Autism self-diagnosis is when a person identifies as autistic through their own experiences without a formal diagnosis by a professional. A formal autism diagnosis is when a professional assesses the person to determine whether they have autism, and by meeting the diagnostic criteria, they receive their official diagnosis. I have my own views of this argument.

Autism self-diagnosis is valid and the first step in moving towards getting a diagnosis by a professional. Through this process, the person suspected of having autism researches different resources. They study their traits and life experiences to conclude that they might have autism. This was the first step for me. I knew I could access autism communities for further support and information to understand more about myself. Many people cannot receive a diagnosis due to not being able to access or afford a formal diagnosis, or some feel they do not want it because of the discrimination they might receive. I thought I did not want a formal diagnosis for medical reasons, such as insurance. The downside is that without a diagnosis, I couldn’t access support services. So, with a formal diagnosis, there were many benefits.

Before I went for my assessment, I weighed up the benefits of having no diagnosis with having a formal diagnosis. I concluded I was better off having one. My reason for this is that it gave me confirmation that my suspicions were correct. When someone is self-diagnosed, the person can be wrong. Autism can look like a lot of things, and it could be something completely different. For me, it was important to get the right support for what was going on. I felt I needed support in the workplace. If I feel I am not coping or I am feeling burnout, I can get reasonable adjustments, and the law protects me. Getting the formal diagnosis has improved relationships with different people in my life. Some friends and relatives couldn’t understand why I behaved in a certain way, they now understand why I did things the way I did after I was diagnosed. I felt nobody would take me seriously without a formal diagnosis, because after all, I couldn’t write this blog. I cannot write about what it is like to be autistic without a professional telling me I have it.

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I try not to diagnose people or tell them I think they have autism because I am not qualified to do so. I would not like to send someone down the wrong path. If anyone suspects autism, doing research from credible resources is key. Going for a formal diagnosis is a personal decision, and it depends on many factors.

I would love to hear different opinions and experiences on this topic. I know everyone will have different views.

Sources

• Deciding whether to seek an autism assessment Available at: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/before-diagnosis/deciding-whether-to-seek-an-autism-assessment (Accessed: 20 July 2025).