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Do you need an adult autism diagnosis? The professionals say "¯\_(ツ)_/¯ iunno? U tell me"
(sh.itjust.works)
My doctor ordered me a pack of forms and questionnaires to request an assessment for adult autism. In amongst the medical histories and self assessments, this question stuck out;
it is important to know that not everyone who is referred to our service will have a diagnosis of autism confirmed. In the space below, tell us how you think having an autism diagnosis confirmed, or not, might impact on you and your life
What's going on here? Do you get asked this for other conditions? We're a community that typically struggles to read between the lines, so I could be way off, but this feels grudging to me. It's a question that says - what's the point of us even offering this service, and why are you so special that we should waste our time on you?
I read this as a filter to better understand the patient's intentions for coming in, so the clinic can best address the root concern.
Going to get an ADHD diagnosis is somewhat in vogue at the moment but might have unintended consequences. Somebody hears about the symptoms, sees themselves having them too, and goes for a screening, perhaps hoping for a solution to some concerns in their life.
Some of those people will actually be helped by treatment, while some of them may be looking in the wrong place for whatever reason.