Went for an evaluation finally!! !

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Aside from environmental factors and life situations, I have thought I had Aspergers (high functioning autism) since I was 16 or 17. I started making money online with advertising on websites I would create right when I turned 18. My life has been a long battle that is always up and down. I could tell you 100 reasons why I think I have Aspergers. To make the story really short, I finally went for an evaluation at the Rehabilitation Center in the city I live in. The evaluation lasted five hours, but was supposed to be four. He did let me know there isn’t really official testing for adults with autism, and I did feel the test was a bit silly for many many reasons since I was doing a test that children do. I’m 33 so obviously I’m sitting here questioning the validity of the test. He didn’t give me a diagnosis on the spot and he said he will be preparing a report. When I asked him if I should see a autism specialist instead of going to the rehibilation center.. He did say.. “You have a lot of autistic characteristics.” I was very respectful and basically only answered what he asked. I left feeling good because I thought he was very professional, but I also left feeling bad because I wasn’t able to finish communicating to him why I personally think I have Aspergers. I’ve thought I’ve had Aspergers roughly 16 years now and here I am finally waiting for results and I just feel so scared, dumb and questioning what if he doesn’t diagnosis me with Aspergers??? I was Diagnosed with bipolar at 19, but never believed it and never went on medication. I didn’t think that made sense for my life at all.


Also roughly 6 years or so after I told my aunt I think I had Aspergers, she had her younger child diagnosed with Aspergers. Also don’t get me started on my French grandma that we share together. She’s a recluse and after being in the United States for 60+ years.. she still speaks broken English. Kind of meshes them together.

I don’t really know how to feel right now. Thanks for listening.

Last edited by cbowman on 26 May 2019, 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Try not to worry. Relax. All will be ok.

Thank you. I just don’t know how to feel.

Neither do I and I may have over a year of waiting. Waiting is difficult. Don't worry though. Be patient...

Thanks man

Try to find someone who IS specifically qualified to diagnose adults with autism. Hopefully such a person can be found in or near your city. See if you can find any kind of in-person local support group for autistic adults, and get recommendations. If money is an issue and the service you find aren't covered by insurance, then try to find some place where you can be tested by an "extern" (a not-yet-licensed grad student working under a licensed psycologist) -- that will be much cheaper though you'll be on a longer waiting list.


I assume you're referring to the ADOS? There IS an adult version of the ADOS, although it too uses a children's picture book and some children's toys.

Yep it can certainly be stressful waiting for a diagnosis.

Thank you for your advice! Well, apparently I will know the results next Friday! I know they did test for more than just autism. I would have preferred just an autism specialist, but they really did go above and beyond and help me in a very quick timeframe. My main concern is the conversation part of the evaluation ended up being about my home life growing up and or my current situation. I wasn’t able to mention too many signs when I was younger.. Like I always twirl my hair if I’m thinking or I twirl my hair basically anytime I’m overly using my brain or nervous. I walked on my tippy toes.. I still do this at home. There was so many signs or so many things I wanted to tell him. I just got so nervous and I just wanted to be professional and answer what he asked in the most simplest way I could. I could have had the adult version of the ADOS. I don’t know! He crossed off a list of like 15 different tests. I guess I’m apprehensive that high functioning autism will be my diagnosis because I’m in Kentucky or because I’m a small gay male. I was worried that how I look or my circumstances financially or just my circumstances would have him diagnosing me with something else. Like you, I have suspected I was on the spectrum for 10 years. Well actually around 16 years. Every time I told myself “no Chris you don’t have that”... I always end up breaking down after I leave social situations and have to recover and I always cry and know that’s me. Yeah. I’m just skeptical and nervous. Maybe everything is okay though and he understood what I communicated to him. Sometimes people assume I possibly would be pretty social and I hate that because it’s too overwhelming for me. It gets tiring trying to communicate that with people.

And of course being as social as most people isn’t the only issue. I really know I’m almost 90% everything I’ve ever read through the years of someone that is an Aspie. I guess since I’m 33 and still have a youthful look to me.. I just get so worried that my young shy annoying charm is going to be picked on more. I want to be me! And I do think there might possibly be an Aspie group in Louisville, but that makes me nervous too!! !! ! Groups or like the worst thing ever! If I’m one on one then I’m okay.

I guess what I’m mostly worried about is him thinking my childlike face and or my tiny body is indicative of my personality. I know that it isn’t just that. I know that it’s way beyond my physical appearance as to why I feel the way I do.

So I was diagnosed with Autism Level 2 apparently

How does that make you feel?

I hope the diagnosis will be helpful

There you have it. Level 2. Is is one up from level 1. (I am not sure what they mean... But.... ). Now you can look it up to make sense of it all. That is a great thing as understanding what is happening is quite a relief.
What you need to do now I am thinking about it, is to tell your doctor that it wasn't bipolar but it was autism. The reason why I say this is bipolar needs specific medication to treat it and autism may or may not need medication depending on what other things the person has etc. Be aware that if you are on medication it may need slowly reducing to come off it.
Well. Good luck. And I hope things will now easily slot into place.

Thank you!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! ! Well (in my opinion) I’m happy I’ve never been on medication. For some reason it makes me nervous thinking about it. I dunno. As far as being classified Level 2 autism and not Level 1 (which would be the most mild) in my opinion I think it’s because of my current situation is worse than before. But hey I don’t know apparently my autism is worse from diagnosis than I would have thought myself.

I hope so to. It’s really at a weird time for me so it’s a bit confusing more I think than if my life was more together like it usually is more.