what kinds of tests, when looking for AS?

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My parents are thinking about getting me diagnosed for AS, and my question is:

What do they (the dr's), look for? What kind of tests do they do to confirm if you have AS or not???

Just wondering, thanks, Parrotnut~

They do a whole battery of tests, some on paper - multiple-choice questions to determine whether you have any form of psychological pathology. Some are verbal questions like word problems in math class. Some are puzzle-like tests in which you are asked to regroup blocks into patterns you've just seen. There's the old standby Rorshach inkblot test where you look at splotches of colored ink on paper and tell what it looks like to you There are free-association word tests, in which you hear a spoken word and say the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear it.

There's more, but I can't remember them all. It doesn't hurt and it wasn't scary or embarrassing, other than a little mild stress when I felt like I was supposed to know the 'right' answer and I wasn't sure what that was (I was a bit frustrated at the puzzle-pattern stuff, which I know I could have done better at, if the psychologist hadn't been WATCHING ME, but perhaps that was the point of the test). Mostly it was a very interesting experience for me, I think you'll find it fascinating. Takes a few hours (not necessarily all at once - it may be broken up into a couple of sessions on different days), then you'll probably be asked back later for an interview in which the psychologist will talk to you and your parents about the results of the testing and what he/she/they feel it says about you.

How it's done can vary quite a bit depending on the standards of procedure at different facilities and different doctors, but I think the testing is pretty much the same. From descriptions I've seen here when this question has come up before, everyone who goes through it comes away with a different perspective on what exactly happened, different aspects strike different personalities as more memorable than others.

You are young? I suspect you've asked this so you can beat the test in your favor. DON'T. Truth is better, one way or the other.

There is no medical test. The tests are psychological. You'll be interviewed by some people and they'll have you take some written and illustrated tests. Just like in school.

Be yourself. That's all the effort you need to put into this.

I wouldn't assume that he's trying to beat the test. it can make it a lot more comfortable going into a test situation if you have an idea of what's going to happen. I'm a bit nervous about my upcoming assessment, and it's still 2 months away.

From what I can remember (I was 12), what Willard said sounds pretty spot on.

Yes, I am young and I am a girl BTW, LOL! Thanks for the info!

sorry parrotnut! I'm old and I'm a girl... er, woman I guess.

i was being tested for ADHD when i was diagnosed with AS, it was like the throw-in slap chop when you order your initial slap chop.

i had to answer a long packet among some other tests, and i think that my lack of eye contact, the fact that i live with my father at the age of 30, never had a relationship and chronic stimming involving my hands (among other things im sure lol) led him to feel comfortable affixing the AS label on me as well

that is OK! O, ok, interesting! Any more info? my mom is still researching if I should be diagnosed or not.
I am homeschooled, so I don't have to worry about school, I think my mom just wants to know so she can understand why I do what I do, you know?

I would like to be professionally tested to know for sure, but currently unemployed & uninsured. Everything seems to indicate AS but it bugs me not knowing.
On the other hand, even before learning about AS, I'm learning to finally accept that I just don't quite 'connect' with the mainstream.
I can understand a parent wanting to know, but wonder how important it is for myself.

I would recommend getting the diagnosis, because although you are home schooled now, if you end up going to University problems might crop up later which can often be very easily solved if you have the documentation (such as sitting your exam in a small room by yourself rather than in an overcrowded hall of 600 people jammed together so that the distraction of your sensory overload causes you to fail the exam).

that's a good point, sunshower. I'm hoping to go back for a certification this winter and having some accommodation in otherwise overwhelming situations would be nice.

I live in uk I dont know how they diognose in us.In uk my gp refered me to psychologist and psygst asked about my difficulties and refered me to psychiatrist (it took 6 months )and psychiatrist asked me questioans roughly 2 hours and he said ok you have asperger syndrome and he said ok finished ...that was it.

that is a good point! My mom is still thinking about getting me tested! She is still researching it!