Another Diagnosis thread - simple question

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How do you get a diagnosis?
I have a therapist that steers very clear of the AS idea. I also heard it takes some guy with a PhD on his wall, like psychologist\psychiatrist to officially diagnose you.

I also have no health insurance at the moment, so.... yeah.

Well, get a different therapist for a start... I assume you're in the us, so I can't offer any advice other than what I've said.

WRONG!! !

Go to a neurologist. They are usually the best for checking your possible AS diagnosis against other more severe neurologic disorders, AS is NOT psychological or psychiatric... It is NEUROLOGICAL.

Strapples,
Pyschs are fine for diagnosing AS or Autism because they deal with the behaviors side [which is why it does get seen as pyschological,sister is a councilor and had to learn about the effects of Autism in her pysch. degrees],neurologists do a lot more physical tests and are more about the physical side of AS and Autism.

Legato,
am would recommend a pyschologist or neurologist,who has significant experience in ASD---if possible.
And-that is a beautiful cat in avatar.

But won't it affect one's ability to be insured/ get health insurance if you get an official diagnosis?

I myself am wary of getting one because of the potential implications.

-J.

Go to a Psycharist or a Neurologist who knows about AS and specializes in it. This is the best source of a diagnosis.

I was diagnosed by my (now former) pediatrician (who specializes in kids and teens with autism, developmental disorders, learning disabilities, and ADD) when I was 16.

IIRC neurologists work more with things like brain damage and similar things that show up easily on an brain scan or whatever. At this point in time AS can't be diagnosed by an MRI. Though I do think neuroscience and psychiatry/psycho-pharmacology will eventually fuse into a single discipline (much to the anguish of Freudians and Self-Help cranks), we aren't there yet.

pyschiatrists are not the best therapists as they are very pro medical model,the focus is on medicating [often with drugs like Risperdal],whereas pyschologists cannot prescribe,and are on the social model side,they use other therapies and ways of helping a person to cope.


MsJ,
It does affect those as far as am have read from American WPers,it has various risks,some people have had their children taken away from them for having an ASD,others have been threatened with it by the SS.
It can affect other things to,but would be worth going for assessment if are in need of accomodations or support.

Legato,

Based on my own experience, Odin's comments seem to be correct. I happened to be consulting a neurologist (for a non-AS condition) around the same time I was seeking an evaluation for Asperger's. When I reviewed some MRI results with the neurologist, I asked him about AS because I'd read that neurologists sometimes make that diagnosis; however, he declined and said that wasn't something he did, that a psychologist would be better. I later got officially diagnosed with AS by a clinical psychologist (PhD).

I think that while the cause of AS is neurological/physical, its effects are psychological/mental, so therefore it is more easily detected by a psychologist, at least for now.

However, with no health insurance, getting a diagnosis is going to be problematic -- any free clinics in your area that do mental health?

A psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist over here (plus a various number of psychos who confirmed the two prior).

How much would a diagnosis cost without health insurance, and how does it affect getting health insurance.

My recommendation is usually to find an older psychiatrist (mid 50s+). The younger psychiatrists know very little about therapy.

If you pay for the diagnosis yourself, it would not become a part of a patient record. I don't know the current prices, but I would imagine a couple of hundred US$.