Wrong diagnosis for Aspergers

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Hello,

I was recently diagnosed at the age of 44,with having AS at a clinic in Cambridgeshire,England.

Since the diagnosis I feel that it was rushed and could well be wrong. Am I reacting negatively or should I have a second diagnosis?

Many thanks.

Yeah, you know better then the doctors......

Anyway, why is it so important to you?

That sounds patronising.

It's important to me and why shouldn't it be important to me?????

because you can't change it

My question was about getting a second diagnosis, if it was wrong then I do not have AS. I feel that the psychiatrist was too young and not experienced enough to diagnose me. correctly

It lasted two hours, I had two questionnaires to fill out months before, my mum had to too, and she was interviewed on the telephone.

I feel this was a rushed diagnosis...... and am looking for constructive answers.

I would look for a second opinion, especially if you feel it was rushed. There is nothing wrong with that if you feel it is necessary.

Yeah sounds like trolling to me.
Get a second opinion if you feel you need to.
I found that I questioned the diagnosis alot - there were times when i was sure and times when i was convinced otherwise.
In the end (and it was a long process for me) i was satisfied with the diagnosis and it helped me to feel good about my unique self.
I am pretty mild so not sure if i will still fit the category when DSM 5 comes out or even if another practitioner will agree.
I now have a way of understanding myself and having a diagnosis is a good thing for me - noone needs to know except the closest people in my life and really then it has backfired at times. So i just keep it to myself but i am really glad i went through with it.
No-one can tell you what is right for you.
I guess you could ask yourself what are you trying to get out of a diagnosis or lack there of.
Its a process of self discovery whichever way it turns out.
good luck

Thanks,
would you say two hours plus questionnaires etc was enough?

No, but you can manage it. Knowledge is power

I thought Nrau was trolling too.

Since the diagnosis, it does seem to fit but I felt it was a diagnosis based on quotas, so that the clinic continues to get funds.

Maybe I should accept it and work on my weaknesses ( there are so many!)

That's great advice, thanks.

Personally I would explore it on my own a bit. If you feel it fits then let it stand, if you decide you think they where wrong then go get a second opinion. If you have people you can talk to about it see what they think. I know not everyone has that option but an outside opinion can help you see from another perspective.

Its hard to give a definative answer - I have questioned my diagnosis and keep going back to all the information i provided for the assessment - I wrote out 8 pages of examples for each diagnostic criteria and or symptom of autism simply because trying to discuss my issues with the psyc was so difficult i knew i would have no hope of getting anything across - i pretty much sat there giving brief answers and looking really awkward.
Sometimes I now forget that i have ASD My state fluctuates alot - when all things are going well I have noticed massive improvements througout my life in regard to my functioning particularly social functioning and lots has improved since the diagnosis. However I will have my moments when particularly stressed when everything falls apart, or i get it completely wrong in a social setting or end up totally overstimulated and realise that I need to take time out. This is when it really hits home that I do in fact have considerable challenges. So i find it hard to be objective when i keep changing in response to my environment.

Not all psychiatrists or psychologists are trained to conduct the proper assessment.
Not all have experience working with people on the spectrum - so you should check out how much training they have or if they specialise in that area.
There are clinics that solely specialise in ASD here in Aust.
Of course they are bound by a code of ethics that states that they must pass on any clients they do not have experience to handle - but then everyone needs to start somewhere, and not everyone follows a code of ethics the same way i would.
They should be using gold standard tools such as the ADOS and ADIR espceially the former for adults.
Interview with mum sounds good - always better in person of course.
2 hours sounds ok.

Just beware that a second opinion may make you even more confused if its not in agreement with the first psychiarist.
Then you just have to go back to why do you want the assessment - how will it help you to move forward with your life.

Sounds pretty thorough to me.
I was diagnosed in about an hour. I'm kind of obvious though.

Maybe look into it on your own. There are plenty of books and helpful websites. You can always compare you experience to the symptoms listed.

You shouldn't judge someone's ability on their age, unless they're 12.

What did you see them about anyway?

[quote="Sharkgirl"]Its hard to give a definative answer - I have questioned my diagnosis and keep going back to all the information i provided for the assessment - I wrote out 8 pages of examples for each diagnostic criteria and or symptom of autism simply because trying to discuss my issues with the psyc was so difficult i knew i would have no hope of getting anything across - i pretty much sat there giving brief answers and looking really awkward.
Sometimes I now forget that i have ASD My state fluctuates alot - when all things are going well I have noticed massive improvements througout my life in regard to my functioning particularly social functioning and lots has improved since the diagnosis. However I will have my moments when particularly stressed when everything falls apart, or i get it completely wrong in a social setting or end up totally overstimulated and realise that I need to take time out. This is when it really hits home that I do in fact have considerable challenges. So i find it hard to be objective when i keep changing in response to my environment.

Thanks for that.
I was diagnosed at the CLASS clinic in Cambridge, and apparently I hadn't changed my posture during the whole two hours of assessment.

But all my life I have been on the outside looking in, and small talk is impossible, I enjoy nerdy subjects and it goes on and on. maybe a second opinion would be timewasting and confusing after all.

It's tough to accept what I apprently have.

I am glad it sounded thorough, I wasn't too sure about it really.
Since the diagnosis I have researched AS alot, and see alot of AS signs in myself, but wish I wasn't an Aspie really.

The expert was about 28 years of age and sometimes had difficulties understanding me (she was Indian). The clinic is run by Professor Simon Baron Cohen, so it's very good, even though I have misgivings.

Thanks for that. I guess I should accept it and deal with it.