BLOG

What Disorders Can Be Diagnosed As Autism? Here Are Top 6

15th November 2024

The neurodevelopmental disorders that create autism include sensory sensitivity, difficulty interpreting neurotypical social cues and norms, and a strong commitment to routines and rituals. Since an autistic person never truly ‘grows out,’ special education courses for educators may be quite beneficial. It is essential to see an expert if you have any concerns regarding a diagnosis you made for a child. This essay, however, will concentrate on the reasons for and types of misdiagnosis that can occur in autism.

Why Can Autism Be Misdiagnosed?

 It can be challenging for adults with autism who were not diagnosed when they were younger to find a doctor who can assess them because many autism tests are designed for children. Many individuals with autism also suffer from other mental illnesses. As a result, they are sometimes misdiagnosed. Psychological evaluations for autism include behavioral observations provided by parents and teachers and the evaluator's tests and behavioral observations.

Because of prejudice, ignorance of neurodivergence, and masking, educators may misdiagnose individuals with autism. Furthermore, because most of the research on autism diagnosis focuses on how the disorder manifests in white males, it may sometimes overlook different ethnic and gender groupings.

Before you move to the topic, can we ask you a quick question? Do you follow us on Social Media? If not, then you’re missing out on a lot of informative content. We regularly share upgraded educational content, tips, feedback, and more. Check us out by clicking the profiles here -  Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / Pinterest / Instagram / YouTube

6 Disorders That Can Be Diagnosed As Autism

Source: psychiatry-uk.com

The following conditions are frequently mistaken for autism but are not usually properly diagnosed:

1. Anxiety Disorders

Social anxiety disorder sufferers may be worried about autism. Their anxiety may be secondary to autism if they perceive that it is brought on by unpredictable encounters or difficulties interpreting body language and voice intonation.

Similarly, if someone finds that their ‘anxious’ behaviors do not match their nervous behaviors, they may have been misdiagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.

2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD is diagnosed in nearly half of autistic people. As a result, it is not uncommon for someone to meet the requirements for both diagnoses. An additional examination that includes an autistic test may be beneficial for someone whose symptoms they believe cannot be sufficiently explained by their ADHD diagnosis.

Because people with ADHD and those with autism have issues with routine, communication, and focus, the diagnostic criteria for these two disorders overlap.

3. Borderline Personality Disorder

Impulsive behavior, erratic moods, and difficulty establishing and sustaining interpersonal relationships are all signs of borderline personality disorder (BPD). A person with autism may also have a personality condition, much like those with the other diagnosis.

However, neurodiversity is sometimes misdiagnosed as a personality disorder, and this is more common among women.

4. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive, unpleasant thoughts or images that are difficult to ignore or get rid of, as well as compulsive behaviors that are routinely carried out to reduce the discomfort the thoughts cause. OCD patients may suffer compulsions, obsessions, or both.

OCD is a condition that some persons with autism also have. However, stimming behavior is sometimes misclassified as a compulsion since repetitive language or movement can mirror obsessive behavior.

5. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Masking, or trying to behave in a neurotypical way when this is not how you normally react, causes a lot of stress. Additionally, autistic persons are more prone to be bullied, abused, and exploited than neurotypicals. Because of this, a sizable percentage of people with autism had previously been traumatized.

The overlap between trauma symptoms and autism presentation may be attributed to the high proportion of autistic individuals who also have a history of trauma. Because of this, people with autism could be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and their behaviors might be attributed to trauma instead of neurodivergent traits.

6. Psychotic Disorder

Psychotic symptoms, such as trouble communicating and social disengagement, are comparable to those of autistic disorders. Psychosis is also commonly diagnosed using personality tests that include specific questions about reality and perception.

Psychosis scales may rise as a result of autistic people occasionally taking the test's questions more literally than the creators intended.

Bottom Line

There are misconceptions regarding autism's appearance and how it is commonly misdiagnosed, even within the psychological field. You must be able to distinguish autism from all of the other diseases listed above as a teacher who has taken Autism courses Online or offline. You may always contact a doctor to verify your information if you are unclear about your diagnosis. This will enable you to create an appropriate strategy to meet each student's unique needs.

We believe education should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we don’t charge for our blogs. Find the right course that will help you in your career with us, contact us at - 6292150868. You can mail us at act@asiancollegeofteachers.com

Written By: Bindita Sinha