Can someone help with getting a diagnosis?

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Hi,

I'm 42 years old and within the last year have become aware of Aspergers syndrome. I've ready several books and online resources on the subject and am 99.9% sure that I have this condition.

I have been trying for a while to get diagnosed. However, I have been having a terrible time so far.

First, it took me over a month to even find someone that would agree to see me. I called the advocate for blue cross and they were more interested in my insurance coverage level than helping. After giving them all my information they told me to ask my doctor for a reference.

I went to my doctor and had to go back for referrals twice:

The first referral location he gave me didn't even answer the phone.

The second, after requiring all of my insurance info., told me everyone they have is booked solid and not taking appointments. Not sure why they couldn't just tell me this before they got my info.

Finally, the 3rd place agreed to schedule an appointment. I saw the doctor for 5 minutes and he said that I needed to schedule a psychoneurological evaluation. They gave me a form that said they would be in contact within 30 days of getting pre-authorization from my insurance company. I called my insurance company after 35 days and they said that they never received a request. I called the medical center back and they said they can't get pre-authorizations from insurance companies. They said they were sending me a waiver that I would agree to pay the full amount. I received the waiver and not only did it want me to agree to pay if the insurance company wouldn't but they wanted 50% of the maximum time for the test in cash before they'd even schedule an appointment. Since the test is $155 an hour and usually takes 4-6 hours they estimated it at 10 hours and want 1/2 of the $1550 in cash. In other words, the full amount.

My questions are:

1: Is a psychoneurological evaluation the only way to get diagnosed?
2: I live in the Buffalo area. I've had such a hard time getting any help at all. Are there any recommendations on where/what I can do to get better medical help? I have full medical coverage and am told by Blue Cross this should be covered.


Thanks for your help.
-=T

I was diagnosed at 45 and it was through the EAP at my work and it was with a neuropsychiatrist and even then when I called to make an appointment-she calls back 3 weeks later and says "oh I kind of forgot about you" and we had an appointment and she was able to assess me after an extended interview because of all the evidence and how I was acting-some places can test you and some experts in the field can pick it up and confirm it in different ways. My problem now is to get therapy help which I( have found that takes my insurance-I have waited over 8 months with various random contacting.

Yeah its sad when even healthcare is all about money, I tried applying for disability because I am not the most employable person.....but basically I got denied because I did not have an official diagnoses which I needed the disability or SSI to get(it came with medicaid or something like that which would have probably covered the cost) so yeah the system is pretty flawed.

It would seem the only ways to go about getting a diagnosis, getting approved for disability or anything like that is to go through all the crap they throw at you you know fill out the forms and all that and then maybe still have to repeal decisions and such. I decided not to bother......but I guess it depends on how important it is to you to get the diagnosis.

I would also add that seeing a person without specific experience and expertise in ASD's should be avoided. Unless that is you want to deal with the frustration of a shrink telling you "you can't have AS because you have a girlfriend and have had occasional friends in your life". Chances are at this stage you know more about AS than every psychologist who is not an autism specialist, so don't bother with them. Speaking from experience.

Hi, I am from Depew. Try looking at the back of your medical insurance card. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield on the back of my card it has a phone number for mental health. You call that number and give them your psychologists name address and phone number they will tell you if they can work with him then they will tell you what they are willing to pay for. It cost me 10% of what the testing cost so a I paid $150.00 US for my 7 hour test. hope this helps I got tested at age 40 last August.

I contacted him and left a message he got back to me that day so make sure to call early around 9:00AM I was tested by him:

Michael P. Santa Maria Ph.D
DeGraff Memorial Hospital
445 Tremont Street Suite 323
P.O. Box 750
North Tonawanda, NY 14120-0750
(716) 690-2560

I was refered to this guy by Dr Santa Maria. He has Aspergers himself and knows his stuff.

Drew C. Messer J.D. Ph.D
5888 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 961-9435
dc.messer@live.com
www.electronicgamingthereapy.com

Let me know how it works out. These two guys helped me a lot.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Todesking: I really appreciate the info. That is a huge help.

-=T

I'm going to see a psychiatrist tomorrow about a possible AS diagnosis. Even after you jump through all the bureaucratic hoops, you might find (as I did the last time I saw a psychiatrist) that the doctor dismisses your concerns a) without knowing that much about you, and b) without knowing that much about AS. The last shrink I saw said, "People with Asperger's don't get married." "People with Asperger's don't care." Thank goodness she revealed her ignorance in the first session!

Although the shrink I'm going to see tomorrow supposedly specializes in autism, I'm still prepared for the very real possibility that he will come to some hard and fast conclusions about me based on a few tidy and/or strict definitions about people on the spectrum.

It's not that I'm not open to the possibility of being wrong about having AS. I just hope he can give me some solid, valid reasons or explanations for why he thinks I don't have it. Is that asking too much?