Starting to wonder if I should chase up a diagnosis?

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Hi everyone,

I have been thinking of getting a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome as I think I definitely have it, I have scored 35 on several austim qoutient tests and I scored 143/200 for the neurodiverse (aspie) section on another test, I have had problems with making friends, I only have one friend at college, it's bloody hard, I'm very awkward at social situations, I hate them with a passion and I absolutely hate social occasions such as parties and weddings, I just want to curl up into a ball and die when I'm in these situations Is it hard to get a diagnosis as an adult? I have the doctors on Thursday so I will talk to him about getting a diagnosis, my granny even said that she thinks that I have autism as my aunt works at as a human resources manager at a distillery and there is a guy who works there, he has autism and my aunt says that me and him are very similar in signs and symptoms. What should I do?

If you think it will benefit you then go for it

I've heard it can be hard, but I've seen plenty here get a diagnosis as adults, even in their 50s Some got it easily, others had a hard time finding anyone who could diagnose adults when all they've worked on is children. Hopefully some people diagnosed as adults will reply

I'm younger than you but I'm undergoing diagnosis. I'm 18. Happened as a complete accident It's... a long story.

If it's possible to find an actual autism specialist (as opposed to a generic psychologist whose knowledge of autism may be limited and stereotypical), and it's financially feasible, I say go for it. I've received a lot of benefit from my diagnosis, from accommodations at work and school to more understanding from my friends and family about why I act the way I do.

http://www.lifeonthespectrum.net/blog/?page_id=1001

Go prepared to explain why you think you are on the spectrum and how an evaluation will benefit you. If you aren't good at explaining yourself, write down what you need to say.

Getting a diagnosis as an adult is really effin' hard (I've found). Most doctors are really ignorant, when it comes to high functioning autism. Some of them have unfavorable attitudes towards HFA. If it's not obvious, like you walk in like you're Rainman, then they usually won't diagnose you, especially if you're male. In which case, if they won't spend real effort into researching it and diagnosing it, what the hell we need them for ? They'll call a platypus, a duck, if it makes their job easier. Quick route to bill your insurance, easy money.

I got a 42 on the AQ test, you got 35. Yet looks like they welcomed you with arms open, while many opposed me when I posited that I might have ASD. This irrational differential treatment baffles me.

The ASD "community" can be quite unwelcoming.
Sadly.

But I hope you get your diagnosis

If you walked in like Rainman you'd be diagnosed with FG Syndrome, not autism.

It can be a good idea to get a diagnosis to make sure you don't really have something else.

In the USA it is hard to get a diagnosis as an adult because our private health insurance companies don't like to pay for it. A whole bunch of rules you have to follow if if you accept insurance--even worse if you accept something called Medicaid, which might be called government insurance. And of course, experts do expect to get paid.

I'd suggest studying this site to see how well you fit in--with some of us it can be a real revelation--recognizing situations in our past that are exactly what young Aspies are going through today! By studying this site and studying the folks I interact with in real life, I've gotten a pretty good idea of what is typical for Aspies and what is more typical for normal people. I found that in my case, being over 50 isn't too late to improve my social skills--these days I can even ask co-workers about social skill issues that I couldn't when I was younger. But, every Aspie is different--there are Aspies in their 20s that see no need for improving their social skills.

And I'd suggest caution with this.

Many people here are neurotypical (so without autism or any other disorder for that matter) and are instead parents, relatives or friends of people with autism. Some are students or here to gain more knowledge of what autism is from those with it and their personal experiences. There are others like OP - people who are unsure if they have it or not and are just learning. Some are further along and have decided themselves they do have it. These are just some examples, it is a very diverse site and I like that.

My point is not everyone here is autistic, and agreeing with them or sharing experiences should not act as validation and a reason to be certain. The diagnosis process is long and for good reason.

Not that you shouldn't enjoy sharing experiences, just that fitting in is not the same as being autistic. Just having similar personalities.

I went to my GP today and give him the sheet with my symptoms on it and he laughed, gave it back to me and said that I don't have Asperger's and he said to me there is nothing wrong with me, although I still believe that I have Asperger's. Should I get a second opinion? Can doctors do this?

Was your GP Irish as well?

Rude GP You need to pressure him into referring you... how I don't know. You need to get advice from other people who have had rude GPs.

This shows yet again how knowledge of autism, and attitudes, vary so much between GPs. I'm in the UK, and went to my (female) GP last November. We talked generally for 15 minutes, and on the basis of that conversation she referred me to the local ASD adult diagnosis centre. Given that diagnosis is very expensive and comes out of her practice budget, she obviously didn't do it on a whim. I had the initial assessment in January, when they told me that I wouldn't cross the clinical threshold for ASD, but that I should nonetheless go through the full diagnostic process as I clearly had issues, possibly BAP. I saw a clinical psychologist in April and am now waiting for the report, no idea yet what the result is.

So if I were you I'd get a second opinion.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/he ... onals.html

This page says that there are private professionals if you are dissatisfied with the public health professionals. There are Aspies on this forum that feel that you should pay for a professional diagnosis if a free one isn't available--though I'm not one of them.

The thing is it was my aunt that suggested I have Asperger's as she worked with someone who had it and she said that him and me were alike and I do believe her, but not my GP that says I don't, I was fuming when he just dimissed the idea, I also have coordination difficulties as well and I am slower down the left hand side of my body, also my granny said that I have to just put up with being quirky.

Maybe you could get a referral to see an occupational therapist for your coordination issues without much more costly diagnosis? As for issues with social training--they actually do that at Roses for Autism. They don't let you eat by yourself. They consider social training to be an important part of the training they do to get people employed. They work with each person individually and try to figure out what they are good at--and then push them to achieve. Even driving skills, if they think someone can handle it.

http://www.rosesforautism.com/dlw

BTDT,

Roses for Autism, sounds scary.
Don't let you eat alone, not even sometimes ?
Sounds like an ass-raping fascist bootcamp to me. I HAVE to eat alone to feel comfortable, and not choke on my food. If there's people or a lot of noise and commotion, I can easily choke on what I'm eating.

And then they just push, push, push you until you find "something" , some menial job you can earn not that much at ?

I think you've successfully redefined what Hell means, for me, and probably others.