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.

[u/mvea]

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

[u/ChiAnndego]

It's more akin to having a giant tumor growing out of your face and telling people you think it's probably cancer, but you don't have enough $ to get it checked out, and anyways, all the cancer doctors are booked out 3 years and they only take patients that meet a certain demographic where cancer is most common.

The takeaway from this study should be that we need more clinical testing available, not that people that have symptoms should be gatekept. Women and "other non-typically autistic" demographics are falling through the cracks.

[u/Quillspiracy18 → u/ChiAnndego]

As I said, "I think it's cancer" is fine. "I have cancer" is not.

The takeaway is that more clinical testing should be available and that people with or without symptoms should be gatekept from labels they haven't been assessed for.

Systemic failures to provide care don't entitle you to decide you have a disorder.

[u/janitordreams → u/Quillspiracy18]

I completely agree. That is how I went about it until I was formally diagnosed. There is a difference between self-diagnosing and self-suspecting. Self-suspecting is fine. Self-diagnosing is not.

[u/ChiAnndego → u/Quillspiracy18]

Here's the problem with that - a lot of people are excluded from being able to be assessed due to money or access. Being able to put a name to what they are experiencing helps immensely in figuring out coping strategies and accommodations to be successful in life. It's not like someone didn't have autism before an assessment and suddenly has it after. *******They had autism the whole time******, it's just that before diagnosis, they didn't have the name and tools to address challenges and after they may have more access.

Why should people be denied accommodations and tools just because our healthcare system sucks? Why gatekeep access for disabled people just because they don't have an extra $3000 lying around or their parents are no longer alive to give childhood info?

The truth of it is, the reason "everyone is autistic now" is because a whole lot of people pre 1990s were given other (wrong) diagnosis that really harmed them and the real issue is coming to light for some who are able to get a diagnosis.

Just because you don't want to see a problem doesn't mean it's not there.

It's like accusing the person with the giant face tumor of faking an illness, and denying them general supportive care, just because the doctor hasn't done the testing yet.

[u/Quillspiracy18 → u/ChiAnndego]

I'm not sure why you keep repeating this stuff about lack of access, and I'm not sure why you're trying to suggest that I don't think it's a problem. That is not an excuse to decide you are qualified to assess yourself for a mental issue.

You categorically cannot assess your own mental state objectively and the public can't be expected to believe that you've "done your research" if there is no barrier to entry for that statement.

No one is accusing people of faking their issues. That tumour on your face might be a benign birthmark, it might be a cyst, it might be a big bag of pus from an infected tooth, it might be a rare bacterial disease, it might just be severe swelling from an injury.

All of those are real issues that require different treatments, none of them are helped by the patient proudly claiming "I have cancer!" with no professional assessment.

[u/ChiAnndego → u/Quillspiracy18]

It's not that I feel that I'm qualified, it's just that for some of us, it's readily apparent to EVERYONE ELSE as well. And I have been dx with developmental disorder, but just didn't have a name because "autism" wasn't a thing for girls. Apparently, having an IEP because you are "pathologically gifted" with "ocd NOS" was all we got.

There's no treatment for autism, just accomodations to help people function. So, do you ask someone in a wheelchair for their diagnosis before allowing them to use a ramp at work? How about a record of a vision test for a blind person before you let them use a text reader for their job?

But somehow, unless you have the papers, it's too much to ask to be able to wear earplugs, and that my desk is not under the overhead lights or the air conditioner vent?