Going in for a diagnosis next month-what do I do to prepare?

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The thing is, he didn't ask me anything like that. He didn't ask me what kinds of issues I have or anything. Anything I said that might be useful was just brought up by accident. He barely asked me anything. I doubt we spent more than 15-30 minutes talking aside from him doing those verbal tests and that sort of thing.



I wasn't allowed to do it, I just did it, because I didn't understand what the questions meant. It was insane, I tell the person who gave me the tests that didn't understand those questions, and hours later he comes in, and just keeps saying these things like "go with your gut instinct". I tell him I HAVE no gut instinct if I don't understand the question, or can't relate it to my life, etc. They seemed totally oblivious to that. It was bizarre, which has been my experience every time I've dealt with this type of people. They're making me feel bad, for something that's not my fault. If I don't understand what something means, then I don't understand it



Yeah, I've had dreams and things have have come true, and some other things like that. I wouldn't believe in psychic stuff (and largely think it's all phoney), except that I've experienced it myself. I shouldn't have mentioned it though because they'll think who knows what because of that.



I think that was pretty much it. I don't know, maybe this really is how they do testing, but it made no sense to me. I don't see how you could possibly diagnose someone one way or the other without even asking questions about social stuff, or my life, or anything!

This guy supposedly has a couple of adult clients with AS (or at least one guy who's 50), but who knows how he was diagnosed, and as we know from this forum, the exact manifestation of it really varies-not everyone has all the symptoms, aside from the social stuff.

I've been pretty upset by all this. I feel like I did something wrong with it, only logically speaking *I* didn't. I don't have to know how to do it correctly. I *HATE* having to wait 3 or 4 weeks to find out results that are probably going to be completely bogus. I suspect either he's going to say I have something that's completely bogus (depression, schizo-typal, who knows what), or else he's going to act like I'm fine.

Well I'm *NOT* fine. I've been having social problems since the first time I ever encountered another child. I had social problems all through grade school. I haven't had a friend since Junior High I freak out from change. I have 90 bajillion symptoms that others on this forum have, aside from being "normally" coordinated and not having a flat voice or no facial expressions.

I needed help 20 years ago, and I still need help, and I don't know what my next move can be if this guy just comes up with something nonsensical.

I remember once getting asked in a test "do you ever wonder how those mountains got there?"

"No", I replied,

"Ok" from Doctor

"I know how they got there." from me.

A big tick in a box for that one.

How did they interpret THAT? Probably something weird, as they do. I mean what kind of question IS that? What could it possibly tell you? I bet they're not expecting that "I know how they got there" is a valid, and should be the most NORMAL response!

Oh well, I'm babbling.

Wolfpup - it sounds like your experience was very similar to mine. Lots of and lots of questions that related to other disorders and not AS. I suppose, like some others here have suggested, that they may be trying to rule out other things before focusing on AS. I tend to be more on the negative side and say that they may not be as knowledgable about AS. Like you, I have the worst time trying to articulate what my feelings/problems are that relate to AS. If your doctor isn't knowledgable either, it's going to be hard for them to pose the right questions to get what they need out of you.

Danielismyname - You keep refering to your own diagnosis sessions as the end all be all of how this disorder is diagnosed. You were lucky enough to go to a center that is basically the BEST place you could go and see someone. I mean, who doesn't bring up Attwood's name when discussing AS? Most of us aren't fortunate enough to have a doctor who is a leading researcher in the field. Most of us are stuck with a general psychologist who only has a base knowledge of AS (and mostly childhood AS at that) so it's going to be harder for many of us to obtain a good diagnosis. I appreciate that your diagnosis was very cut and dry, but most of us here aren't that lucky.

Wolfpup - Have you received any other news? I hope it all works out for the best but if you don't get what you want with your doctor down there, there are some supposedly good doctors in Chicago. A trip for you for sure, but it might be worth it to make sure you talk to someone who is an "expert" as much as anyone can be.

Wolfpup, you've not said what happened with your mother - perhaps they were more focused on the AS-ish issues with her, than when they spoke with you?

sonny1471, nope, haven't heard anything else yet. I guess if this goes nowhere in a month I will have to look into doctors elsewhere

arem, I double checked with my mom, and she said he didn't ask anything that seemed related to Asperger's. She said he seemed obsessed with that I live at home, and obsessed with that my brother was diagnosed with Schizotypl personality disorder.

