Advantages of a borderline autism DX?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm not worried about his current high school kicking him out regardless of diagnosis and he won't share evaluation with college until after acceptance. He's already disqualified from military service because of taking ADHD meds after age 14 (and having asthma) and that's just fine with both of us.

You seem like a great person trying to game the system. I hope it works out for you. /MASSIVE s

What system am I gaming? Please do explain.

NP. Yeah, what system exactly are you referring to? Is it the system where you spend tons of $ and time on therapies and dr appts?

If you're referring to the military thing-my now 30-something ds tried to enlist and was rejected due to asthma. That's not 'gaming', that is what the military does.

[Anonymous]

I see people mention a much broader definition of autism and a lower threshold of diagnosis, compared to level 1, what exactly does that mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see people mention a much broader definition of autism and a lower threshold of diagnosis, compared to level 1, what exactly does that mean?

Some people seem to think some people are being diagnosed with autism but have no support needs. I don't know if they are talking about their own kids or just imagining that is happening with no basis for it. My kid with ASD has low support needs but they are there. They do great in school and following rules and routines, but they are doing well because they have a support outside of school - tutoring, OT and social skills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see people mention a much broader definition of autism and a lower threshold of diagnosis, compared to level 1, what exactly does that mean?

Some people seem to think some people are being diagnosed with autism but have no support needs. I don't know if they are talking about their own kids or just imagining that is happening with no basis for it. My kid with ASD has low support needs but they are there. They do great in school and following rules and routines, but they are doing well because they have a support outside of school - tutoring, OT and social skills

I have two kids, both diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety.

For my younger one, they have stims, a deep focused interest, lots of rigidity, lots of anxiety, repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, but they are doing amazingly well socially (we do supports for all the other deficits). Deep friendships, makes new friends, savvy at navigation the tween social stuff. Therapist said absolutely would be diagnosed with ASD if there were any social issues. The other issues are hugely impacting their daily life, so not mild at all.

My older one has no stims, mild focused interest (which seems to have finally gone away), mild rigidity, no repetitive behaviors, mild sensory issues, some anxiety (not social), severe impulsivity and emotional dysregulation. No issues with language development or eye contact. One of their therapists told me to them evaluated for ASD, their social skills therapist said they did not see ASD. I have seen this DC get better at navigating things socially with time, and they have a small friend group, although friendships can still be tough to navigate. We will repeat neuropsych in a couple of years, last one was early elementary and ASD wasn’t even on the table - at that point DC was mostly angry and hyper and ADHD was the diagnosis given.

If older DC gets an ASD diagnosis at next testing, at this point they don’t need a lot of support anymore - have done OT, social skills, meds for ADHD and anxiety (will likely need their meds), CBT, feeding therapy, parent coaching, etc. DC now still occasionally sees a therapist but is doing well academically and is doing the best they have ever done socially.

In some ways, I guess I’m reinforcing your point that in this case an ASD diagnosis for older DC would reflect that they needed a lot of extra help at one point, but right now it’s mostly just meds, so very little regular support required.

And just want to add, seeing all the signs of ASD except the social stuff in my younger DC makes me feel like there is something profoundly wrong with the way the profession is binning symptoms into diagnoses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see people mention a much broader definition of autism and a lower threshold of diagnosis, compared to level 1, what exactly does that mean?

Some people seem to think some people are being diagnosed with autism but have no support needs. I don't know if they are talking about their own kids or just imagining that is happening with no basis for it. My kid with ASD has low support needs but they are there. They do great in school and following rules and routines, but they are doing well because they have a support outside of school - tutoring, OT and social skills

I have two kids, both diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety.

For my younger one, they have stims, a deep focused interest, lots of rigidity, lots of anxiety, repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, but they are doing amazingly well socially (we do supports for all the other deficits). Deep friendships, makes new friends, savvy at navigation the tween social stuff. Therapist said absolutely would be diagnosed with ASD if there were any social issues. The other issues are hugely impacting their daily life, so not mild at all.

