Is It Straightfoward For A Proffesional To Dx ASD In Adults

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What I mean is , is it usually obvious to them.
Or is it extremely difficult when you have been dx with mental health problems.
Are there other conditions that get confused with ASD.
I am the UK and am awaiting a ASD test?
The reason I ask is, I know I have ASD traits but am not convinced that's where my problems originated from, however my GF is almost positive I have ASD.

Because of the good cooperation between the NAS and the NHS, I suspect that diagnosticians in Britain are better at diagnosing adults with autism than diagnosticians in America who are primarily focused on children. When diagnosticians are taught only to see behaviors and characteristics of autistic children, they can be woefully lacking the ability to see the different behaviors and characteristics of autistic adults.

Having psychological comorbids (other mental health problems) can confuse some diagnosticians, but most can see the subtle differences. My own two diagnoses were completely at odds with each other. The first found two or three psychological diagnoses, but nothing else about autism. The second found mostly autism, but took a few extra days to determine whether my obsessive compulsions were related to or independent of my autism.

If you are pursuing an autism diagnosis, do you know yet which clinic you will attend? Knowing about the clinic might help you know more about its history of accurate diagnoses. But, I wouldn't worry. Like I wrote here, I suspect that British diagnosticians are more aware of what constitutes adult autism.

Thanks AspieUtah. I'll look into the clinic where I'm being tested.
I feel like I've been ill since I was 19 ( I had breakdown due to abusing drugs or thats what I was told ). I'm currently being treated for Depression & Anxiety but there's definately something else wrong with me but I cant put my finger on it. I just want to know whats wrong with me.

SaveFerris,

I start my evaluation process tomorrow here in the states. I was thinking the same thing earlier this afternoon and was reading up on Tony Atwood's information on diagnostic criteria for adults (AAA) I hope it's straightforward. At 43, and having been dx'ed with ADHD and have gone through a few therapists that each thought I had something different, (one thought Bi-Polar, another thought PTSD, and another was thinking it was just Major Depression) I hope the clinician tomorrow takes the time to understand the the totality of my life, and just not snippet's. I would tend to agree with the what the other forum member said about here in the U.S. the focus is kids. So it might not bode so well for me, but at least on your side of the Atlantic it sounds like you have a better shot. It would be interesting to compare the process for our respective evaluations, being we are similar in age and it sounds like we may present with similar characteristics. All the best on your end. Kind Regards

Shark

Hi Shark

I hope your evaluation gives you the missing informtion you are lacking and is a positive life change for you. Yes it would be interesting to compare evaluations altough I'm not likely to get one for at least 15 months ( thats how long the waiting list is in my area).

I have a feeling that due to my comorbids ( what a great word ) it is not going to be an easy task to isolate a single contributing factor - added to that my mum's memory is not that great, although she said she doesn't think I had any issues as a child.

My childhood is the biggest factor in why I don't think I have ASD as don't believe I had issues till I was 18 - My GF ( been together for 15 years ) believes that I might have HFA and have blagged my way through life.

If ASD was something you could develop I would be 99% sure I have it but as it stands the only working theory for ASD I have is that I've alway's had ASD traits and a nervous breakdown at 18 made them worse - I'm not sure how likely that is hence joining here and questions.

I struggle with life and am recovering from my 3rd possibly more breakdown. This breakdown was very different from the preceeding ones as my life seemed to be in a good place (even work seemed easier than normal) , I hadn't touched an illegal drug in over 20 odd years but I felt my mind losing touch with reality and the world became an alien place , I thought everyone had it in for me ( my rational mind knew differently but it became slower and slower in letting me know it was in my head ).

Do you still see similarities ? ( for my sake I hope you do , for your sake I hope you don't lol )

In the United States and many European nations, the ADOS-2 series of autism tests are used often. While it can seem a little silly sometimes, there are reasons for that, and it is quite accurate.