Diagnostic "Dealbreakers"?

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I think I might have Autism, but I'm worried about some things I don't see much discussion about. It makes me worried that maybe I don't have it after all, but I'm having a hard time determining if some things are optional or required for diagnosis. Sorry if I'm asking things that have been covered before, but I'm not seeing them addressed anywhere I've gone so far.
Is it possible to be Autistic and not have a problem switching up routines? I'm definitely drawn toward repetitive, habitual behaviors (instinctive, preferred seating, following a single route unconsciously, automatically checking certain sites repetitively, can't get much done without a schedule), but in many case I can easily decide to do something different and often do just for variety, though I have to think about it, and some things take a little bit of effort to stop doing. If something changes suddenly, I can usually roll with it, and I don't remember ever having an issue with change. I know there's a spectrum in which people can have many different experiences, but even in the DSM-V it seems to specify rigidity and resistance to change as a crucial symptom.

I also don't experience the constant sensory bombardment that people often describe, as I'm more sensitive to specific stimuli (overpowered by some food tastes/textures, vestibular irregularities, strong reaction to sharp, loud sounds, occasionally confused by strong sunlight, etc.) but this seems more normal? I've definitely always been averse to certain sensory intrusions, though I don't usually deal with them by stimming.

As far as I can tell I can do a decent job reading facial expressions and body language, though I often do get lost in interpreting people's meanings so maybe I just don't realize I'm missing some cues. I only struggle with detecting jokes and sarcasm in text, for the most part.

Are any of these things "dealbreakers" for diagnosing autism? Beyond those things I have many, many autistic experiences and symptoms, such as a weak grasp on many of the unspoken rules of social interaction to the point of strong anxiety and confusion, a tendency to either not share interests with people or talk endlessly about them (it takes a real effort to moderate such topics), strong preference for frankness and despise dishonesty (though I have been learning to lie over the years), auditory processing issues, being repelled by certain sensations that others seem to handle just fine, regular stimming, echolalic tendencies, shifting but intense special interests, etc. I read new things all the time that autistic folks and I seem to share, though a lot of them are common among NTs as well, so that always makes me wonder.
Any input or help would be appreciated! I'm so excited at the prospect of finally having an explanation for why the hell I do things I do, but I want to make sure I have proper cause for pursuing an Autism/ASD diagnosis instead of something else entirely.

Last edited by meff on 02 Apr 2014, 7:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Are these issues inhibiting your life?

Other than professional opinion on points of subtlety, that which makes or breaks a diagnosis is listed in the diagnostic criteria.

Repetitive behaviors often are routines. Being able to change them up without your head exploding is why they call it "High Functioning." Doesn't mean you like it.



If you've been experiencing that sensory bombardment 24/7 your entire life, how would you know? Maybe it's been your natural state for so long, you've just gotten used to it. The test is in whether or not other visible effects are evident. When you're suddenly faced with a social interaction that you weren't expecting, does your brain suddenly "flatline" and leave you grasping for anything coherent to say?

If someone corners you and starts yelling and lecturing you, do you suddenly become extremely aware of the sound of the air conditioning blowing through the vents, or the ticking of a wall clock, or other tiny, insignificant sensory things that you normally don't pay much attention to, while the yelling becomes unintelligible gibberish? That's your sensory processing "funnel" backing up from overload.



Coping Mechanisms. Keep in mind that the diagnostic criteria are aimed at diagnosing AS/HFA in CHILDREN. Many things you suck at when you're 5 to 9 years old, you get better at as you grow up, and learn to at least fake your way through those situations. A learning DISability is not a learning INability.

As always, strangers on the Internet are not qualified to diagnose you, but sometimes we humans as individuals are not as aware of our own habits and behaviors as we like to think we are.

I remember the epiphany I had once talking to my therapist about an incident in my own life, in which I had to drive to another city to do a job and was so overcome by the thought of having to go inside this huge office building and deal with hundreds of strangers that I was overcome with stress, started sweating (and stimming) and feeling dizzy and sick and couldn't make myself go in, so I ended up shuffling papers in my truck for ten minutes and driving all the way home and not doing the job. She asked me something like "How long did it take the panic attack to pass once you got home?" and for a second I was floored. I'd never even thought of it as an Panic Attack, but that's exactly what it was and I'd been experiencing them on a fairly regular basis all my life. Duh.

Yeah, quite a few of the symptoms I do experience have caused me anxiety and distress, mainly the social factors. I am often unable to make meaningful connections with people and have pretty bad social anxiety, exacerbated by my inability to fulfill my social needs. This can cause issues in my professional life as well, from networking to following and retaining instructions. The sensory issues are more an occasional nuisance than anything, though the possibility for shutdowns or meltdowns at inopportune times could be a potential roadblock. At this point I don't wind up in enough overwhelming situations to experience them often, thankfully, but you never know what the future holds.

And yeah, it's probably smart to just wait until I find a professional to examine my case. I'll just have to make sure they know what they're talking about so I don't wind up second-guessing them if they say I don't fit.

Hi Meff, Welcome to WP. I am similar to you in many ways. But the funny thing is that the way I perceive myself is not the way that my husband sees me. According to him I am a lot more rigid in my ways and even more sensitive than I ever imagined I was. My brother will say similar things about me. And sensory overload can affect different people on the Spectrum in different ways. And as Willard said, you have learned ways to cope in order to survive. Now I am definitely not qualified to tell you one way or the other if you are on the Spectrum but it is good to also get feedback from a spouse or from someone who has spent a lot of time with you and it really helps if they have lived with you for a length of time because they might be able to tell you things about your self that you may not even realize.

