Asperger traits that make it hard to access services

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I wrote my original post yesterday whilst stressing about having to visit my GP. I had no real choice but to see him yesterday as I needed a medical certificate for work, and I knew I really had to talk about Asperger's with him - I have actually seen him before and had an appointment with a psychologist at the clinic for "anxiety". I had actually missed the 2nd psychologist appointment (because I slept in by mistake) and was also a bit stressed about the possible reaction to that.

I think I was half anticipating that I would not be believed because I hold down a good job and live independently - I was worried I would have to justify my self-diagnosis. In the end, I just blurted out that I thought I had Asperger's - and as I did I realized that all of those learned behaviors about how to act just DISAPPEAR when I am stressed!! ! I could not look at the doctor, my voice became really jerky and almost stuttering, I just felt incredibly awkward and unable to communicate. I felt like a classic autism case, and suddenly realized that all of my learned behaviors have been masking the extent of my problems to ME as well as to everyone else. Maybe a lot of my fears about being believed are because I was not sure I believed myself?

Anyway, the doctor was really great and I have a referral to a generic psychologist to be referred by the Austism Association. What I also found interesting, was that although I had felt that I had been completely unable to communicate what my problems where to the psychologist when I saw her, she had actually written in her notes that her plan was assessment for possible Aspergers!!

Now I just have to get over my phone phobia enough to make a the phone calls & appointments I need...

Isnt the fact that a person can clearly articulate something makes it less convincing that they are on the spectrum. I do know that with a lot of work, aspies can learn to clearly communicate. But for the most part, one of the most prominent things that psychs should be looking for in an aspergers diagnosis is the way the person presents themself during the app. Not what they say or how convincing they can be. Cause a convincing NT who might have something else can make it seem like they got aspergers by clearly articulating themselves and their situation. But the fact that they can communicate so well should make one a bit wary.

For me, I was diagnosised at 18. I didnt think I had social deficits, and I denied having them but I still got diagnosed because the psych could see for her own eyes that I didnt make eye contact, was socially awkward, didnt understand humor, didnt show body language, etc. Now, I can clearly articulate myself, but thats after 4 years of working my butt off to this point.

To be honest is always preferable, and I think going to an evaluation is no exception. My mother will be interviewed too, my parents had to fill in a lengthy form of 45 pages in advance inquiring about my childhood behaviours, and I'm sure I'll have to take tests during the assessment, which is presumably the most objective part of it. The psych will bear in his mind I'm 38 and I possibly developed a bit of coping skills by now.

When I went in for my diagnosis, I had written down just about everything I could think of from my history and symptoms that would support a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. I didn't actually show it to anyone, but when describing my symptoms and history, I basically recited from it, or stuck to a script. As far as I remember, for the time I was there, I did not have to depart from my script. What she wrote down was that I was articulate, well-spoken, and had educated myself fairly deeply on the topics of Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD.

Today, I saw my attorney, and I hadn't really prepared for the visit. I was barely able to get three words out before I had to stop and remember the word I wanted to use, and often I found it extremely difficult to describe things I specifically wanted to describe, but couldn't put them into words. I was not completely articulate and the attorney kept interrupting me, apparently guessing at what I was trying to say and answering it.

I have days and topics where I can speak at length with little difficulty. I have days and other topics where I honestly wonder if I sound like Rainman*. My therapist says I range from extremely eloquent to barely verbal when talking to her, and that feels about right.

So, I wouldn't say being able to clearly describe one's difficulties would rule out being on the spectrum. That's only one slice of time and one's behavior may not represent the entirety of problems that one may face.

* I actually used to wonder this long before I ever thought I might be autistic. I don't think I did, but I do wonder what I sound like to others when I am barely able to speak.

Last edited by Verdandi on 18 Aug 2011, 4:06 am, edited 2 times in total.

I'm trying to do the same. I managed to ring up (after about a month of stalling) and go to the doctors. I rarely go to the doctors and when I do it's for something that has to be seen or talked about. Although I'm usually brushed off and told to either go out more or go to the gym, both of which I've tried and it's just made things worse.

I was extremely lucky as the doctor I spoke to seemed to have had experience with people, if not with AS, with sensory processing disorder and dysfunctional disorder (she said it sounded like I have these two things, but I already read that people with AS are commonly misdiagnosed with these, but my personality and childhood correspond with AS so much that it's undeniable).

