Autism

This might be a "hey if you think getting an actual diagnosis is going to cause problems let us know so we don't do that".

It might be a question of priority, like do you need an official diagnosis to get accommodations at school/work or do you "just" want to know for sure.

Also, it'll make you think about why you're requesting the assessment and in what way it'll change your life. Like, in my case having an official diagnosis wouldn't change anything, therapy options are designed to make a person useful for the workforce, I am a housewife so it wouldn't help me much. So I'd rather have them use their service for people who actually have a need for their service.

The way my doctor put it is basically, I most likely will never need to be under care for it. So, he was not going to put it on paper unless I wanted it. He said I am autistic and I am diagnosed, just not on paper. So, do you think you'll ever need special care for it? If yes, then maybe consider getting it on paper.

Have you considered this might be part of the test?

I was told “at this point you’ve spent your life learning coping mechanisms and behaviors to get you this far, you’re doing pretty ok … what purpose does this label serve” and kinda went with it but have felt weird about it since.

But thinking about it …. The actual “formal” label / diagnosis might have hindered my life more than being able to describe it “accurately” would have helped.

Idk.

I'm reading it more in the direction of, "If we're on the fence/think your case is borderline, make your argument for why we should go ahead and give you a positive diagnosis." or a negative one if you're there at the behest of someone else and are hoping for negative.

But it may also be the kind of question that helps them get a feeling for how you currently perceive your life in relation to your perceived but currently undiagnosed condition. Which can be informative. How you talk about it may even carry indicators in some instances.

In the US, this is a common question from most psychologists and therapists. On the one hand, insurance companies require a diagnosis code in order to pay for any treatment and the same is true for certain kinds of government assistance. On the other, being diagnosed with a mental health condition considered "serious" can trigger various consequences for employment (especially if it involves security clearances), court (particularly custody battles), and random social consequences from people (especially family) who still believe neurodivergence is something to be ashamed of.

Typically the person asking is trying to find out whether an official diagnosis would be helpful or harmful to you, so they know what to put on the billing or other paperwork without causing more harm than good. This is really better done in a conversation where they explain that than on a form where they don't, though.

Technically I'm not medically confirmed, but a lot of behaviors I do without thinking makes a lot more sense to me since I was diagnosed by a social worker in school. It helps me be more conscious of my actions, and the diagnosis helped me rein in my anger and control my fixations. I still bump into stuff, but I'm more aware of my surroundings because I know I need to be. Knowledge is half the battle.

In Australia an official diagnosis can be used against you in legal proceedings. Such as, custody hearings. For this reason medical professionals will often recommended against official diagnosis as an adult, unless the diagnosis will have beneficial outcomes.

Alternatively, they may just be trying to identify your goals. This will inform them how to structure their therapy. No point working on an area which doesn't affect your quality of life or one you don't care about and won't do the homework for. If there is no therapy for your concerns and a diagnosis won't help, they shouldn't waste your time and money getting one.

I am unreasonably annoyed at this - they as professionals should know what the value of a diagnosis is and tell you about any pros and cons.

Alternate question: what impact did your diagnosis, confirmed or otherwise, have on your life?

I understood the question as asking if you have always felt weird and not the like other persons and you expect the autism diagnosis to explain it then there's a chance that it wasn't autism that made you feel different and you are just different/ We don't know why you feel like that yet.

I hate this.
This kind of question has come up again and again when I've tried to access services and support, as if the people who work there don't know what they can or cannot provide and/or help with, and it's entirely up to me, the person who doesn't work there or know exactly what they can offer, to tell them what they can do for me.
Like, what?
To me it feels like a deliberate barrier, and I often fall at it out of sheer frustration (and they have one less person to support, which seems to be the objective).

I read this as a filter to better understand the patient's intentions for coming in, so the clinic can best address the root concern.

Going to get an ADHD diagnosis is somewhat in vogue at the moment but might have unintended consequences. Somebody hears about the symptoms, sees themselves having them too, and goes for a screening, perhaps hoping for a solution to some concerns in their life.

Some of those people will actually be helped by treatment, while some of them may be looking in the wrong place for whatever reason.