And that kind of feedback can help with a diagnosis too. I am very lucky because I am able to get an of the record unofficial diagnosis from a psychiatrist who has known me since I was born. This person was able to even tell me about Autistic traits that showed when I was a small child that I did not even know I had. But getting feedback from someone who is close to you is very helpful especially if they can remember you as a child.

You need to have impairments in three domains: Social, communication, and repetitive/ritualistic behavior. If you only have it in two, under the DSM-IV you could still be diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Under the DSM-5, if you only have two now, but had the third as a child, you can still be diagnosed.

So the dealbreaker is having no impairments in one or more categories.

Thanks for the feedback, guys, I really appreciate it.

And Willard, I totally replied before I even saw your comment. I'll definitely keep that stuff in mind, breaking it down like that really helps. I've got some things to think about.

Skibum, that's a good idea. I've been talking to my twin, who pretty much qualifies for the part, but he doesn't see it? Then again I get the idea he (and the rest of my family) don't know what to look for due to overly stereotyped misconceptions about the condition itself. I'm gonna try to figure out how to get actual feedback from him.

Verdandi, I read over the DSM-V again and I realize I might fit it more than I initially thought. I tend to misinterpret things until I really start paying attention to context and what it's saying specifically. I think I experience impairments in all three areas, if I remember correctly.

I don't know about others but my biggest issues are.

Not being able to initiate social contact.
not knowing what to say if I did.
People wouldn't want to talk to me anyway.
feeling so awkward and shy when someone starts asking about me.
Longing for social contact and friends.
Feeling like I will never have friends again.
The unfamiliar.
Busy or loud places.
Low self confidence
Low self esteem (getting better though since I started cycling last summer)
I don't feel like I can go to new places unless I know exactly where I'm going already even if it's just somewhere near by I navigate first on google street view.
There is no way I would be able to travel around the country alone never mind abroad, although I could probably do a trip to the city where I was born fine but only because as a child me and my friends explored it so much during my youth.. I feel like I could never get lost down there.
Maybe normal people feel like they have a built in compass but I certainly don't.

obviously there is a lot of other stuff but the above is what I struggle with the most.

there was a time when I didn't leave the house for 6 months btw.....
But I get out daily and enjoy just going for walks or whatever now, sometimes hoping someone might try to start a conversation with me but I guess I don't appear approachable and being a 6"3 bloke probably intimidates a lot of normal people anyway.

I'm not hard but because of my teenage past I'm extremely street wise and maybe it shows

I have an proper diagnosis of HFA btw so I already know but I knew as soon as I learned about all the traits everything just fit with me.

If I worked I'm sure I would be happier and probably have friends from work at least....but I couldn't cope in a normal working environment with people moving all over the place , loads of voices etc

Hi, I'm a newbie here.

I'm here because I'm experiencing similar things to the OP - Many "box ticks" for Asperger's (I was shocked at how many symptoms I showed that I didn't even realise were symptoms!), but seemingly OK with some of the more obvious symptoms.

I'm almost 40 and currently trying to find a diagnosis to find out one way or the other; even if it's not Asperger's, somethings are definitely amiss.

I've read that a massive hurdle for adults is finding someone who'll do a diagnosis, and my situation is made even more complicated by the fact that I don't live in my country of birth; and even though I speak the local language to an extent, I don't speak it well enough to be able to have a diagnosis conducted in it; the language would be too technical I feel.

Currently I'm trying to find a health professional who'll do a diagnostic consultation via something like Skype. No luck yet though.

Well the best thing to do if you think you have autism is to talk to a professional who can diagnose it, but I know that can be much easier said than done...but just wanted to point out no one here can know for sure whether you have autism or not. Based on the things you mention I don't think they are disqualifiers for the disorder. I couldn't stick to a specific routine if I tried, however I sometimes do have difficulty with switching tasks and I do have some kinds of routines but nothing very specific just things like I sort of need to know what is going on before I go do something...like what it is, how long it might take, where and when and can get uncomfortable if the plans end up changing suddenly I also have some repetitive/habitual tendencies...I also have anxiety, depression and PTSD I never had the best short term memory and had some trouble concentrating on things before but since I've had the PTSD that has gotten much worse I can't even concentrate on special interests half the time even though I used to be able to spend hours reading a book or looking into some interesting topic.

I also can understand body language and facial expressions but I can't process that while interacting with people and trying to talk to them its like I can only focus on one or the other, I also can't usually make eye contact and if I can its very minimal but if I try to do it more then I can't pay attention to what the person is talking about with me its more likely I am not paying attention if I am making eye contact.

I also don't always have sensory bombardment....and usually I am more sensitive to sensory issues if I am stressed. But things like a normal amount of light might be too bright, normal amounts of noise are too loud the electronic things all make buzzing noises and t.vs have that high pitched noise when they are on, yes even the new flat screen ones. I am also pretty heat sensitive so I do have to be careful of too hot of weather. It seems like you still have some sensory issues....maybe just not as severely as others but autism is a spectrum so there are different severities of symptoms and not everyone on the spectrum has all of the symptoms and traits. Also having other disorders can sort of make things more complicated since it can add to some things or sort of interfere with autism traits.

I'd say you're likely not. It troubles me that you seem to WANT to be considered autistic. That's very weird...

So, for whatever reason... seek diagnosis... but from what I read, plus your ... wanting... I don't think this is the droid you're looking for. And... that's a good thing. If you have it, you have it... but desiring it goes way beyond my comprehension.

Peace.