Except then she told me that actually the lead of the people diagnosing him FIRST was sure my brother had autism! They changed it because he couldn't/wouldn't do the tests for them.

I had NO idea about that. I'm thinking good grief, maybe my brother was on the ASD? That REALLY makes me think I'm on the right track here (besides that I've never found anything else that fits me).

I was REALLY stupid to say about the psychic stuff I've experienced, because I looked up schizotypal, and "magical thinking" or belief in powers like that is supposed to be a symptom. WOOOONDERFUL! I just blurt stuff out because I'm trying to fumble with what I'm supposed to say, and that was semi-related to what he asked

The ONLY part of schizotypal I match is the "no close friends". And I sure WANT some (well, in moderation ). Well, that and I suppose I have "odd behaviors".

Most of the time I was in there with him I was playing with my Palm, flipping it around and pulling out the stylus and stuff. I kind of do it subconsciously when I'm freaked out to have something to focus on. He'll probably take that and the psychic stuff as schizotypal.

Of course I am going to, what other experience do I have? I was diagnosed with AS long before I went to Attwood's (I just didn't know it was written down), my current psychiatrist [who I've been seeing for a couple of years] noted the characteristics I exhibit and wrote it down. Lacking eye contact, doing motor mannerisms (twirling my hands), using overly formal speech and lacking the desire to interact socially for whatever reason, these traits aren't hard to pick up in a person.

Those at Attwood's aren't the be all end all of autism either, just FYI and all.

I think though, this was brought up (for me, anyways) maybe because I wanted to discuss the issues. It worked out well as far as I was concerned, because I wanted to vent about some things anyways, as I recognized that they weren't "normal". Once that was out of the way, we just talked about my interests and things that annoy me. Which was nice for me, because it didn't feel like I was being interrogated. Just having a nice talk with someone. I did notice a lot of seemingly irrelevant random questions in between- that could be to catch me off guard and give answers that weren't inhibited. They were overall very positive experiences. Much better that prior experiences with doctors who I had complete brain lock-down around, clammed up, or who wouldn't let me finish what I was trying to say, shoved a prescription for Zoloft at me and were out the door.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!! !! !! !! !!

I just back from the results meeting with this psychologist.



Random things:
Supposedly I can't have Asperger's because I do well on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (computer version 4). I'm going to start another thread asking about that test, just to see if it really does show if someone has AS or not.

Every test came back (except for the one my mom filled out) that I *DON'T* have depression, or severe anxiety, or a thought disorder, but they all come back that I have severe social anxiety...but he thinks I do! He thinks I'm depressed! He thinks I don't enjoy doing anything, can't get enjoyment out of things I do!

I told him I *DO* very much enjoy things in my life. Then he said something about "but you don't go out and do things with people" and I'm like...what things? With who? Where would I meet these people? I'm depressed because doing whatever it is that people do out there bores me? Because I don't know how the hell to interact in a social situation? THAT makes me depressed?

And because I don't agree with this thing that I'm depressed, that means I'm oppositional defiant and am just disagreeing for the sake of it or whatever-what the hell? I BLOODY WELL KNOW if I'm depressed! I KNOW if I can enjoy things! I conceded I might have some depression or whatever, but it's got to be minor, and doesn't really affect me-my OCD isn't a huge issue to me anymore either. Neither is why I spent almost $1000 to try to get help.

-Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)-I did normally on everything except shifting attention and working memory. He claims that this is due to anxiety (or maybe he said stress), and NOT anything biological because I did well on that Wisconsin test. He said I get thoughts or whatever stuck in my head-like an OCD thing, but THAT'S NOT IT and I tried telling him that. I just am slow to change between things (and then I said probably everyone is, and he said to an extent, but I'm worse)-but anyway I said it's not from stuff being stuck in my head and I don't see how it could be stress/anxiety by itself because it's true regardless of whether it's something I REALLY want to be doing or something I dislike-I have the same issues either way.

I'll have to look through other results better, but basically they found I have really pathetic results on the Vineland-II stuff

He also didn't understand the decision making problems. Thought it was I was scared of...I don't remember what, but I have trouble deciding between things that are too equally "good".

