r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 6d ago

Neuroscience New study finds online self-reports may not accurately reflect clinical autism diagnoses. Adults who report high levels of autistic traits through online surveys may not reflect the same social behaviors or clinical profiles as those who have been formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-online-self-reports-may-not-accurately-reflect-clinical-autism-diagnoses/
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u/wakeupgucci666 6d ago

Why does everyone self-diagnose and claim their autistic anyway?

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u/SocDemGenZGaytheist 6d ago edited 5d ago

The framework of autism offers a lot of very helpful tools to describe, explain, and alleviate unpleasant experiences.

  • "Why does this feel so intense and overwhelming to me but not others?" Sensory overload or overstimulation is an autism/ADHD symptom where one experiences more intense and/or unfamiliar sensory stimuli than they can process at once, with unpleasant effects like irritability or even "meltdowns." I'd compare it to being cranky from sleep deprivation. Overstimulation is treatable by reducing sensory input. Examples include ear plugs, sunglasses, or just taking a break sitting in the dark.
  • "Why is it so painfully hard to work on this task I really want to complete?" Executive dysfunction is a very frustrating and disabling autism/ADHD symptom analogous to lacking energy. It impairs one's ability to focus, switch tasks, or work. The most frustrating part is struggling to expend effort despite wanting to, which to outsiders is indistinguishable from laziness. Executive dysfunction is highly genetically heritable, like autism and ADHD. It is treatable primarily with stimulants. Examples include coffee, Adderall, and Ritalin.
  • "Why am I so tired, distressed, and depressed after socializing?" Autistic masking is the effortful suppression of one's autistic traits and mimicry of neurotypicals' traits to socialize with them better. Masking can inflict what we call autistic burnout, an unpleasant exhaustion comparable to that caused by overworking.

These concepts are defined within, and depend on, the psychiatric frameworks of autism and ADHD.

When you challenge someone's self-diagnosis as autistic and/or ADHD, you threaten to shatter the conceptual framework underlying the coping mechanisms that they use for daily functioning.

They will respond accordingly.