I think it’s more common than we realise especially as many people get diagnosed later in life, even more so as women are hugely underdiagnosed compared to men. I got my AuDHD (Autism + ADHD), diagnosis 18 months ago and I’m in my mid forties.
That’s definitely true. I was 31 years old when I was diagnosed. I guess it’s more common than people think. Maybe I was good at masking the traits but I’m sure a few people must have noticed it.
What would you say are your autism and adhd strengths when it comes to testing?
Some say the attention to detail and pattern matching is what makes us good testers. https://specialisterne.com/ (among other similar companies) makes it possible for many to apply their autistic skills for an IT job.
We are also very different - many have an obsession with details - but I’m not very good at it. I’ve had my diagnosis for 10 years and my autism way before that. What I use most is structure and detecting trends and patterns.
Neurodivergent people have been part of the IT business since the start. In this article, I mention an article from the Wired from 2001. …
@simon_tomes I had a watch of the adhd and me video. It was very interesting watching it and understanding the strengths of adhd when it comes to testing.
I’m so glad you found the video intriguing - I hope it prompted some cool self-exploration for you. And honestly, it’s not just for us (neurodivergent type people). It’s an idea for anyone to consider any of your habits or processes applicable to so many situations. Transferable skills RULE! Don’t reinvent the wheel, look at what you have currently available to you. You’ve lived this life until now, use what you’ve learned along the way
It depends on the person (on their sensory overload), some can’t handle bright light or some noise.
For others it’s having no people around and work in a cubical.
So there is not really a main way of work environment that is “perfect” for all.
Damn right it does, at least for me…
Every since I was young I was intrigued by breaking things down to see how they work. So around the age of 14-15, I started testing for bugs & security issues in websites & video games then… eventually software.
For me, testing is my passion and obsession, probably why I do it or learn about it 12-16 hours a day & whenever I can in weekends
I totally agree! But sometimes you can dwell for hours without realizing all that time has passed.
As @kristof noted, there’s not really a one-size fits-all. Unfortunately, we are left to be our own advocates a lot of the time. So having the skills to look inside yourself and pinpoint your needs, and then communicate them to others, is very important (and exhausting sometimes, I’m sorry to say). What is right for you might be a horror for someone else with different needs.
Happy to chat with you directly, if you’d like some advice on communication strategies specific to your situation