Is it easy to get a diagnosis without family?

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When reading about being diagnosed, a common thing I see is the suggestion of bringing an older family member to talk about your childhood. Problem is that my family all have pretty bad memories compared to me and get stuff about my past wrong or don't even remember things from more than two years ago. So if I brought them along they could get stuff wrong, or deny stuff I've done ever happened. Is it possible to get a diagnosis on just your word alone?

At your age, and in the absence of blatantly autistic symptoms, it might be difficult to obtain a diagnosis without a history from your parents. If you were in your 40's, it might be easier.

I'm pretty sure that, when I got my diagnosis at age 36, the psychologist had said something along the lines of "it would be good if I talk to your parents, but if you'd prefer them not to know you're getting the assessment, we can do it without them".

In my case, I had no problem with my parents knowing (I'd already discussed the possibility with them), so I had the psychologist phone them and they had a conversation on the phone.

Talk to the psychologist about the situation - the worst he/she can say is that they can't do the diagnosis without them.

I agree. Never hurts to try.

I sort of have the same issue as you PaperMajora but have been told by someone that the "The Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) " method is done without family input.

When I investigated a formal diagnosis a few years back, I was told point blank they won't do it without a parental interview. That's not going to happen so I guess I will forever remain self/informally diagnosed. What if your parents were killed? Are you suddenly NOT on the spectrum? I don't need my parents to tell me that I have had these symptoms since childhood: I remember quite vividly at 3 not fitting it with other kids. My mother is in complete denial and my father thinks that it's a made up diagnosis so what is a truth seeker supposed to do? For what it's worth, two psychologists told me that their impression is that I most certainly have it so that's good enough for me.

They can use DISCO (see above) for older people who have no choice but to have no family input.

I had no choice -- my parents are long-deceased, and existing family members are very long-time estranged from me, a situation which quite a few adult people on the spectrum also share, that of estrangement/ostracization from family.

Also compiled stuff from diaries started in childhood, and anything and everything I could bring to the table literally or figuratively.

I understand estrangements from family members all too well.

I know of someone who got a hold of school records and the notes the teachers made regarding behavior and progress from kindergarten onward was very helpful.

Yep...of course you're right, Ezra.

Probably even more valuable than a parent's recollection.

I would think not. If you have a family that is in denial of your problems or can't remember your symptoms, or if they are all gone, I think it would be impossible unless you had school notes and your school records and could somehow get in touch with your old childhood friends and teachers and hope they remember you and also if you have medical reports too from other doctors and can get a hold of your old therapists and get records from them. But yet I had an aspie friend who was somehow diagnosed without his family members and no formal testing either I believe but it took him a few months for it to be official than suspected.

There are some shows without "scores" which are very good. They are known as plays

You should see "The Iceman Cometh," Ferris. You would enjoy it.