Am I autistic? Diagnosis and online tests that may help point the way.
Women’s Autism Assessment – respectful and sensitive late female oriented assessment online (via zoom) from Dr Claire Jack.
The AQ50 self-administered online test, the CAT-Q test designed to identify autistic individuals who do not currently meet diagnostic criteria due to their ability to mask their autistic traits (important if you are a later diagnosing female as we do learn to hide the traits, even from ourselves) and the RAADS-R designed to identify sub-clinical autistic traits that might otherwise be missed by other assessments. Alternatively all three tests are freely available via Dr Clare Jack on the above website.
96% of autistic people over 60 are undiagnosed
Key findings from the review
• High undiagnosed rate: The review found that up to 97% of autistic adults over the age of 60 remain undiagnosed in the UK.
• Impact on health: Undiagnosed autism is linked to higher rates of mental and physical health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and dementia.
• Social and economic consequences: This lack of diagnosis can lead to social isolation, difficulties in employment, and a reduced quality of life.
• Historical context: The high rate is partly because autism was not recognized as a common condition in the past, meaning many people went through life without their experiences being explained by a diagnosis.
• Need for support: The findings emphasize the urgent need for better recognition and support for older autistic adults, which could improve their well-being and health outcomes.
97% of autistic adults over 60 are undiagnosed – and it’s massively impacting their health – BBC Science Focus
Neurocomplexity
My favourite overall resource as someone with AuDHD and giftedness/high sensitivity:
Lindsey Mackereth from Method Substack (a licensed therapist who left the therapy world) uses the term “neurocomplexity” and offers speculative discourse on patterns in highly masked Autism, ADHD, and Giftedness. I recommend downloading her List of 50 less commonly known traits of autism in highly masked adults including chronic fatigue or burnout (you will have to subscribe to access this) which is useful for self-exploration or initiating discussion with a therapist or medical provider. She offers a further downloadable document exploring ADHD, autism, giftedness and burnout: A curious overlapping of traits. I’m not sure how I would manage without her posts as they are endlessly relevant and insightful!
Subscribe and follow her posts on social media (eg Instagram) for a daily dose of highly relevant and applicable resources and information.
Podcasts
Hearing other neurodiverse people talking freely and sharing their stories can be utterly game changing, in my experience. The top three are my favourites but all of these have been so useful:
ADHD For Smartass Women with Tracy Otsuka
Positive Disintegration Podcast
And there are many more!
Blogs & websites
Lindsey Mac’s Substack – wonderfully on topic and highly probing blog site for AuDHD
Neurodivergent Notes – by Megan Anna Neff (of Divergent Conversations podcast), this one ties for top place (in my opinion) for consistently high-quality, relevant and probing topics on AuDHD, autism, ADHD and all the crossovers.
The Late Discovered Club – resources and monthly online meetup related to author Catherine Asta, author of Rediscovered: A Compassionate and Courageous Guide For Late Discovered Autistic Women (and Their Allies).
Essential reading: “Healthcare Access: They don’t take Disability Studies classes. They don’t socialize with us. They don’t listen to us“. The challenge of accessing medical assistance and respect when you are neurodivergent.
Trauma Geek – invaluable resource pivoting on the cross-over of neurodivergence, trauma and neurology.
Actually Autistic blog list of other writers on this important topic since these personal accounts are the force driving the current evolution of understanding beyond “text book” definitions and diagnoses.
Asperger’s from the Inside – YouTube resource with linked blog etc
Tools for navigating neurocomplexity and its links to chronic health
These are some of the most impactful resources I have found for looking at neurodiversity and its health manifestations in a unified way. I strongly recommend exploring if you have cross-overs and need to communicate these with your medical provider:
All Brains Belong website
All Brains Belong video channel
All Brains Belong letter you can hand to your healthcare provider
Everything is connected to everything: list of symptoms and words
Everything is connected to everything: list of medical conditions
Why autistic people have “all the things”
Autism and chronic illness, is there an overlap? – episode of Autism from the inside
See more articles making a link with chronic conditions below.
Psychotherapy and Coaching
Alice Bramhill – online AuDHD pyschotherapist and coach
Books
(in no particular order)
Women and Girls with Asperger Syndrome Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age – Sarah Hendrickx
Unmasking Autism: – Dr Devon Price
Self-care for autistic people – Megan Anna Neff
Asperger’s from the Inside – Michelle Vines
I Am Aspien Woman – Tania Marshall
Nerdy, Shy & Socially Inappropriate – Cynthia Kim
Pretending to be Normal – Liane Holliday Willey
NeuoTribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter and People Who Think Differently – Steve Silberman
Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World – Laura James
Thinking in Pictures – Temple Grandin
Autism and the God Connections: redefining the Autistic Experience Through Extraordinary Accounts of Spiritual Giftedness– William Stillman.
