To Diagnose or Not to Diagnose

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I'm debating whether it is better to get a diagnosis or not of Aspergers. I have an autistic brother and another brother with aspergers. I know the symptoms and signs. I have a lot of them, but I am unsure as to whether it will help. I would mostly be doing it to help other people understand me and see if the aspergers community would understand me better. Ultimately, I understand myself very well and no diagnosis will change my opinions about me. Let me know your experiences and whether or not it is best to get diagnosed. Obviously, it varies from person to person, so try to keep my perspective in mind when advising me so that you can help me accomplish my goals not yours, no offense guys.

If you don't need it, then it's unlikely you have it. That's the only advice I would give. Also if your brothers were diagnosed but not you, then that's good indication that you aren't on the spectrum yourself, even if you share some traits.

For me, not obtaining a diagnosis is an economic decision. Here in the US, it could cost thousands to see the person required to get the diagnosis. It just ain't worth the bucks.

It serves no purpose for me in the "real world."

Tough nuggies if some autism activist or whatever require a diagnosis for me to be credible.

Yep. When pressed (or I want to make the point; like now), I explain that my Cambridge test results show that I have been "screened" as very likely having Asperger's Syndrome. Getting a professional-panel diagnosis in Utah would cost me $1,400 or more. In the absence of a standardized diagnostic adult AS test, I am satisfied with my results and screened presumption. While I might pursue a genetic test if and when one is approved, it would only be for curiousity's sake. At 52 years of age, there is no legal or medical reason to know with certainty compared with what I already know (in fact, there are medical and legal reasons not to know).

Last edited by AspieUtah on 02 Jul 2014, 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

Welcome to WP

Well said!

For people of my age and situation in the UK, it's not uncommon to wait 5-10 years to be assessed. And as you say, the expense is potentially a big factor.

Baron-Cohen, the top bod in the UK Asperger's Industry, recently went on record as saying he wouldn't give a diagnosis to someone, even if he "knew" they had it, unless it was "necessary". By this, one must assume he means necessary for the purpose of getting access to therapy, medication or some kind of state benefit, none of which is relevant to my case (though some might dispute the "therapy" bit!).

I have most of the social-interactional, attitudinal, behavioural and sensory issues pertaining to Asperger's, and I don't really need any "expert" to give me a certificate stating the obvious.

I also got pretty steamed up about the recent thread pertaining to "pseudo aspies", though I could see where the OP was coming from!

I'm not being funny or nothing but personally I don't think it's up to anyone on this site (trained or untrained) to tell anyone whether they have any kind of condition or not.

If you want to go and get a medical opinion to see whether you have it or not then that is completely up to you.