Going in for assessment -anything I should know first?

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I have an appointment on Monday for an all day spectrum assessment at a psychologists office who specializes in asd to determine if I have aspergers. I was referred to a similar facility by a psychiatrist who I went to, but that place has poor communication so I researched on my own and found a different place who I was actually able to get in contact with. The lady said I have until Friday to cancel.

I was just wondering if there is anything specific I should know or ask ahead of time to ensure that the place is reputable, or if anyone has any insight that they wish they had known before going in for testing? My insurance won't cover it but my dad is willing to pay for the testing...I just want to make sure I have done everything I can to make sure this is right thing to do.

Since you're being diagnosed as an adult, be prepared to talk a lot about your childhood. If they wanted actual childhood (school and medical) records, they probably would have told you upfront. they might like to talk to your parents when they are getting your childhood history. As a middle-aged adult, I didn't have to go through with the childhood records or parental interviews when I was diagnosed but a lot of people on here indicate they have been asked for all this stuff. Other than that, just be honest in your answers to the assessments.

Seeing as you're 21 and still in contact with at least one parent, they may ask you to take home the BASC-2 form for one or both of your parents to fill out, it's basically a bunch of questions about your past and present development. They may give you the BASC-2 self-assessment for you to fill out as well. If you have time, I would put together a list of past and present symptoms you want to be sure they note, and either read from that list while they're asking about your childhood, or, if it's really long like mine was (10 pages), you can give it to them to read in the time between now and your next appointment. The tests they performed on me were the WAIS-IV, for IQ, the WIAT-III for mathmatics and reading ability (though they were simultaneously testing me for dyscalculia, so I'm not 100% sure if you'll get this test in relation to autism) and the ADOS-2 module 4, which tests social and communication skills. I took these tests over 3 sessions, but the cumulative time spent came to five hours. I'd be surprised if they wanted to do all that to you in one day, as I was pretty wiped out after taking just the WAIS, then the WIAT on two separate days. I took the ADOS, my last test, today, and my diagnostician says it'll take her about a month to get everything scored, at which time she'll get back to me, so even after you take the test, you may have a bit of a wait before you get your results. Good luck!

Thanks for the input. Turns out I have to make some changes to my insurance so that I can get better coverage so I'm going to have to bump the appt out to the first week of April. At least this gives me more time to prepare.

They did send me an intake form which asks a lot about infant developmental stuff, academic details, and other questions I will need help with from parents as well as questions about my current life. So if I am thorough, I think that form will cover a lot of what you guys are telling me to write down ahead of time.

I guess I am wondering what to ask to determine whether the place is reputable. Should I ask how many years the main psychologist has worked with autism? Or?