Being autistic and random stuff

[PMarky2]

I’ve not heard of it in the UK. There are some online tests but they only make a suggestion of where you might be on the spectrum. Trouble is, because we ourselves are so different it’s not possible to set a kinda bar beyond which ‘you’re autistic’ .

The online tests I have run into have usually given a score expressed as a probability percentage, or score. For example, "those scoring more than 100 on this test might like to consider being professionally screened for Autism" and they tend to focus on behavioral questions such as "Do you focus intensely on your specific interests?" Very occasionally, they might express an opinion on how likely it is you are on the spectrum, but the main function is to encourage you to get tested.

The problem is that you can score fairly high for ASD on an online test, but when screened in the office they are able to administer a wider range of test, and that may lead them to diagnose a different form of neuro-divergency. Sometimes the best they can come up with is they clinical version of 'he's just weird' because one does not fit any of the classic models such as ASD or ADHD, though some folks do have both, and other combinations of ND behavior.

 

[Strixaluco]

Somebody had put into words something that's my experience, too;

Especially around times like now - right before Yule. My head is spinning with keeping track of all plans (despite all task lists etc), so that I don't manage to concentrate and really get things done - nor rest, for that matter.

 

[PMarky2]

OK, I have survived Christmas, the heating system at home going down, and a dose of RSV, but it has left me feeling drained and somehow angry. This was supposed to be my week to breathe before everything starts up again, but it has not worked out that way. At least the heat pumps are finally installed in the classroom block, and I can start worrying about overhauling the main boiler. I thought we were supposed to have admin. folks to take care of that - oh well!

On the positive side, BAF made my Christmas by doing something kind for one of her 'clients.' I was just beginning to persuade myself that she is not wonderful, but after that I had to admit defeat and accept that she is!

 

[stickygirl]

We need to lighten up or we'll frighten the NDs away. So...

 

[Strixaluco]

In brain scans there's a clear divide between severe autism (typically with intellectual or speach disability) and milder autism - but none between the non-severe autism, adhd and ocd.

No wonder the comorbodity rates are so high! And also there doesn't seem to be a double empathy gap between these groups.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/int...change-how-we-think-about-the-autism-spectrum

The keynote that's referred to is also a online if you want to watch it: https://www.autism-insar.org/page/INSAR2022Archives

 

[stickygirl]

In brain scans there's a clear divide between severe autism (typically with intellectual or speach disability) and milder autism - but none between the non-severe autism, adhd and ocd.

No wonder the comorbodity rates are so high! And also there doesn't seem to be a double empathy gap between these groups.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/int...change-how-we-think-about-the-autism-spectrum

The keynote that's referred to is also a online if you want to watch it: https://www.autism-insar.org/page/INSAR2022Archives

Interesting - thanks for posting, though I twitch when I hear about scientists holding us up to a bright light to find the autism in us, and then presumably, fix us.
All the same, I agree with the paragraph
'Right now, they do—but there has been a growing dissatisfaction among many stakeholders in the autism community with the American Psychiatric Association’s introduction of the all-encompassing ASD diagnosis in the 2013 revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) to replace more narrowly defined categories, including Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and childhood disintegrative disorder.'

When I was diagnosed I hadn't yet learned of the APA trying to hammer us all into the same shaped hole. I remember seeing a 2013 interview of Temple Grandin who also disagreed, calling it 'diagnosis by committee' since there was still a need to differentiate, based on the support needed for what was previously called Asperger's and bus-driver's perception of severe autism.

'You're all the same!' the APA lectured us.
'Errr... really?' was how the entire ND community internalised that crappy statement.

In the next paragraph
'In 2021, the Lancet Commission—a group of 32 researchers... called for the creation of a new label, “profound autism,”'

It took them eight fucking years to figure this out?!
All the while, people are expected to wring the hands and search for descriptive terms that do not say things how they are eg 'that person is very austistic versus that person is mildly autistic'. I guess this 2021 commission might allow us to say profoundly autistic without guilt?

 

[PMarky2]

I wondered if they might end up revisiting the decision made for DSM-5. It seemed as much political as medical.

 

[Strixaluco]

I wondered if they might end up revisiting the decision made for DSM-5. It seemed as much political as medical.

I suspect it will take years. But there's also research on the ridiculously high comorbodity rates (especially between autism and adhd) to support this, so maybe one day.

