Question for the self-diagnosed.

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I grew up before Aspegers became well known. I self diagnosed last year after my son was diagnosed. For more than a decade (before I knew about Aspegers) I worked to improve my social and communication skills. I am now good enough at it that now my job mostly consists of communications in my technical line of work. It doesn't seem like it would add any value to my life to get a formal diagnosis. I have a job I like, take good care of my kids, and am reasonably content with my life.

It is nice to have an explanation for certain things. My sensory issues always puzzled me, and I have also self diagnosed with Auditory processing disorder. The self-diagnoses resolved some outstanding questions and I continue to develop my understanding of how I have been impacted. There is no need to me to apply for any services and I am comfortable with learning with the resources I have found. Therefore I don't think there would be any real advantage to get a formal diagnosis.

I only last month figured out that I might have AS. But the one therapist I've been to since then, it turns out, doesn't do the sort of evaluation I need. In fact, I've researched locally and found there aren't many professionals in this area at all who do the testing on adults. I can't afford to travel far for this. In fact right now I don't even have a car that's running, and the public transportation in my area isn't very good. I do have health insurance, but there would also be some out of pocket costs, and I'm living on a pension so funds are limited.

Aside from that, I'm not convinced it will benefit me to get diagnosed. I've lived 53 years with my oddities, and just knowing that it may be AS that has caused me to be different is a big relief and help. That alone has been a revelation and a lifting of some heavy burdens, of guilt and outcast, alien type feelings. I'm not sure what more anyone could do? I mean, is having a diagnosis going to help me pursue my dreams? I doubt it.

If I had a younger relative that I thought had it, though, I'd definitely try to get them or their parents to look into it, because it's possible things would've been easier for me in school and entering the workforce if I'd had some assistance, or just known what was going on.

I don't understand exactly what protocols I need to follow to schedule an appointment to see someone for an appointment.

First, I am very confused about what to do, and second, I also believe I have social phobia, so while I don't know whom I need to ask, I am scared to call someone to ask whom to ask.

I got my own insurance for the first time at the beginning of 2009. I have a PPO plan, and don't believe that I need to talk to a primary care physician to get a referral. I do not have a primary care physician and haven't been to a medical doctor in many years, but if I have to talk to one I don't know whether I would be required to have a checkup with one before I could see a psychologist. Even if I did, I am not sure why a primary care physician might know about psychology or neurology to give an appropriate referral.

Do I call a doctor's office directly? Do I need to call my insurer to ask? Would an evaluation be covered? Would an evaluation entail a single session or short series of sessions, or multiple sessions(like counseling), so that the psychologist would understand me better? Would parental involvement always be required?

I am not sure whether a psychologist is who I need to see first. I think it is, but I am not sure if I should look for a neuropsychologist. I looked for a neuropsychologist first, but the ones I found all work at children's facilities, and I am not a child.

I have read through my insurance benefits booklet and searched using my insurance provider's website. I found a psychologist who works at a local university, and who has worked with autistic children, but I don't know whether he has worked with adults or whether he would be an appropriate person to contact or whether he meets individuals or just works in education.

I also don't want to ask specifically for an autism spectrum disorder evaluation, because I don't want the possibility that I may have incorrectly self-diagnosed to influence any professional diagnosis. I would rather find out that my self-diagnoses were incorrect than influence a doctor to incorrectly confirm them. That is why I would prefer to find someone who is familiar with ASD but not to ask leading questions that might influence them.

I put in my vote for dollar and time cost as the greatest barrier to my seeking a diagnosis. It's a little more complicated than that, though. I can't imagine being accommodated at work. My field is Early Childhood Education. They're not going to look kindly upon an AS dx in that field. Social/ Emotional Development is a major priority at the preschool level. Teachers are expected to teach and model appropriate social skills. I have managed to learn enough social skills that I'm capable of doing that. Additionally, I am always looking to improve, and willing to make changes in my behavior in the classroom when specific issues are pointed out to me. I have, in fact, done this. I slip up on occasion, but all teachers do. I'm not a perfect teacher, and I have a lot to learn, but I am quite capable of effectively bonding with and teaching preschoolers. However, if I were to come to my boss with a dx of AS, my every mistake and slip-up would be viewed in a whole new light, one that would be extremely unflattering to me. The general consensus is that individuals on the autism spectrum are not suited to teach preschool.
In other words, I could not receive accommodations at work, because that would render disclosure necessary. If I were to disclose my condition at work, it would most likely only be a matter of time before the powers that be found some excuse or other to let me go. Thus, I could not tell anyone at work, no matter what.
Thus, I don't see what I could possibly gain from a diagnosis. I have done extensive reading and soul searching on the subject of AS, enough to be convinced that I do, in fact have the aforementioned condition. I have am MSED in Special Education, and I am capable of seeking out resources and information on my own to help me cope and function more effectively. I have already made a little headway in improving my social skills since I first figured out that I almost definitely have AS, two years ago. I still have quite a long way to go in that area, and in other areas as well, but then, changes take time, with or without professional help.
The only benefit I can imagine deriving from a formal diagnosis is that it would allow me to say, "I told you so," to my Mom, who is on the fence regarding whether or not I have AS. Otherwise, I don't see the point in spending all that time and money to confirm what I already know. Of course, every case is different, and every situation is different. I'm sure there are plenty of people with undiagnosed AS who would be far better off with a diagnosis. I wish all of them the best of luck. In my case, however, I don't feel that seeking a diagnosis is worth it.