Women from Another Planet? Our Lives in the Universe of Autism – Jean Kearns Miller
The Autistic Brain – Temple Grandin and Richard Panek
Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism – Barb Cook and Dr Michelle Garnett
ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer’s World, 3rd Edition: A Hunter in a Farmer’s World – Thom Hartmann
Looking After Your Autistic Self: A Personalised Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Well-Being – Niamh Garvey
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences – Peter Levine
Burnout: The secret to solving the stress cycle – Emily Nagoski and Amelia Negowski
The Endorphin Effect: A breakthrough strategy for holistic health and spiritual wellbeing – William Bloom
The Autism Books by Autistic Authors List (a growing resource)
Articles
ADHD Does Not Equal Low Dopamine “When we ADHDers routinely use adrenaline to respond to trauma and to adapt to neurotypical culture and to do what is required of us by external forces (school systems and employers especially), that results in low dopamine…ADHD is not a trauma response, but trauma does make the genetic neurotype more clinically noticeable.”
High-functioning autism – different not less (what this looks like, the myths, the pitfalls etc), an article by Imi Lo.
Aspienwomen: Moving towards an adult female profile of Autism/Asperger Syndrome
Online Resources
Professor Tony Attwood and Dr Michelle Garnett
Tania Marshall’s List of Women’s Asperger’s Traits
Autism From the Inside YouTube channel
Sensory aids
Loop earplugs designed especially with noise sensitivity, autism, ADHD and misphonia in mind, with various levels of noise reduction to suit different environments and social engagements. I never go anywhere without mine!
Bose Quiet Comfort earphones with ANC (useful with or without sound!)
Woolroom beds and bedding – great for temperature regulation, non-toxic sleep environment, natural comfort and joint support
Smoveys for general rehab, stimming and nervous system resetting
Wilbarger Therapy Brush for sensory processing issues and sensory defensiveness
Blueblock light bulbs for calming the nervous system response, especially before bedtime, with three easy-flip settings appropriate to different times of day (and no flicker)
Weighted blankets and weighted toys – widely available from various sources
Calm app – audio resources for sleep, soothing and meditation
Curable app – remarkably effective education resources and tools for chronic pain and anxiety
Neck fan – I find this nervous system regulating as well as useful for POTS and temperature fluctuations
Autism & Diet
Oxalates Control is a major new factor in autism therapy – The Great Plains Laboratory
See my Health Resources for many more oxalate resources
Neurodivergence linked to hypermobility, fatigue and chronic pain
See Chronic Health Resources section for much more on the link with hypermobility
Joint Hypermobility Links Neurodivergence to Dysautonomia and Pain new study 2022
Autonomic Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder
A 2021 study on the links between dysautonomia, autism and hEDS
An autism–chronic fatigue syndrome connection?
Glutathione Depletion in Autism and the Spin-off for CFS – Rich Van Konynenburg
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Autism – Richard A. Van Konynenburg, Ph.D
Neurodiversity cross-over with hypermobility, pain, dysautonomia, fatigue
Joint hypermobility links neurodivergence to dysautonomia and pain
Link between fibromyalgia and ADHD
Study suggests screening people with fibromyalgia for ADHD
Journalling, symptom tracking, decluttering, executive function aids
Bear App – a life–saver application for jotting down and tracking thoughts as they occur. Most of my posts here began as a Bear note.
Discovery Journal – very highly recommended guided daily journal for adults and teens with ASD and anxiety
Autism Controversy
The Controversy Over Autism’s Most Common Therapy – Spectrum News.
Autistic therapists
This site may help you to locate a therapist who is actually autistic themselves, you will need to read the bios carefully:
Association of Neurodivergent Therapists
Other Resources
Adult assessment, coaching and mentoring etc.
Adult coaching, testing, assessment, mentoring
Disclaimer: This blog, its content and any material linked to it are presented for autobiographical, general interest and anecdotal purposes only. They are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or prescribing. Opinions are my own based on personal experience. Please seek medical advice from a professional if you are experiencing any mental or physical symptoms that concern you.
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