 

[stickygirl]

I suspect it will take years. But there's also research on the ridiculously high comorbodity rates (especially between autism and adhd) to support this, so maybe one day.

Well everyone's a little ASD and ADHD

Marky could be right - I saw a brief mention of US insurance companies being involved in DSM

 

[Strixaluco]

Well everyone's a little ASD and ADHD

Marky could be right - I saw a brief mention of US insurance companies being involved in DSM

And then it's copied into ICD...

 

[PMarky2]

I suspect it will take years. But there's also research on the ridiculously high comorbodity rates (especially between autism and adhd) to support this, so maybe one day.

Yeah, there is too much money involved for the diagnostic criteria to be adjusted without a protracted fight. However, the fact that some researchers are saying that "Asperger's" looks more like ADHD and OCD in a scan makes more sense given the comorbidity rates. I wonder what they chances are that they will eventually decide that Asperger's belongs to a family with ADHD/OCD rather than with the more severe forms of Autism.

 

[Strixaluco]

Yeah, there is too much money involved for the diagnostic criteria to be adjusted without a protracted fight. However, the fact that some researchers are saying that "Asperger's" looks more like ADHD and OCD in a scan makes more sense given the comorbidity rates. I wonder what they chances are that they will eventually decide that Asperger's belongs to a family with ADHD/OCD rather than with the more severe forms of Autism.

I'd also like to hear how OCPD is situated in this. But OCPD is not very well researched despite being the most common personality disorder, at rates between 3-8% in the overall population...

"OCPD and autism, despite distinct diagnostic criteria, share overlapping traits and potentially common genetic underpinnings, as highlighted by Gadelkarim et al. (2019)." Source has in interesting graphic about the overlapping traits, too.

There seems to be somewhat higher comorbodity rate between OCPD and ASD (even at a rate of 54,2% for a sample of OCPD people though sample was small ) than OCPD and OCD (18,xx%)... (And this makes it frustrating that search results for OCPD are infested with OCD...They are different things after all. )

"Disabling OCPD traits are common in the OCD clinic. They strongly associate with ASD traits, less strongly with OCD severity and do not appear related to poor insight or highly treatment-resistant OCD." Source

I mean, it sounds more than possible it's there in the same lump with the others...

 

[PMarky2]

I'd also like to hear how OCPD is situated in this. But OCPD is not very well researched despite being the most common personality disorder, at rates between 3-8% in the overall population...

<snip>

I mean, it sounds more than possible it's there in the same lump with the others...

Yes, I would like to see that studied too.

The funny thing about comorbidities is that they are what turned my doctor on to the fact I might be one of those blessed with ASD - poor sleep, migraines, persistent low level anxiety. I sometimes wonder whether she has someone in the family who is high end ASD too.

 

[Strixaluco]

Yes, I would like to see that studied too.

The funny thing about comorbidities is that they are what turned my doctor on to the fact I might be one of those blessed with ASD - poor sleep, migraines, persistent low level anxiety. I sometimes wonder whether she has someone in the family who is high end ASD too.

That indeed sounds like she has some insight. Those are not the first things to make one think of asd - but sometimes it's the vague things that all fit around the same thing...

 

[stickygirl]

There's a new tv series in the UK called Patience and to save repeating, here's a link to the Guardian review but then a Yahoo one. I watched two episodes back to back and I really enjoyed them. Sure, the detective plot was a bit contrived, but I loved seeing autism being represented on mainstream tv.

I disagree with the Guardian, and other reviews, who labelled it as clunky and box-ticking for autism. I suspect the clever journos who reviewed it are neurotypicals. Maybe NTs expect things to be super complicated and deep when it comes to representing autism and this offering was just too simple. Well there's a thing - understanding autism doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't require the MC to be a nerdy gifted doctor who is rude to everyone or a comical geek.

The lead actor is herself ND and is a newcomer to mainstream. I know nothing about her except that she'd pretty and ASD but I suspect she enjoyed 'leaning into' the role. Hopefully she didn't have to correct the script writers and director at every turn!

So my point is presenting autism doesn't have to be heavy with clips of grown-ups nodding mystified but sympathetically, looking out of frame with sighs. Sometimes it can just be a young woman saying to another woman 'Don't touch me. I don't like being touched." and the other person respects that and moves on.
My score based on two episodes **** for light entertainment.

An interview of the MC