‘What’s in a Label’ is the second in the BBC Radio 4 series, D For Diagnosis. This episode investigates what diagnostic labels can mean to individuals.
‘In this second programme in the series, Claudia considers the value and the accuracy of diagnoses in mental health. Unlike a broken wrist, diabetes or anaemia, where you can be fairly hopeful that the testing makes the diagnosis watertight, there is not a single x-ray, blood test or biopsy that can give a definitive diagnosis of a mental health problem.’ – D for Diagnosis
What’s in a Label?
In the second episode in the series, I talk about receiving my diagnosis of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). After receiving my diagnosis, I realised that all the things I had previously struggled with (predominantly audio and visual sensory overload) were long-time themes within my art practice. I realised that I had been fighting myself to fit into a ‘normal’ career and adhere to ‘normal’ social conventions. It was at that point I decided to walk away from a career in retail and move into higher education where my ‘deficits’ suddenly felt like strengths.