Seeing me as high functioning masks my difficulties
BMJ 2022; 377 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o491 (Published 13 April 2022) Cite this as: BMJ 2022;377:o491Earlier this year, at the age of 25, I received a diagnosis of autism. The years leading up to my diagnosis were a mixture of academic success and increasingly frequent episodes of mental illness.
Being diagnosed with autism has been incredibly helpful on a personal level, as I had spent my life pre-diagnosis being acutely aware that I was somehow different from other people. I became convinced that there was something fundamentally wrong with me. The diagnosis has provided me with answers and reaffirmed my sense of self-worth. It has also highlighted many gaps in the health system for autistic people. Other people often regard me as “high functioning,” which is well meaning, but it masks the extent of my difficulties.
Coping with the unpredictability of appointments
As an autistic personI struggle to speak on the phone. I will go out of my way to avoid making phone calls, but the only way I can contact my GP surgery or my crisis team is by phone. When we first went into lockdown, my GP appointments swiftly moved to telephone or video appointments. I became increasingly rattled by the unpredictability of telephone appointments and particularly with not knowing when exactly my team would call. I worried constantly as a result.
At some point, the stress of all the unknowns became too much. Unable to cope with the unpredictability of it all, in one appointment I burst into tears of frustration. My primary care team and I swiftly devised a more structured arrangement whereby we now have a set day and time for appointments. This arrangement has been helpful for both of us, and my pre-appointment anxiety has reduced significantly. This means I now know what to expect and can prepare accordingly.
Communicating emotions and information
My autism means I am excellent at spotting patterns, display high attention to detail, and have an insatiable desire for knowledge. But sometimes I struggle to apply facts or to put them into context. During a recent period of recurring episodes of hypoglycaemia, I immediately started to learn everything I could about glucose. I recounted this with pride to my team at my next appointment. Although impressed, they carefully explained that knowing this wasn’t actually going to help me produce glucose. For clinicians who don’t know me, they might regard my approach as arrogance, but the more I know the more reassured I feel.
I also find it difficult to identify and express my emotions. This can make it nearly impossible to answer seemingly straightforward questions at the start of a consultation, such as “how are you?” My healthcare team members now start the appointment by asking me what I’ve been up to, or what’s been going on over the past week, because I find it easier to focus at first on facts and events. We are then able to infer my emotional state from that.
Autistic people may find their needs being described as “complex,” but I prefer autism to be viewed as just being different. There are many straightforward ways in which health professionals could adapt their approach to ensure we are able to access and engage with health systems as well as everyone else.
What you need to know
Receiving a diagnosis of autism can help patients feel reassured
Work together with autistic people to identify the most suitable methods of communication
Try to use language that focuses on facts rather than emotions. An autism communication passport may be useful
Education in practice
When could you discuss the most suitable method of communication for your autistic patients?
What adjustments could you make to your communication to help support autistic people?
How could you identify language which best suits your autistic patient?
Footnotes
Competing interests: none.