You say I have Asperger's?

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Greetings one and all,

"Wrong planet," indeed. After taking a job at a psychology-related company several months ago and learning something about autism, including that the condition runs in families (I have a severely autistic nephew), the thought occurred that perhaps I myself might be autistic. I then chanced upon the "Aspie quiz" on the RDOS site and, out of curiosity, took the test. My score indicated the possibility of Asperger's. I retook the test, this time trying to remember my feelings and behaviors during my teen years, something that I later read was actually advisable. I was solidly in the Asperger's range. I decided to get tested and was recently assessed using the ADOS, Module 4, by the FACT organization in Los Angeles. Diagnosis: autism spectrum, high functioning. The person who administered the test said she believes I have Asperger's.

This has been a huge revelation to me. If true (I can't imagine why it might not be), it explains everything -- all of the weird circumstances and social awkwardness and odd scrapes and difficulties that I've gotten myself into during my lifetime (I'm fifty-something now).

I am seeking further confirmation of this diagnosis as well as more discriminatory testing. If anyone can recommend good psychologists/practitioners in the greater Los Angeles area who work with high-functioning autistic/Asperger's adults, I would be very appreciative. I'm also looking for adult-oriented support groups in the L.A. area.

Many thanks in advance, and I'll look forward to assisting others in this online community when I have more knowledge and some experience to offer.

There's more discriminatory testing than the ADOS?

I know most psychologists consider it the "gold standard." I was assessed using it and I find out next Friday my results, even though my psychologists are 99% certain, and already have therapy lined up.

I think if you got tested with the ADOS, you're pretty set that you have it.

Oh, by the way!

Welcome to the forum!! !!

Why spend resources on more testing? You already did that and were diagnosed. Since it explains everything, what more is there to ask of diagnosis? The next step; the real discriminatory testing, is now your life's work. The time to live and work with your new-found insight has already arrived.

By "discriminatory" I mean, for example, high-functioning autism versus Asperger's versus some variant of PDD-NOS. I am aware that opinion is divided as to whether high-functioning autism and Asperger's are the same or different. The ADOS simply categorizes a person as high, medium, or low within one of three broad categories (autism, autism spectrum, non-spectrum). There are other assessments that rate an individual based on observed behaviors in real life as opposed to the way one may behave during an interview in a strange office. You're right, the ADOS (and now the just-released second edition, the ADOS-2) is the "gold standard" regarding observation of behavior and social interaction within a test administrator's office.

Thank you. Good luck with your results and therapy.

I'm curious and would like to know as much as possible. (Thanks for the reply.)

Thank you. That was very very enlightening. I appreciate knowing those details about the ADOS...

Hi Mike1944

I think we're neighbors. I'm new here My teenage son was evaluated by his school and found to have "autistic-like symptoms". He'll be tested this summer.

The more research on HFA/Aspergers, the more I see myself. I'd like to be tested as well. If you find any info on testing in the inland empire please let me know

I do know of an adult meetup group in our area but I believe the age range is 18 to 35 i'm in my 50's.

Welkome to WP

Mick

Thanks Mick!

Glad you came across my post. Have you taken the online "Aspie Quiz" at the RDOS site? After I scored in the Asperger's range on that quiz, I figured I'd just go out and get tested. Of course it turned out it's not as easy as that.

Testing for Asperger's seems much more available in the L.A. area than in the IE (stands to reason). The Psychology Today site (under "Find a Therapist") shows psychologists and therapists who list Asperger's among the areas they specialize in. A number of them are for whatever reason concentrated in Pasadena.

The FACT organization in Brentwood where I got tested charges $300 to administer the ADOS (first edition) and discuss the results in a follow-up visit. If whoever you see uses the ADOS, be sure to get tested using the improved second edition, the ADOS-2, which just came out a couple weeks ago. The ADOS, by the way, is not the only autism test out there.

Herman & Associates in Pasadena seems like an excellent bet for testing if you can afford them. I've corresponded with Dr. Herman. They use a team of specialists to administer a battery of tests to arrive at an informed clinical opinion.

Kaiser, if you happen to belong, supposedly offers testing. They're just one step up from socialized medicine and I'm not hopeful about what they can provide. I've been to three appointments with them so far in a series of time- and gas-wasting referrals.

Feel free to use the PM feature on this site to contact me for more information.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Thank you.