Correlation between visibility and getting a diagnosis

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I got lucky--she has an Aspie son. My mom knew before then, though she absolutely refused to get a diagnosis. She worked with autistic children in 1994, when AS got defined in the mainstream of psychology, and her admitting that she had known, but didn't think Asperger's was "really" autism because I was "too intelligent" (she thought it was a fad diagnosis and I just needed better discipline), was what led me to ask my psychiatrist about it. Before then I had only gone in for fifteen-minute visits to calibrate my antidepressant dosage properly; it took about an hour to do a bit of question-and-answer and figure it out.

Seems I give off an "autistic" vibe to anyone who is familiar with autism, often without even opening my mouth. What that consists of, I have no idea, but I've heard the same from autistic friends.

I lack most facial expression, except when i'm thinking about it.(example: okay.. they said something shocking. i should look shocked. *eyebrow raise*) Other than laughing when something is funny. A lot of the time my "laugh" come off more as just a normal person's "smile," though.. Because sometimes my laugh is kind of quiet or silent, unless i specifically want to show that i find something funny. I've had a few little nicknames through my childhood because of my constant serious-looking neutral expression. I move my limbs a little to help explain something, but i don't have "normal" type body language and i don't move my arms when i walk usually(except for the amount that they naturally sway when hanging naturally to the walking rhythm. not like other people, though). People often say i look "stiff." I sometimes talk in a monotone, it really depends on my mood. I go back and forth between monotone and extremely expressive in my voice, depending on who i'm around and my mood. But i'm monotone enough for people to have noticed, especially when i was younger before the whole expressive tone thing made sense to me. But, i'm just now gotten diagnosed. I would have thought it should have been obvious. So.. Yes for the first one. And, for the second one, i wasn't exactly denied it.. But it was overlooked or brushed off as "it's probably just anxiety" many times.

Yes to all.



No.

I try to inhibit any oddness in public or in front of people. However, my GP could see something in me and described me as having a flat affect. He recently wrote that I find it extremely difficult to engage in interpersonal interactions even at a superficial and brief level and thinks my AS on the severe end. One of the professionals I saw for diagnosis was only really familiar with autistic children and wrote I was clearly on the autistic spectrum. In myself, I do not feel that "severe", and still have brief moments when I wonder whether it was all a mistake and I am "NT", but I cannot observe my behaviours when interacting.

1a: Monotone - no.
1b: Don't move limbs - when? do you mean while speaking? I don't tend to talk with my hands, if that's what you mean.
1c: Lack facial expression - I don't think so, but I've been told my expressions are very subtle and hard to read at times and sometimes they don't match what I'm thinking.

2: N/A -- I've never actively sought one, although I've been told I'm not but just have some autistic features instead.

Oops, I just started a new topic on a closely related subject, which is do those people who don't have a diagnosis have specific characteristics.

To answer the question

good voice but poor on the body language and facial expression

and

I haven't tried to get a diagnosis yet but I don't think there's any chance I'm wrong. I score too Aspergic on those Autistic Quotient tests.

Greentea, if you are trying to get a diagnosis, this might be a silly question but have you done the tests for Autistic Quotient, Empathy Quotient, Systemising Quotient etc? I have not tried to get a referral but thought that I would start with my scores from those if I decided it was useful. How come you think it would be useful for you anyway?

No and No.

I do have some stims like hand/wrist twisting and finger wiggling. Also I have very limited eye contact.

yes, and yes.

Though I am getting better at doing "gestures to regulate social interaction." Though still a bit tilted.


As for being denied diagnosis. That was more because the person I did end up getting an initial diagnosis was more than likely not qualified to do so. Well, may have been "strictly qualified" as far as letters before and after their name. But I doubt they had ANY experience in the area relating to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Second run through I was diagnosed almost before we started the diagnosis. (but not quite.) Obviously have to rule a bunch of things out. Glad my symptoms weren't better explained by Schizophrenia though.

I don't think so and no.

I don't think I was ever inexpressive or monotonous. I was diagnosed as a kid though, so there were other things I think they used to decide, like my having tantrums in class and generally acting immature and awkward.

Hang on for a second.

I'm speaking of objective means, not what I have. I can provide clinical sources that state everyone with AS will have no or limited facial expressions, a monotonous voice, and a lack of appropriate eye contact.

Aunty, they don't let you bring your own tests here, just the tests they give you. She gave me the one of the faces that we usually post here on the forums, and the questionnaire that we also always post here, that starts with "I prefer to do things alone rather than in a group".

No/No

My psych told me that I don't have a monotonous voice or flat face.
Sometimes I have to wave my arms to actually get words out of my mouth.

Pensieve, what "did it" then? What convinced them?

I bumped into the criminal of my ex-husband at the store the other day. I'd always wanted to bump into him so I had yet one more opportunity to spit in his face. However, when I first saw him, I thought he looked very familiar and that he was probably someone I work with. So I regaled him with a broad, warm smile, before I realized and looked the other way. I don't know how a specialist can call this "childhood trauma" and recommend another 30 years of Psychotherapy for it. I'd think it's obvious that I have prosopagnosia coupled with an hyperfocus (difficulty to switch focus and grasp the new stimulus). I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that a dx is not in the stars for me, and that I"ll die without the miracle of anyone ever believing me that my symptoms are NOT unconscious needs to make myself fail and do ridiculous things.

By the way, feel free to ROFL about this anecdote. I do know it's ridiculous.

Now you just crawl down from that camel for a minute cause we need to have a talk.

A talk being defined as "you shut up while I talk". now that that's clear as slobber,

Nobody but nobody with the exception of nobody's, discounts your earnestness.

Though one or two of us may be quacky, we are not quack's, well, most.

At any rate, you are by far ridiculous, when you are, we'll let you know.

a diagnosis is not going to prove to us what we already know.

Not that anyone around here is hard headed, but lighten up.

When you need to be knocked off that camel, you'll know.

Your positive an active presence can Not be ridiculous.

Ain't nobody laughing at you, envy perhaps.

If you get The Official DX then fine,

If not, then Fine,

it's not going to change who and what you are to us, whether you Like It Or Not, THERE.




*giddy up camel*
*move camel*
*camel go*
*ruh roh*

Very nicely said, DaWalker, even allowing for the camel slobber. I can understand why Greentea might want a formal diagnosis in writing, though, if only so that she can wave it under the noses of people who've doubted her and say, "I told you so!"