Resources for undiagnosed women

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I know we have quite a few women on this site who are undiagnosed for various reasons.

I was wondering if any of you would find it helpful if I compiled the various official tests and questionaires that they use to diagnose here, specificially the one particularly for women since I understand that it is not widely available (it was designed for teenage girls, however they give it to women over 18 also). I would also attempt to include a comprehensive list of books specificially for women that come recommended from specialists in the field.

Would anyone here like me to do this or would any of you find it useful in any way?

(I'm asking first because it requires extensive amounts of chasing up people and things, and quite a bit of time)

Last edited by Kjas on 18 Sep 2012, 8:02 am, edited 3 times in total.

If you know of any good books for woman with aspergers or woman with aspergers in a relationship with an NT man I would be interested.

To make a really long story short, I was diagnosed less then a year ago. I am only now learning how much aspergers/autism really does make how I think and view things different from the average person. I don't see it as a bad thing, but the more I understand about what's going on, the better I am able to adjust to society.

I did not know that there was a test for women? I have the diagnoses, so I dont need it I gues, but I would really like to see and take that test. The Danish system seems to be pretty clueless about asperger in females, they are curently disgussing what to do with me. I feel like donkey in shreek just jumping up and dowm shouting pick me! PICK ME! but its like my opinion does not matter. I am like a child that has to be quet while the adults are talking. sorry about the bitching..I am having a bad day.

I'd be interested in seeing the test for women as well. I don't need it either, as I too am diagnosed, but I'm curious.

Hi! I'm new here and have been lurking to learn about AS since I heard that AS can manifest differently in women. I've had problems with social anxiety and sensitivity issues all my life, but never related them with AS. I seem to have taken the DSM-IV too seriously. I thought I couldn't possibly have AS because I have empathy and do understand non-verbal communication. What I can't deal with is the lying, the deceit and the backstabbing many people so often do. While I was reading through the forums, I got the strong impression that I'm not the only one having a hard time with this.

A few hours ago I ordered Aspergirls and I'm greatly looking forward to reading it. I would be most interested in tests specifically for women too. It's all very new to me at the moment and would really like to learn more.

Sounds like me. Not AS, but problems with social anxiety, which I've mostly overcome. Very sensitive, and highly emotional. Moderately gifted. Very high empathy and good communication skills. I too can't stand lying, deceit, backstabbing - I can't do them well myself, and I'm really only just learning about how others do it after getting badly hurt a few times. I have trusted too openly in the past and keep to a small circle. At age 29 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after three or four years of symptoms.

I still wonder whether I might have AS or something like that, but my high empathy seems to rule me out of the diagnosis.

High empathy does not rule you out of a diagnosis.
Many women are misdiagnosed as BDP, are Aspie. The two can also occur together.

I should stress that although this would not give you an official diagnosis, it would simply give you access to the tools that they use to officially diagnose you for your own purposes.

But since it seems there is a fair amount of interest, I will start chasing up the stuff.
It will take me a few weeks (3 and a half probably) - but I shall report back.

If anyone else is interested please let me know using this thread.
If there is only a small amount - perhaps 12 or less, then I will simply PM the information to everyone rather than starting a thread on it.

Interesting. I had a psychiatric evaluation in 1997 because of persistent social anxiety. The therapies I tried only made it worse. Much to my amazement (and that of my regular psycholigist) the psychiatric hospital dx'd me with BPD.

Interested

I am highly interested!

I found this book (clicky) helpful.

Yes please.

I would be very interested in being able to access this information. I am presently trying to locate a professional in my area who could do an evaluation and diagnosis for me, but there doesn't seem to be anyone! Every place I call, I am told "Well, we don't do that, but I can give you this number..." I have called at least 30 numbers and I get the same response every time. It seems literally impossible to find a psychologist/psychiatrist who will evaluate an adult for ASD.

definitely interested!

An official AS diagnosis is not based on an "All or Nothing" checklist, where one must meet every single requirement before even being considered for a diagnosis. Instead, the appropriately-trained and licensed professional must consider a propensity of evidence while making his or her own professional observations.

This means that while a person might be able to comfortably make eye contact, he or she might lack other social skills, stim, and be obsessive about his or her special interest -- leading to an AS diagnosis.

Jag: Have you tried clincs that specialize in Autism? Usually you can talk them into doing one for an adult even if they usually only do children.

I'm aware of that.

Obviously this is just the tools, but they are rather accurate. They cannot account for childhood history or the professional obversavation and interaction that one would be subject to during the diagnosistic process by a professional, which also contributes to the diagnosis.