[ziont]

i think theres lot of mis self diagnoses going on right now.

99% of people who are self diagnosed ASD, are 80% more likely to self diagnose.

This means that for the vast majority of engineers going around wearing their Aspergers badge are not on the autism spectrum disorder.

[PhasmaFelis]

You know, I'm not sure why people get so snooty about self-diagnosed ASD. (Speaking as some who was formally diagnosed as a child.) Our definition of autism is based on symptoms. This isn't like someone with a rash deciding it's caused by imbalanced humors. It's more like someone noting that their skin is red, itchy, and has little bumps on it, and deciding that they have a rash.

Also, the study specifically dealt with people who had formal diagnoses already, so I'm really not sure how your comment is even relevant.

[dragonwriter]

> Our definition of autism is based on symptoms. This isn't like someone with a rash deciding it's caused by imbalanced humors. It's more like someone noting that their skin is red, itchy, and has little bumps on it, and deciding that they have a rash.

No, it's not. A rash is a symptom, not a disorder diagnosed from a complex combination of symptoms; it's more like self-diagnosis of AIDS prior to the discovery of the role of HIV, and the use of HIV testing.

[PhasmaFelis]

Our definition of autism, like many psychological conditions, is based on symptoms--behavior and development--not causes. We're learning more about the underlying reasons why brains work the way they do, so that may change eventually. But right now, if you have a large number of autistic symptoms, you most likely meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD.

In young children, the visible symptoms of autism may mimic other developmental conditions, so a professional diagnosis is important. An intelligent adult can make the distinction for themselves, given enough information. (Though they'll still need a diagnosis to seek treatment or accommodations.)

[dragonwriter]

> Our definition of autism, like many psychological conditions, is based on symptoms--behavior and development--not causes.

That's also true of many physical conditions with unknown causes, hence the comparison to pre-knowledge-of-HIV AIDS as a more apt comparison than a rash.

> But right now, if you have a large number of autistic symptoms, you most likely meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD.

By DSM 5 criteria, you need either two or three symptoms (depending on exactly where you bound así for symptom) symptoms, manifesting by a particular time, with specific social impact, and all the potential symptoms (and the impact) are defined in a way that even an intelligent layman in a position to be objective rather than applying a bias from their own position is likely to have trouble applying them well.

[keithnz]

My son (8) is going through a diagnosis at the moment, in fact tomorrow we will be going to the last meeting with a pediatrician to effectively get my sons "Autism" badge ( Which here in NZ will open up a lot of funding for assisitance ).

Do you have any advice on things that were beneficial for you? Or alternatively things that were super horrible and should be avoided?

[zepto]

This is clearly a possibility, but is it just guesswork on your part? Are there actual stats on the false positive rate of self diagnosis that you can point to?

[madamelic]

>99% of people who are self diagnosed ASD, are 80% more likely to self diagnose.

Wouldn't "99% of self-diagnosed ASD are not" be more accurate and clear, even if the stat is a guess.

[Zenst]

I was self-diagnosed for years, was tested for autism as a child (age 5), was borderline and back then there was no spectrum, you was either full on autistic or not. Few years later things changed, though it wasn't until I was in my early 40's that I got a formal diagnoses for aspergers.

This was mainly brought on due to numerous employment experiences and mostly the last one in which the company I worked for sent me to America to work for 3 weeks. Simple enough, though fiscally they utterly destroyed me. Chap from Canada (company base) was also over there. For me to cover expenses over there they sorted me out a pittance expense advance. Chap from Canada, had 5x that advanced! Equally my boss messed up the form, did it as salary advance and upshot was first week there I realised I was going to be paid nothing end of the month, be owed a bucket load of expenses and my rent and all my bills would bounce. Short version, boss failed to sort it out, complained to HR about me chassing him about it and my subsequent breakdown, lossed the job, home, everything. Still not recovered from that.

More to the story, things like started low salary, told would get big pay rise after few month, never happened. Promoted without pay rise, did most of the work (including peers stealing credit for my work.

But then, get many things that upset you in work. Recall in another company, having time off for family funeral, arraged return date and come back to work to find somebody sitting at my desk!

I will say one issue that I wished I'd identified early was never to mix work with pashions. As I literally burned myself out so many time that the toll has been horrendous. Made lots of people very rich, but got taken advantage off something rotten.

Had I had an earlier diagnoses, life would of been easier for sure. That I have no doubts and I'd of been in better shape today mentally.

So anybody self-diagnosing - just get formally diagnosed, just to protect yourself from being abused.

That said, I have found that in some area's of life, your better of not even saying you have mental health quirks. AS you end up getting patronised and somewhat ignored. I've had personal experience with the UK Police and frankly it's shocking how bad you can be treated.

Still, encouraging that some companies being properly mindful about such people and with that, not just giving lip-service. Just a bit late for me alas, I'm a spent force in mid 50's now.

[ziont]

i thought i had aspergers but it turned out I was actually transgendered.

im willing to bet that the number of transgender population is a lot higher.

unabomber was also diagnosed to be transgender using modern definition.

my theory is ted bundy was also a transgender. there exists a sort of misogynistic jealousy towardsthe opposite sex but he is an extreme and rarely example along with unabomber.

people who are transgender are literally in a constant state of mental anguish. then you have normies and the social structure which is tilted to hetrosexual cis-gender populace.

i only found out i was transgender after decades of denial. its important to never lie to yourself. its amazing how much you can trick yourself in to believing in the image that those around you have set.

screaming someone misgendered you won't do jack shit.

as a transwoman my career options are now prostitution, pornography, and the drug trade but probably will be overlaps.

[Raphmedia]

I'm not sure if this is a bait or not...

> i thought i had aspergers but it turned out I was actually transgendered.

As a trans woman, I must say that I am confused as to how you might mix up those two. The symptoms are really different. Those are not exclusive either.

> people who are transgender are literally in a constant state of mental anguish

Only until you get therapy and treatment. Once my gender dysphoria was under control, I was free of any negative mental health issues related to being transgender.

> as a transwoman my career options are now prostitution, pornography, and the drug trade but probably will be overlaps.

Nope, still working in STEM. I know quite a few trans programmers.

[ziont]

transwomen's individual lives differ drastically

good on you that you are in STEM

I was in STEM but being transgender excluded me.

Trans people are treated like freaks. As far as I know, I don't exist. I am fine with this.

but it irks me when ppl humble brag

[Raphmedia]

Well, as far as I can gather from your posting history you are from Vancouver.

I know several people from western Canada that live openly trans and work without any issues. Don't give up because of a handful of bad employers and some bad experiences.

They added protection to the B.C. Human Rights Code in 2016 and there are a lot of protections Canada wide.

This is not an humble brag, this is your rights. You have the right to work in any field you want. In STEM we even have the opportunity to work remotely, which helps if you are too uncomfortable to be out in public.

[PhasmaFelis]

I've seen firsthand how shitty things can be for trans people. I'm sorry. I hope you can find a support system that meets your needs.

> i thought i had aspergers but it turned out I was actually transgendered.

Is it possible that you're trans and Asperger's? There's research suggesting that they appear together more often than chance would suggest. It would explain the surprising frequency of trans people in tech fields, as well. Anecdotally, three of the four trans people I'm close to are diagnosed ASD, and I have my suspicions about the fourth.

[ziont]

my point was lot of people who think they have aspergers actually dont

[PhasmaFelis]

My point is that you don't have any standing to claim that, and you're probably wrong.

Given how many hoops the medical establishment makes trans people jump through to "prove" that they're really trans and need treatment, I'd think you'd be more sympathetic.