He also couldn't accept that I *DID NOT UNDERSTAND* questions on some of these forms. He said they were written at a 4th grade level so...I forget what all he said, but on some of them I could not understand what they meant, and on others I could not relate them to my life to answer correctly because they question does not fit in with my life (ie question about how a friend reacts to something when I have no friend, that sort of thing).

So anyway the diagnostic impressions are:

-Depression Disorder Not Otherwise Specified with atypical features (might be related to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atypical_depression) I do *NOT* meet these "choose two" criteria
-Social Phobia-yeah, quite possibly, I already know that.
-OCD-yeah, duh
-Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified-I seriously doubt I have a personality disorder as I've run through everything I can find and they don't fit-this is a dumping ground for all of them, and I don't think I have any (although I match some from OCJPD)
Then it has to rule out avoidant personality disorder and OCPD

So basically I (or my insurance) just spent $1000 to find out I'm scared of social situations and have OCD (duh) and that I'm depressed and don't enjoy things, even though I do, and even though the tests came back that I'm not.

Then I was stupid enough to answer truthfully (I would have really had to psych myself up ahead of time to lie or I automatically tell the truth) that I had talked about suicide, and he said that's the #1 indicator of depression. I tried to explain that there are other reasons you could feel that's the only possibility-ie I don't want to be homeless and would probably choose suicide over that. That doesn't mean I'm depressed (and I told him I don't WANT to kill myself-he phrased it like I did). I should have been prepared to lie about all that because I know these people can't think rationally whenever suicide is brought up.

What a complete waste. His recommendations are medication-which I want to avoid if at all possible, both because of side effects, and because I've tried stuff in the past and it had no (or the reverse) effect on me. Also consoling-which at this point I have no real interest in-I don't want to talk about how I'm depressed or whatever, because I'm not.

He also mentioned vague things about OCD CBT which I might be interested in, except OCD isn't my primary issue (as far as I know) and he mentioned something vague about I could do a social skills group...but didn't seem to actually know where one would be or how that would work. Those last two are really the only possibly useful things, but I already knew that.

So basically...does that Wisconsin Card Sorting Test actually accurately rule out Asperger's?

I'm going to try to talk or have my mom call this person who got the ball rolling on this who thinks I have AS and see what he thinks about all this.

That psych sounds like an idiot.

When going for a diagnosis, make sure to get someone who specializes in ASDs. Even then, there's no guarantee.

There are no generally agreed-upon tests for Asperger's. Now, some people have their own pet diagnostic tools, but none are in general use. My psychiatrist just diagnosed me with Asperger's based on my verbal history. However, he also said that I don't come across as someone on the spectrum, which is correct, but I have had many years to practice.

I just remembered that he said another indication I'm depressed/have anxiety is that I was going to the bathroom a lot and I was supposedly doing that because I was there. I told him I *ALWAYS* drink a lot of water ALL THE TIME regardless of where I am, and he just ignored me (and I don't think I use the bathroom all that much...)

One thing that this dude should know is that it's very common for adults with AS to be picked up [or misdiagnosed] when a secondary anxiety/mood disorder appears after hitting a wall; sometimes, these comorbid conditions are the only sign that something is "wrong" in an individual with AS who has gone for so long without knowledge of their disorder.

Anxiety/depression are extremely common side effects of AS.

Wolfpup - sorry to hear about your crappy experience. My psych tried to focus on depression too when I told her that I'd taken antidepressants for several years about 10 years ago. I told her that wasn't my issue but she wanted to focus on that because she felt that it could be the cause of my problems. I felt like jumping up and shaking her! One of my biggest problems is trying to explain to someone what my problems are. I clam up instantly and can't get the words out.

I've never heard of the test you described though so I'd be interested to see what it's all about.

This whole PDD-NOS thing kinda bothers me. It's like "we know you don't have AS, but we don't know what you have." It sounds like a cop out to me. Ugh. I wish the doctors would just admit that they don't have enough experience with AS and tell you who to go to who does.

I look at it this way, if you feel the criteria fits you and you feel that you have AS, that's good enough. An official diagnosis doesn't do much in the US anyway, from what I understand.

