Autism assessment tomorrow! HELP!

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Hello, I haven't posted before but I hoped you guys might have some info for me.

I'm 39, female from the UK and have an autism assessment tomorrow. Ive completed a few long questionnaires but now have a 3 hour meeting with the doctor and do not know what to expect.

It seems like a long time. Has anybody got any ideas of what is likely to happen? Will I be going over the questionnaires? Tests? I've made some written notes to take.

Thanks in advance.

They'll want to know how you functioned in childhood.

They'll give you some intelligence tests---and probably some academic accomplishment tests, too.

You're 39---but they still might want your parents to fill out a questionnaire on you. If not your parents, a friend you've known a long time.

They'll test your social awareness through telling stories based on a picture (with me, once, it was frogs in a house).

Thanks for the reply!

One of the questionnaires was open ended and focussed on my childhood which my mother had to help me with and another was the RAADS-R questionnaire so that included childhood things. I'm pleased a lot of this was covered as I can guarantee my mind will go completely blank tomorrow.

I quite like the idea of the tests and the stories! That doesn't sound as bad as I thought. I was worried it would all be dialogue. Just hoping it's the same in U.K.!

Cute screen name...and juxtaposition of Komodo dragon, and an ironic twist on your age LOL

I'm 17 years older than you.....so I don't think you're old LOL

There will be some "dialogue." If it is apparent you feel uncomfortable with it, it probably means you stand a better chance of being diagnosed with autism.

Haha! I love Komodo dragons so it seemed apt!

There's a large dose of autism throughout the family gene pool but it's always been the boys including my son who has Aspergers. Every online test I've done has planted me firmly on the spectrum so as long as I can actually muster the appropriate words to articulate myself tomorrow, I think I'm likely to get the diagnosis. I hope so, it'd certainly make sense of a lot!

Like you say though, I guess if I'm struggling with that aspect it'll be a good indicator anyway!

I believe there's a genetic component to autism---but it's not "hereditary" in a classic, Mendelian sense.

I don't like it when people with Aspergers/autism state that they won't have kids because of the "hereditary nature" of it. It's not inevitable that an autistic parent will produce autistic kids.

There are many cases of autism which are quite "idiopathic" (i.e., no one else in the family has any indication of it).

Basically, while there might be some "Broad Autism Phenotype" features in some of my distant relatives, there was no frank autism---except for me.

How old is your son? I bet he's a scholarly chap

The interview may start with exploring the issues which caused you to investigate whether you might be on the spectrum.

You will likely discuss quite a few things from your life.

You may find yourself in conversation with the doctor exploring "How" you go about things, especially social type things.

The doctor may me observing things like you you make eye contact or otherwise, whether it is something you do consciously or whether it is something you can do without thinking about it.

Some of it may be interpreting stories, drawings etc, again part of the diagnosis is observing "How" one goes about interpreting a story or setting about a particular task or problem.

He's 19. Not so much scholarly but he's a gifted musician. Makes me very proud!

My daughter is 20 and a very scholarly neurotypical young lady so if there is a genetic influence it dodged her haha.

I’m not scholarly, nor a musician.

I’m something odd for an autistic person: I developed into somewhat of a “raconteur” over the years. I used to monologue like the classic Aspergian.

Where do your interests lie?

That sounds like a fun way to be! I lack the verbal acuity and confidence.

I'm an artist with a strong interest in politics and in particular revolutionary politics, dogs, Harry Potter, philosophy. I'm just totally unmotivated and it's causing a lot of problems at this stage in my life (self employment) which is one of the reasons I'm keen to get a definitive diagnosis. Time for a life review so I can move forward. If it turns out I'm not autistic it may be something I can fix (I doubt it because my problems have been for the entirety of my life so far) and if it is, I can try to adapt my life to suit without external pressures and perhaps some understanding from people.

I have no ability in art.

My "spoken word" ability is really not that great, either.

Most of my "raconteur" abilities come out in my writing.

My politics is probably on the "centrist" side---with "socially liberal" tendencies. I wouldn't have been too keen on Thatcherism. I probably would have liked Harold McMillan and Tony Blair. Many Brits don't like him because he was seen as being too submissive to the United States.

I'm really not too political at all. I wish Trump would just go away, frankly.

I would be interested in seeing some of your art----if you wouldn't mind it.

We tend to hate Blair mainly because of war crimes. He fabricated 'intelligence' about Iraq's nuclear programme thus dragging us into it all. I don't know how he has the nerve to come out of hiding and comment on our current government which is a total shambles lol. Thatcher took neoliberalism and ran with it. Destroyed the North which has never recovered.

I'll post a link to my website in a private message in the interests of anonymity. It hasn't been updated for a long time however.

A lefty artist from the U.K.?