Doctors (Etc.) Not Taking Me Seriously (Advice, please!)

Post Reply New Topic

I have moderate-to-severe AS/ASD, and I need some new evaluations to apply to the state developmental disability agency, since I only have a psychiatrist and an occupational therapist at the moment. The problem is getting whoever does them to believe me that my problems are as bad as I say. Even my OT, who is wonderful otherwise and has experience with autism, often can't tell that I'm straining or even suffering.
(Here's a good article on this kind of problem: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/asp ... tic-adults)

What I want from the agency is some kind of supported living program and life skills training. My disordered motor skills and sensory processing give me immense difficulty with self-care, and it's not like I can just have doctors come to my house and watch me have meltdowns if I try to clean or cook. I have to tell them verbally despite my flat affect, problems expressing myself with words, and how I've been conditioned to expect bullying and abuse if I show too much emotion.

I probably won't be able to see autism experts, so how do I convince doctors who lack experience with autism that what I'm saying is true despite them potentially perceiving my nonverbal cues as saying the opposite? Does anyone have any tricks or advice? Thank you.

Rather than trying to tell them verbally, I suggest you write to them Often times it is much easier to express your suffering and challenges and emotions in writing. That might have a better result.

Thanks. I'll definitely try writing something about how I'm there to get documentation and a brief explanation of my impairments. I do that all the time with medical doctors (give them lists of symptoms, what referrals I'll need, etc.), but I didn't think to try it for this.

Unfortunately, it will only go so far. The speaking I'll need to do for the evaluations isn't as simple as just handing them a piece of paper in the beginning. I'll need to answer questions about a wide variety of emotionally distressing topics as they ask them. I'll also need to remember details of negative past experiences, something I suck at not only because they were traumatic, but also because I freeze up and blank out when put on the spot to provide details.

Should I bring my laptop and type the responses instead? That would certainly be easier, but my past conditioning is telling me that because my verbal skills are so good, they'll never let me, or worse, will see it as histrionic and tell me that I don't need to apply to the developmental disability agency because my problems are all psychological.

I think bringing your laptop to type would be a great idea. I think it will really be helpful. They should also see you having a difficult time talking about your experiences as I think this would greatly help in the diagnostic process.