I'm not sure what is needed for an ASD diagnosis, it's probably different from an ordinary psychiatric evaluation, but I know that for the latter one has to do quite a number of tests to assess one's cognitive functions. I went through the psychiatric evaluation process at least twice - once for affective disorder screening, and later for a friend who was doing her MA in psychology at the time. Initially, she had needed someone she didn't know so as not to be biased, but it happened so that she was unable to find such a person, and ended up having to go through the process with me. Not that I minded.

I was given these as part of the evaluation:

Attention test: I was given a sheet with random letters printed on it, and was told to cross out each letter C I came across (I think). The person doing the evaluation was sitting next to me with a chronometer, and every once in a while she gave me a signal and I had to draw a vertical line next to letter I was reading at the moment. Then this was assessed with regard to how long I had taken to complete the task, and how many mistakes I had made.

Association/mnemonic test: I was given several words, or concepts, such as "evening", "fear", "hunger", "joy" etc. I had to think of an image corresponding to each of these, and then the person doing the evaluation asked me to explain why I had chosen each particular image, and what it meant for me. It was a bit embarrassing because I'm ashamed of my lack of technical drawing skills, especially when it comes to drawing concrete objects (rather than surreal symbols or patterns), so I was somewhat self-conscious about most of my drawings sorely lacking in quality.

Memory test: I was given around ten random words which bore no (obvious) relation to one another, such as "night", "stump", "wind", "fright" etc., and was asked to repeat them. Then, after some time had passed, I was asked to repeat them once again. I remember that when I was doing this with my friend, she commented on the ease with which I could recall the words, and when I told her it was mostly because of the vivid imagery, she made notes on that. She also wrote down some additional notes when I happened to mention the letter/color synasthesia, which also helps me a lot to remember such random strings of words. Apart from that, I was given several long strings of numbers and asked to repeat as many numbers as I could recall, first in their initial order, then backwards.

Association test: I was given pairs of words, like "rose - flower" or "tree - honey", and asked each time whether or not there was any relation between the words. When I was doing this with my friend, I mentioned a few times that, while some of the words are evidently unrelated, a connection can still me made between them - that wild bees live in tree hollows, for instance, so that honey may be found there. She took it down too, so I suppose things like these are also important.

Generalization test: I was handed several cards, each of which had four objects drawn on it, and I had to say the general category to which all of the objects belonged. There were several which I couldn't connect at all, even after thinking for a while, so I said this openly. I don't know if it was that important or not - it probably does have some significance.

I could have had to do other things as well, but I don't really remember anymore. And, of course, both times I had to do the interview, where I was asked about how I am feeling at the moment, what troubles me, whether I have enough awareness of being disturbed or disturbing to others during the episodes, what my childhood was like, whether there are any difficult aspects to my relationship with my parents, etc. It basically covers one's whole life, and it's definitely stressful, especially when it is an unfamiliar person asking the questions. But I agree with those who suggested that you should just try to relax and don't do anything specific to "prepare". I know this is much easier said than done, but additional nervousness and self-consciousness really don't help matters - they'll only make you act awkward and unnatural, and it is likely that the counsellor or psychiatrist who is evaluating you will end up with an inaccurate impression.

I've never been given a written test to take in a psychiatric setting other than an OCD questionnaire at a hospital (one of those OCD ones you find online); I kinda scribbled down in any old checkbox that looked right.

The first dude who brought AS up with me did so after a year of CBT therapy for the aforementioned OCD, probably when he realized OCD wasn't the only thing affecting me--he wrote Asperger's in my folder, then autistic disorder when we spoke of my developmental history. No tests.

When I first went to a specialized ASD clinic, it was kinda weird; I had a note from the aforementioned psychic saying I meet the criteria for autistic disorder, but he always saw me as someone with AS; I went to a..., uh, what's the word, [TEN MINUTES LATER], I don't know what the word is, but it was a basic interview with a diagnostician, to see if I'd benefit from the therapy they offer, or something, and at the end of the session, the session where I just spoke of...stuff I cannot remember, something about how high school really, really sucked, I asked her if I had autism or Asperger's, she said the latter. No tests.

Observation of how the individual acts intermixed with developmental history has been my experience (no written tests).