Suspected autism - paying for private diagnosis?

rotoguys

Personally I for one would not want to have it diagnosised!!

As for then being able to stick it in front of your boss to explain your inability to do a job that you are being paid to do - that is a bit low!
You were taken on on your own merit as you were. You are no different now as you were then.
Your employer could say that you misrepresented yourself when you applied for the job if nothing has changed.

Presumably you want the DDA protection so that it will make it difficult for your employer to fire you for inefficiency.

Maybe I am too proud, as not withstanding my difficulties, I would not want special treatment but would try twice as hard to do my job.

Alizarin

I can do my job very well actually, thank you. I am in no way inefficient and am always praised at annual reviews for the quality of my work.

I just have real difficulties with anything requiring interpersonal skills. This isn't in any way a major part of my job, I could easily and efficiently do everything I am paid to do without talking to another person, but my boss doesn't like that and thinks everyone should be chatty all the time. My probable disability means that I am just physically unable to be like this.

If you don't have any difficulties in this area, I get why this could be difficult for you (and my boss, and everyone else) to comprehend.

Alizarin

rotoguys wrote: »

Your employer could say that you misrepresented yourself when you applied for the job if nothing has changed.

On this point ... if I didn't have a diagnosis of autism (or any idea that I had it!) when I applied for my job seven years ago, how on earth could this be seen as misrepresenting myself???

rotoguys

Alizarin wrote: »

I can do my job very well actually, thank you. I am in no way inefficient and am always praised at annual reviews for the quality of my work.

I just have real difficulties with anything requiring interpersonal skills. This isn't in any way a major part of my job, I could easily and efficiently do everything I am paid to do without talking to another person, but my boss doesn't like that and thinks everyone should be chatty all the time. My probable disability means that I am just physically unable to be like this.

If you don't have any difficulties in this area, I get why this could be difficult for you (and my boss, and everyone else) to comprehend.

On the other hand you could simply be shy.

Prinzessilein

rotoguys wrote: »

On the other hand you could simply be shy.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this remark was made out of ignorance rather than maliciousness.

There is a world of difference between being shy and having an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

I worked for many years before being diagnosed with ASD. At no point was there any question of my having misrepresented myself when applying for jobs. Actually, I found bosses tended to be understanding and looking for a way that they could accomodate my ASD - I had amazing job skills that they wanted to make the most of.


Alizarin - I'm really pleased that you are going to get the visit to the specialist, and have it on the NHS too! Great news!

The diagnosis can take a while - I needed a couple of appointments, the specialist wanted to rule out other possible causes before confirming ASD.

rotoguys

Alizarin wrote: »

On this point ... if I didn't have a diagnosis of autism (or any idea that I had it!) when I applied for my job seven years ago, how on earth could this be seen as misrepresenting myself???

Let me turn it round then. Are you saying that within the past seven years you think that you developed it?

If it was there seven years ago (and you had no idea you had it) how is that it has only just come about?

The only reason I ask is that my understanding of it (and I'm probably thick) is that it just does not happen like that. I may be wrong.

rotoguys

Prinzessilein wrote: »

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this remark was made out of ignorance rather than maliciousness.

There is a world of difference between being shy and having an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

I worked for many years before being diagnosed with ASD. At no point was there any question of my having misrepresented myself when applying for jobs. Actually, I found bosses tended to be understanding and looking for a way that they could accomodate my ASD - I had amazing job skills that they wanted to make the most of.


Alizarin - I'm really pleased that you are going to get the visit to the specialist, and have it on the NHS too! Great news!

The diagnosis can take a while - I needed a couple of appointments, the specialist wanted to rule out other possible causes before confirming ASD.

But being diagnosed is one thing, you must have had symptoms of it well before it was diagnosed.

It's like type 1 diabetes. I lived with it for years with all of the symptoms but didn't get a diagnosis until after 7 years when I eventually went to the GP as I started to pass out a lot more and was spending hours weeing and drinking gallons or squash.

Prinzessilein

rotoguys wrote: »

But being diagnosed is one thing, you must have had symptoms of it well before it was diagnosed.

.

I was born with ASD. It is not something you get later on in life.

However, the symptoms can and do vary. Some of my symptoms have certainly got worse in recent years.

Many adults have ASD and are aware that they are somehow 'different'. A diagnossis wasn't available a few years ago - the condition is only just now being understood.

Koicarp

rotoguys wrote: »

The only reason I ask is that my understanding of it (and I'm probably thick) is that it just does not happen like that. I may be wrong.

Most of what you say, in most of your posts is wrong!
It would be very easy for someone with high functioning ASD (the term aspergers isn't supposed to be used any more) to go unnoticed through the education system and in work. Some colleagues think they are just rude, or unwilling to build relationships. The OP says this has been brought up in annual reviews- plural so it didn't just happen. Of course the OP also says she has depression which also causes difficulties with interpersonal skills, a specialist will be able to differentiate the chicken from the egg.

OneYorkshireLass

Koicarp wrote: »

It would be very easy for someone with high functioning ASD (the term aspergers isn't supposed to be used any more)

Who's said that it's not supposed to be used? So people with the diagnosis, with it actually written on a report, aren't supposed to use the term anymore?

And yes, rotoguys - I'm afraid it's not quite as simple as you think. I had the symptoms all my life - went through people saying I was just shy, she'll grow out of it etc (even though I was in a drama group!). There are many children who get the 'shy', 'low self-esteem' labels when they actually need someone to dig a little deeper to find that it's actually an ASD - and that happens in adulthood when we can speak for ourselves.