1) money
2) no obviously qualified professionals in the area that I've found so far
3) relatives are hostile to being interviewed by a shrink
4) already on SSDI due to physical disability, so no need for a dx for support

At my age (yes, I'm fairly young, but it's all relative) I don't see how I would benefit. I've been through hell coming to terms with who I am, and have nothing left to prove. That's my personal feeling. Sometimes I feel like I need to be "qualified" in order to post here, but other than that..... what do I care?

edit

Difficulties in finfing diagnosis:

There is NO Facility in Victoria Australia that offers adult diagnosis.

Long waiting list for Tony Attwood in QLD....currently 4 years


Expense of Diagnosis ++++++expense of flying interstate and accomodation on top of the appointment.



I have arranged a Diagnosis in Sydney for mid January with a psychology clinic specializing in ASds .
Cost for 1 1/2 hr session= $400.00 AUD
+Official written report $180.00

Return airfares for self and spouse ( they want to see spouse also, I guess for verification of certain points) estimated as from $400- $800 return fare for two adults. Plus accomodation
add another $250+ , plus transport to and from clinic taxi ( as unfamiliar with Sydney)

All in all could be going on $2000.00 expenses.

As usual there is dispute from psychiatrists and other MDs if a psychologist is "qualified " in their opinion to diagnose......

Why do I want an official diagnosis at 62 years of age?


I want VALIDATION!
I want others to get off my case when I tell them I'm not up to "doing, going such and such" I'm sick of being coerced into doing things and going places that make me feel stressed out, uncomfortable and down right miserable.

I feel that if I get a formal Diagnosis then other people will just have to accept that I am who I am and quit trying to change me, or make me conform to their idea of how I should live my life.
At present there is a HUGE refusal from others to ACCEPT what I say about myself, even relatives who are Medicos, even one who has an autistic son.

My biggest problem is that the whole business of getting a referral and seeing an ASD specialist

1. Requires a lot of communication, which is difficult (and it's not shyness that I could "just get over"; it's things like stalling completely if the conversation takes the slighest unexpected turn, not being able to initiate conversational exchanges, and so forth.).

2. Requires a degree of planning, which I could do if I had nothing else to do, but with everything else that I do, would completely overwhelm me, to the point of breakdown.

3. Requires breaking my routine, which is very stressful.

Money is the second biggest problem, but compared to the above, it's hardly an issue at all.

I went to a psychologist first n they figured diagnosis was pointless because AS is untreatable and I already had an unrelated mental health diagnosis - I then went on the waiting list of my state autism association in April. Still waiting. They only do about one adult assessment a week. I'm told I will get a letter in February and will have an assessment after I fill in the paper work then. I was only going to come on here (WP) after I was officially DXed but got sick of waiting around. I first knew about AS as a teenager and wasn't DXed then because my parents wouldn't allow it. Now I am independent, they do not need to know and don't have a say. -MaS

To get some refund back it is necessary to have a referral. If you don't want to get a referral
you can contact ETOH in Sydney on www.otherhalf.com.au
You will still have to break your routine and you'll have the cost of travel etc from Brisbane to Sydney like I will from Victoria.

I found ETOH on the AWA ( Australia) website......for Australian Women with Asperger's.On the side of the page a DR Julie Peterson is mentioned with the appropriate link.

Good Luck! At least this way overcomes the hassle of trying to communicate to a GP for a referral. We are always starting from a position of what I call minus......just to get to base one.

Any clinical psychologist or psychiatrist worth his or her salt will know how ASDs manifest in children and adults (contrary to what many say, I find it easier to see in adults).

All of the basic psychologists and the one psychiatrist I've seen have known about as much as the people at Attwood's. Perhaps it's Brisbane or something, where ASDs are a popular subject.

I'm a scientist, prone to study of my mental states, I have no doubt any longer, my loved ones, particularly my mother, confirming my hypothesis, and knowing it answers more questions than it raises let's me apply Occam with ease.

I'm an Aspie, or I'm a large strange looking housecat, everything else has been falsified.


Money is an issue as well though, but I don't think most of the people who self diagnose do it properly, or with the right motivations.

You shouldn't be trying to use it as an excuse, or trying to blame AS for issues you've had. You don't get to be an Aspie when you feel like it, and stop when you don't. This is normal for me, this is the life I woke up into.


Say it with me, mildly autistic.

Keep that in mind before jumping to the "awkward poetic genius" stereotype. Some of that stuff is our peculiar focus, some of that is the same innate ability anyone has, and some of that is how we attempt to express ourselves in an attempt to be understood.