not understanding social "rules", such as not talking over people. avoiding eye contact. getting too close to other people, or getting very upset if someone touches or gets too close to you. noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others do not.
If you believe that either you or a member of your family might be on the autistic spectrum and you need professional or clinical support, you will need to obtain a diagnosis. Your GP will be able to make a referral to a clinical psychologist or a paediatrician who will carry out an assessment.
Explain your situation
You could say that you think you experience some of the difficulties autistic people can face, and you would like to seek a formal assessment to be sure. Try to give your GP some examples of difficulties you've had in adulthood and childhood with: communication. social interaction.
Someone identifying or self-diagnosing as autistic could be valid for them and their identity or understanding of themselves. However, diagnosing has to be based on criteria.
If you suspect that you may be Autistic you can then make an appointment to see a GP, offer them the results from the AQ10, if you have done it, (if you have not done the AQ10 then the GP should go through the questions with you), and ask them to refer you to a diagnostic pathway.
The Social Communication Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Adaptive Behavior Questionnaire, Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS) are commonly used. The latter two are the most comprehensive measures available.
Difficulty Communicating and Awkward Communication
Signs that someone is finding it difficult to communicate include: – Difficulty reading social cues and participating in conversations. – Difficulty empathizing with other people's thoughts and feelings. – Struggling to read people's body language or facial expressions.
ASD Level 1: Requiring Support
Level 1 is the mildest, or “highest functioning” form of autism, which includes those who would have previously been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Individuals with ASD level 1 may have difficulty understanding social cues and may struggle to form and maintain personal relationships.
Therefore, it appears that while some individuals may be aware they are autistic, others may not fully understand why they have difficulties connecting with people socially or engaging in conversation - yet still realize they are 'different.
Although 2019 research suggests some symptoms of ADHD and ASD overlap, there are distinct differences. A person with ADHD may have attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity challenges. But an autistic individual may have difficulties with communication, social interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors.
Untreated autism causes changes in brain function that make it more difficult for the person to control impulsive behavior or think rationally about their actions before they act on them. This can lead to situations where ASD adults are unable to live alone and take care of themselves without assistance.
People with the BAP have some traits common to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but not enough to have the disorder. But it's not comedians who have drawn scientific scrutiny for having the BAP: it's the parents and siblings of people who actually have autism.
ASD can't develop later in life. As we've discussed, autism is a developmental disorder that occurs during brain development in childhood.
Autism is generally characterized by social and communication difficulties and by repetitive behaviors. Often, severe forms of ASD are diagnosed in the first two years of a child's life, but high-functioning individuals may not be diagnosed until much later in life.
Conditions That Can Be Mistaken for Autism. These include: Speech delays, hearing problems, or other developmental delays: Developmental delays are when your child doesn't do things doctors expect kids their age to be able to do. These can include language, speech, or hearing problems.
The problem is, there's no established procedure for diagnosing ASD in adults. So, adult autism specialists are hard to find. It might be best to ask your primary care doctor or psychologist for a referral.