If you get diagnosed, will you receive any social skills

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If you get a diagnosis will you receive any social skills training/coping strategies that you can't get on your own without a diagnosis?

I am trying to figure this out because when I took the Autism Spectrum Quotient test, I scored 36. Right now I'm 27 and went from age 12 to 26 with no friends whatsoever and just a casual friend right now, and have only been on four group dates in my life. Other threads have talked about the benefits of receiving a diagnosis, but I don't think they discussed social skills training/coping skills benefits that you'd receive with a diagnosis. So that's why I'm asking about it, because I'm quite interested in that.

Just for the record, this is what I would try to do on my own: 1. I could try out Simon Baron-Cohen's MindReading Emotions software (would help with the non-verbal, over 200 different emotions organized into 24 groups, with 6 animated facial expressions for each of the emotions and 6 voices so you can hear the tone of voice, plus stories for each emotion); 2. I found out that some Interpersonal Communication textbooks have boxes to the side of the page where you can practice and try out different techniques in the real world; 3. I found this link that summarizes peer-review research on flirting and words it in a practical down to earth way http://www.sirc.org/publik/flirt.html

no, I got a stern warning from my diagnosing psych that I had no idea how damaged I was. He gave me the name of a doctor that was not accepting new patients. That was it. I hope it is better for you.

Yes, the magical social faerie comes along and hits you with her social stick.

In other words, there's nothing that can be done that you can't figure out on your own. All of the social training for kids is just animal training, i.e., do this for this reward, or don't do that or you'll get punished. When the training stops, the animal returns to how they innately are in time.

I found an adult social skills class in my area. I also attended a social group for three years prior to this, and I continue.

Contact your local autism society to see what services they offer for adults.

That would be interesting to attend! Is that adult social skills class for ASD participants only, or is it for anyone who wants to become more socially adapted?

What types of things do they teach you in that class?

And if you get diagnosed NT will you receive the gift of logic thinking ?

Well I went through ASD therapy and it helped immensely already. Of course the ASD therapy could 'only' provide me with advise and information about the normal world and normal people that because I am autistic I didn't know and can't learn all on my own. I have to do all the work of changing, coping and stuff myself.

I'm kind of "yes and no" on this. Ultimately, you have to do it yourself. But then, you can't learn social skills from book larnin', or the internet. You need real live people to practice on. Which is especially hard if you get into a situation of having no friends.

I agree with what you say about the overall inadequacy of Pavlovian conditioning. I don't believe there to be any 'proven' therapy for this, although there are plenty of 'speculative' ones.

Something in small groups, with skilled supervision, perhaps video cameras to analyse after event, could prove helpful.



My favourite one-liner of the year!! !

In social skills class, we've been through the steps of "having a productive conversation," and we've discussed our communication difficulties to receive tips from our instructor. We had a session on "being positive even when we feel despair" about our ability to communicate. We practiced making positive statements.

We also do have a support group once a month and we have an outing every other month. It's very helpful.

i've had a bit of training in social skills - generic stuff - not specific to ASD people but taught in a rehab. The fundamentals were good for me.

However, I remain blunt and inappropriate OR shy and terrified.
Yesterday I ventured out into the bush of southern queensland to an artist friend's property. I organised this "social occasion," in order to introduce two artists i know, to each other.

After about an hour of being there, I wanted to go because it gets too much. (yeah, just 3 people...those 2 and me.) But I sat in silence, interjected here and there with lame jokes and then faded off.


I made some attempts and was ok for a while.
I interjected with inappropriate and irrelevant comments, until finally, these two people just got on with the afternoon together conversing. One got annoyed at me. I asked a very inappropriate comment about someone and i got the stern treatment.

As usual, i retreat into an art book and they have a wonderful day discussing mutual friends they know and their shared social experiences and it is all fine and dandy for them.

I am up at 3am thsi morning worrying about my ineptness.
seriously, why do i even bother?