Unfortunately, she wasn't able help me as I'm moving soon, and she said I'd have to be living in the area where I was referred, as it might take months to go through and I'd be moved by then. She said to come back if I didn't end up moving, and she'd refer me to a specialist.
While I was saddened that it couldn't go any further than that (for now) but also relived that someone actually took me seriously. My usual doctor, who I made sure I DIDN'T see, usually just brushes me off, and treats me like a small child. I think it's because he's seen me grow up and still thinks of me as a child and can't acknowledge that I'm an adult with adult problems.

Now I just have to prepare myself for the next doctor after I move... I have no idea if they'll be as understanding :/

yeah that is true that being able to clearly articulate yourself does not rule you out from the spectrum cause aspies can learn, even tho it might take a lot longer to learn. Its possible to be trained and/or to work extremely hard to gain the skill.

Im saying in reply to this thread. How the OP's inability to communicate is the reason why they cant be convincing to get the doc to diagnosis them. Well if your saying your aspergers and your showing lack of communication skills then that proof that you may have aspergers. Whereas the actions of someone who came in and clearly convinced the doc they had aspergers. Well your being convincing and being convincing requires a lot of communication abilities many aspies dont have cause they got aspergers.

I do relate to the vast range of communication abilities which you have. I can range from appearly very NT to just down right scatterbrained or aloof aspie. In depends on the type of communication, how many people are there, and how comfortable I am with the people there. But my spurts of skilled NT communication is inconsistent.

Yeah, just get me with people I am comfortable with, on a topic I both enjoy and am familiar with, preferably something I've spent a lot of time studying or working my thoughts out on in advance, and I can sound pretty fluent. Until someone changes the script or the topic - at that point I lose it pretty completely. My therapist comments on this when it happens. She thinks it's brain fog, but it's more like I've lost all my conceptual "landmarks" and can't find my way - verbally - to where I need to be.

I can usually hold reasonable conversations with my mother, although I keep going back to my interests when I do, so I'm not sure how much that counts.

Much of the time, I either don't talk or what I say is not very organized or communicative. Unless it's only a few sentences.

Oh, and thank you for clarifying what you meant. That makes more sense than what I thought I read the first time.

Difficulty communicating except if its a special interest. Learning about AS, the spectrum, and putting together a convincing argument is actually something that aspies do, that shows aspie traits, not that hides them. It just shows different traits.

They will still see how the person functions, they will just see them with a special interest - that doesn't overwhelm things like eye contact, and doesn't change the parts of the assessment that aren't just talking about why someone thinks they have aspergers.

While I was trying to access disability services, this thread came to mind. Right now, Im trying to access disability job services. Luckily I learned how to articulate myself within the last 1-2 yrs(after a lot of trial/error during college) because a lot of getting services really needs the ability to express yourself and your needs. While my previous posts was referring to getting a diagnosis. I can see how tough it is for many aspies to get the needed services that extend getting a diagnosis. The thing is you really cant get the accommodations unless your formally diagnosed. So I see what the OP was complaining about.

My daughter was the classic 'girl with Asperger's that goes undiagnosed'. Her grades were good, she was freindly and enthusiastic and she seemed to get along well - everyone loved her. She was at her best in school and fell apart at home. All her friendly efforts yeilded her no social connections. Let's not talk about the executive function problems that were blatantly ignored. Telling her to clean out her desk never worked.

Just this past weekend we met a new family with a younger daughter with autism - she seems to be somewhere in the middle of high and low functioning but, by her parents accounts, she's steadily getting better. By the sound of it, she will be one of those that continues to make positive forward motion. That mother, when meeting my daughter for the first time, couldn't tell she was on the spectrum at all. If the obvious outward physical manifestations are missing so many people doubt the dx - not that this mother did. She was actually surprised that we had as much intervention as we did. She was even surprised to hear we used an exercise ball as well - my daughter loves the pressure of rolling on her belly and seeks it out to calm herself when she's upset. In some ways, she is more symptomatic than this little girl but not outwardly so.

If most of the issues are processing and social with mild outward signs - like stims, stilted speech and awkward gait - I've found it much harder to be listened to and believed.

Talking on the phone has always been awkward for me and I was too afraid to call anyone until I was somewhere around 12.. The key thing for me is to know that even if it takes me longer than the 'most efficient' way to explain something, I will explain it eventually. It doesn't feel as embarrassing as it used to.. Other people seem to somehow know how to get 'straight to' something whereas I will see a few billion possibilities and it's not really obvious which one is the 'best', and in fact probably no one is the 'best', but how do I know

Ultimately, you just need to call and bumble through it and the person on the other end will figure out what you mean 99% (if not 100%) of the time. But you will need to be willing to feel at least a little silly.. I generally do on the phone, but I don't care anymore