*time sensitive* My autism diagnosis has been hard to get: I had to do tests and interviews for 8 weeks with a psychologist and now I'm going to a psychiatrist with the results so that he can assess my results and officially diagnose me, and the psychologist has already concluded that I am autistic, with traits of ADHD and OCD. On the tests about all kinds of attention I showed huge deficits, which makes sense when I look back on my whole life. But the doctor thinks it doesn't make sense. He said that, since my IQ is so high, I can't have attention deficit because "how can someone be smart with no attention?" and I don't agree with that at all. What if I have ADHD as well (I have attention deficit, executive dysfunction and so many other traits), but the doctor doesn't diagnose me because of my IQ?? He says I don't really have attention deficit, it's all just because of my anxiety. I am diagnosed with social anxiety and I'm already treating that with therapy and medication, but now he wants to interfere with that by changing my medication instead of focusing on my autism diagnosis. All that happened only on my first appointment with him. I'm scheduling a second appointment in which, hopefully, I'll get my official diagnosis, but I don't know how to deal with that guy. He's just dismissing some of my ADHD traits because of my IQ and anxiety
This doctor is completely wrong. He is merely stating a stereotype of autism that autistic people have low IQs. You know the other stereotype about autistic people and IQs? That autistic people have high IQs. Both are stereotypes, and there are people out there who believe one and people who believe the other, and every one of them is wrong.
Autistic people can have any level of IQ.
Here is an article that discusses this, while referencing a scientific study that was recently done in 2015.
Since you are dealing with a doctor, here is a link to the actual scientific study.
Print it out. Show it to him. Ask him if he is aware of this study, and if he says no, ask him to read it. If he refuses, ask him why he is refusing new scientific information. Ask him what recent new studies he has read instead, regarding autism. Ask him to show you his scientific sources where it says autistic people cannot have high IQs. He won’t be able to show you anything recent, because they do not exist.
This is the opening paragraph of the scientific study:
“The intelligence of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) varies considerably. The pattern of cognitive deficits associated with ASD may differ depending on intelligence. We aimed to study the absolute and relative severity of cognitive deficits in participants with ASD in relation to IQ.”
In other words, autistic people have a wide range of IQs, from very high to very low, and this article discusses how those different levels of IQs can affect autism symptoms.
So no, there is no such thing as “too smart to be autistic.”
If, after you have presented the doctor with verifiable scientific proof that autistic people can have high IQs and he still refuses to listen to you, then he’s simply an egotistical idiot.
In this case, I would suggest continuing through with the tests to see whether he actually diagnoses you with autism. If he does, then great. You’ve won.
If he doesn’t, then you will have to regrettably seek out another doctor, one who is more willing to listen to science.
Continue going through with the tests. Finish them, and get your evaluation. He may not admit to your face that he was wrong, but he might still correct himself and give you a proper evaluation.
I am so, so sorry that you are having to face this. It’s a messed up world when the patients have to educate the doctors, but that is the world we have. You deserve better, but if you can get your diagnosis from this person, then get it. Once you are diagnosed you’ll never have to see him again.
















