

_________________
When diagnosed I bought champagne!
I finally knew why people were strange.

MatchboxVagabond
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Mar 2023
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,945

19 Apr 2023, 10:55 pm

StillThinking wrote:

Is there a down side to getting a formal diagnosis as opposed to self diagnosing?

Mostly cost and that it will appear on your medical records for the rest of your life. It can involve a fair amount of work in terms of going to the appointments and having whatever information you need for documentation to help come to an accurate diagnosis. And,even after the effort, it's possible to get no clear result. (Which is to say maybe you are, maybe you aren't, but you definitely aren't NT)

With the trajectory of things, it's probably not an issue. Although, there probably are still a few places where having the diagnosis can result in a great deal of trouble. I'm assuming it's not like that where you are.

It also depends a bit on what level of support you need. At support level 1, it's entirely possible that all the supports you might need are things that are free or very inexpensive. At support level 3, it may be more of a challenge to get support and accommodation without a formal diagnosis as some of that help can be rather expensive.

MatchboxVagabond
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Mar 2023
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,945

19 Apr 2023, 10:57 pm

Double Retired wrote:

This is true, also I definitely didn't fraudulently claim not to have any mental health problems when applying for a visa.

IsabellaLinton
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Nov 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 72,422
Location: Chez Quis

20 Apr 2023, 12:01 am

StillThinking wrote:

Is there a down side to getting a formal diagnosis as opposed to self diagnosing?

Get life insurance first if you're ever going to want it.
You can be denied it after diagnosis because our life expectancy is shorter.
We're also more likely to end our own lives, according to statistics.

_________________
I never give you my number, I only give you my situation.
Beatles

Double Retired
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 31 Jul 2020
Age: 70
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,352
Location: U.S.A. (Mid-Atlantic)

20 Apr 2023, 12:49 pm

MatchboxVagabond wrote:

This is true, also I definitely didn't fraudulently claim not to have any mental health problems when applying for a visa.

Two stray thoughts:

1. If you had started trying to discuss a self-diagnosis with them they might've been annoyed and just told you to shut-up.

2. Ooooh...I would have a dilemma! I have a formal diagnosis but I don't consider it a "problem".

_________________
When diagnosed I bought champagne!
I finally knew why people were strange.

Emmett
Snowy Owl

Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 146

22 Apr 2023, 2:57 am

MatchboxVagabond wrote:

Mostly cost and that it will appear on your medical records for the rest of your life.

I can't get anything to stay on my medical records for more than a year. Every time I go to a new doctor, everything just disappears, even surgeries.

I have an old yellowing booklet of papers that have my diagnosis on it from back in 1988 or so. Still modern record keeping would probably keep that information. Not for me though, I had a colonoscopy and it didn't even show. They wanted me to do another one two month later!

colliegrace
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Nov 2022
Age: 31
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 1,369
Location: USA

22 Apr 2023, 4:04 am

There actually is.

https://devonprice.medium.com/seeking-a ... 0e79c272a0

Quote:

In most cases, I encourage adults who are seeking a formal Autism diagnosis to rethink that desire. There are very few guaranteed benefits that come along with an Autism diagnosis, and the costs and the risks attendant to seeking one are quite substantial, and only getting worse. There are some situations where receiving a diagnosis can really help a person, but those circumstances are rarer and more specific than many people realize. I think it’s important that anyone embarking on this process do so in a clear-eyed fashion, cognizant of what positives they can reasonably expect, and which negatives might also be coming their way.

Here are the bullet points from the article:
Autism Assessments Are Expensive

Most Autism Assessors Are Not Qualified to Work With Adults, Particularly Marginalized Ones

Autism Diagnosis Does Not Unlock Access to Beneficial Mental Health “Treatment”

An Autism Diagnosis Can Impede Your Gender Transition

Autism Assessments Are Expensive

Diagnosed Autistics Are Not Allowed to Immigrate to Many Countries

Diagnosed Autistics Can Lose Their Legal Autonomy

Diagnosed Autistics Can Lose Their Parental & Reproductive Rights

Diagnosed Autistics Can Be Denied Organ Transplants and Put on Do Not Resuscitate Orders

Diagnosed Autistics Are Treated As Less Competent By Doctors, School Officials, & Employers

There is also a section of diagnosis benefits, but this thread is about downsides

I have a "soft diagnosis", meaning that I've talked to my therapist and psychiatrist. They agree that it's a real possibility that I am autistic, and asked me if I wanted to pursue a formal dx. I said I don't think the expense is worth it, I'm not going to get much out of it as I'm not applying for disability. It might be worth for seeking accommodations, but most of my accommodations are sensory related and my therapist can vouch that I definitely have sensory issues.

_________________
He/him or they/them pronouns, please.
ASD level 1 & ADHD-C (professional dx), dyscalcula (self dx), very severe RSD.
Currently in early stages of recovering from autistic burnout.

RAADs: 104 | ASQ: 30 | CAT-Q: 139 | Aspie Quiz: 116/200 (84% probability of being atypical)

bee33
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,862

22 Apr 2023, 5:41 am

Consider that it might be stressful. I had an incompetent diagnostician who was dismissive and arrogant, and it left me stressed out for weeks afterward, after the great effort and difficulty of speaking to her at all. I wish that I had never gone through the ordeal.

I did manage to get my money back after I complained, which helped me feel better.

Double Retired
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 31 Jul 2020
Age: 70
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,352
Location: U.S.A. (Mid-Atlantic)

22 Apr 2023, 1:42 pm

Note: I'm still glad I got a formal assessment and diagnosis. I did it when I was 64, though.

I'll note I am very glad I was in the military and if that opportunity had been denied to me then my life would likely have been very different, likely not in a good way.

_________________
When diagnosed I bought champagne!
I finally knew why people were strange.

Page 1 of 1 [ 12 posts ]

Jump to:

Diagnosis Post Reply New Topic

Diagnosis