My older one has no stims, mild focused interest (which seems to have finally gone away), mild rigidity, no repetitive behaviors, mild sensory issues, some anxiety (not social), severe impulsivity and emotional dysregulation. No issues with language development or eye contact. One of their therapists told me to them evaluated for ASD, their social skills therapist said they did not see ASD. I have seen this DC get better at navigating things socially with time, and they have a small friend group, although friendships can still be tough to navigate. We will repeat neuropsych in a couple of years, last one was early elementary and ASD wasn’t even on the table - at that point DC was mostly angry and hyper and ADHD was the diagnosis given.

If older DC gets an ASD diagnosis at next testing, at this point they don’t need a lot of support anymore - have done OT, social skills, meds for ADHD and anxiety (will likely need their meds), CBT, feeding therapy, parent coaching, etc. DC now still occasionally sees a therapist but is doing well academically and is doing the best they have ever done socially.

In some ways, I guess I’m reinforcing your point that in this case an ASD diagnosis for older DC would reflect that they needed a lot of extra help at one point, but right now it’s mostly just meds, so very little regular support required.

And just want to add, seeing all the signs of ASD except the social stuff in my younger DC makes me feel like there is something profoundly wrong with the way the profession is binning symptoms into diagnoses.

But you said your therapist would not get an ASD diagnosis so I'm confused. Social communication deficits are required for diagnosis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see people mention a much broader definition of autism and a lower threshold of diagnosis, compared to level 1, what exactly does that mean?

Some people seem to think some people are being diagnosed with autism but have no support needs. I don't know if they are talking about their own kids or just imagining that is happening with no basis for it. My kid with ASD has low support needs but they are there. They do great in school and following rules and routines, but they are doing well because they have a support outside of school - tutoring, OT and social skills

I have two kids, both diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety.

For my younger one, they have stims, a deep focused interest, lots of rigidity, lots of anxiety, repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, but they are doing amazingly well socially (we do supports for all the other deficits). Deep friendships, makes new friends, savvy at navigation the tween social stuff. Therapist said absolutely would be diagnosed with ASD if there were any social issues. The other issues are hugely impacting their daily life, so not mild at all.

My older one has no stims, mild focused interest (which seems to have finally gone away), mild rigidity, no repetitive behaviors, mild sensory issues, some anxiety (not social), severe impulsivity and emotional dysregulation. No issues with language development or eye contact. One of their therapists told me to them evaluated for ASD, their social skills therapist said they did not see ASD. I have seen this DC get better at navigating things socially with time, and they have a small friend group, although friendships can still be tough to navigate. We will repeat neuropsych in a couple of years, last one was early elementary and ASD wasn’t even on the table - at that point DC was mostly angry and hyper and ADHD was the diagnosis given.

If older DC gets an ASD diagnosis at next testing, at this point they don’t need a lot of support anymore - have done OT, social skills, meds for ADHD and anxiety (will likely need their meds), CBT, feeding therapy, parent coaching, etc. DC now still occasionally sees a therapist but is doing well academically and is doing the best they have ever done socially.

In some ways, I guess I’m reinforcing your point that in this case an ASD diagnosis for older DC would reflect that they needed a lot of extra help at one point, but right now it’s mostly just meds, so very little regular support required.

And just want to add, seeing all the signs of ASD except the social stuff in my younger DC makes me feel like there is something profoundly wrong with the way the profession is binning symptoms into diagnoses.

But you said your therapist would not get an ASD diagnosis so I'm confused. Social communication deficits are required for diagnosis

Sorry I mean the therapist said your younger kid would not get an ASD diagnosis

[Anonymous]

One positive element of getting a diagnosis, but it might help them better understand their own characteristics and how it might lay out in a job. My husband who is barely on the spectrum has still had a lot of challenges in the workplace due to autism. He basically chose the wrong career because it required a lot of flexibility and he needs more of a quiet job.