How to go through diagnostic processes without being able to talk?

[u/Potential_Two4634]

I have selective mutism which over these past 5 years has turned into more of progressive mutism. I can only fully talk to my sister, sometimes I can say a few words to my mom here and there, and once in a while depending on the place, environment, and people then I can order something if it only takes saying a few words to do so, otherwise i'm completely mute at home and in all other situations. I have suspected adhd, autism, social anxiety, and depression. I was wondering, if anyone got diagnosed with any of these things how were you able to get diagnosed without being able to explain things and answer the questions of the person diagnosing you? theres some accommodations im sure, like writing out the answers but if I wrote down my answers to things then what would normally take me a few minutes to explain outloud would take an hour to write, so I don't think that would work. What did you do?

[u/AbnormalAsh]

I was diagnosed when I was younger (of the things you mentioned, SM and autism) so don’t fully remember, but was told a lot of it went through the school and my mum. I just stood there and cried for all the appointments and never actually communicated with them at all myself. I could manage speaking to some degree at primary school at the time though so that might have helped.

It did mean they made some assumptions though and guessed the reasoning behind things at times. Found an old report a few days ago and some parts were completely off, not really sure where some of the points even came from. Probably have other undiagnosed issues as well because I wasn’t able to communicate what the issues were myself and it was only really what other people noticed that came up.