Another do I have Asperger's Syndrome

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Of course, a high quality private evaluation is the best rout. That's true about a lot of things in life. The real problem is that those of use who are more significantly affected by our autistism can't access these things. We don't have the option to tuck money away for a 5 thousand dollar anything. We don't have high paying jobs or spouses who have high paying jobs. We are just getting by. Unfortunately, the more you need help in America, the less likely you are to get it.

The idea of self-identifying isn’t based only on whimsy. It has become somewhat of a mantra around WrongPlanet.net that, for many people, self-identification is a reasonable alternative because: 1) an able diagnostic assessment can be geographically distant, 2) the able assessment can be cost-prohibitive, 3) too many diagnosticians have little or no experience assessing autism in adults, 4) the individual wanting an assessment might not need the governmental, educational and professional supports that come with a diagnosis, and 5) the individual might simply want the peace of mind that comes with self-identification without the myriad condition and complications involved with a professional assessment.

If a professional diagnostic assessment works out for most people, great! But, let us please understand that such an assessment isn’t one-size-fits-all with some people for whom an assessment is more bother than it is worth; a situation where individuals simply give up and forswear pursuing another botched assessment.

Yes, I know it isn't an option for everyone. I didn't mean to suggest that everyone should take that path, it was more a point around disagreeing with a professional doesn't necessarily mean denial, the understanding of autism has changed radically over time, and there is still disagreement. I think if an individual has done a lot of research on autism and thinks it explains themselves it probably does.

Five Thousand Dollars? Typically I noticed people who make the claim getting diagnosed is expensive are from countries with 'Free Socialized Healthcare' which means a decade long wait through a long process or pay to see your own doctor. I take it your from Canada or somewhere in Europe?

If you're from America and have insurance it should be the same as a copay for your regular doctor. It only cost me 30 dollars per session and my insurance picked up the rest, it was very easy. If you don't have insurance though in America yes its very expensive but due to Barrack Obama you must have insurance by law or pay a fine which the fine was designed to trickle in after Obama's 2nd term with the rest of the negative functions of the Affordable Care Act. So if your from America and don't have insurance it's illegal now.



I agree that's why you should perhaps get a second opinion but if two doctors are telling you the same thing it's time to perhaps time reflect and understand what they are trying to tell you. It's like a cancer patient diagnosed with stomach cancer and get's a second opinion but they do not want to accept the fact it's cancer and not some other melody and the second doctor tells them the same thing.

Nothing wrong with a second opinion.

I paid nothing for my professional diagnosis (Europe)

Mine was in the UK, it would have been free but my first encounter with a professional on that route discouraged me, I wanted to go to a place that specialised in adults so paid £1200 (it would have been free if I lived local, it was an NHS funded/university research place).

As for second opinions and knowing when to listen. I think it depends on what they are saying, the first professional I encountered said I couldn't be autistic because an autistic person wouldn't be aware they were bad at eye contact, would not care about their friends, would have meltdowns if routines were interrupted. If I encountered many professionals saying that, I would just think they were all wrong as I knew from my own research that is an out of date, extreme and narrow conception. If they pointed to evidence that I did not have impairments in certain areas, or didn't have the required early history, or that my problems were more psychological in nature than neurological I would be likely to take that on board.

I think it is worth remembering how much things have changed over time, I am certain I would not have been diagnosed even 10 years ago, but if I had read the literature would have identified with it. So people always going by the professionals back then would not always have been the right thing to do. I think a person who had really looked into it will recognise themselves as it is so pervasive they will just know.

I think the problem when it comes to these to totally different worlds. The majority of problems it seems to get diagnosed seem to be from people with Free Healthcare but a long wait and tons of hoops to jump through unless you want to pay for it.

So if I were to give a recommendation to a Canadian or European with 'free healthcare' what I am saying really wouldn't ring true to them because their 'free' healthcare system is completely different.

Same with a Canadian or European telling someone from the U.S. and telling them a diagnosis isn't worth it because it takes to long or you have shell out thousands for an official diagnosis. As with our healthcare system all we need to do is simply call our insurance for referral we call various offices that are within our plan and see how long the wait is for very place.

In my case I felt waiting two weeks was way to long for me so I settled for an appointment with a Clinical Psychologist within four days and I only paid a 30 dollar co-pay for each visit.

So over here getting your results and seeing a doctor essentially there is less of a waiting period unless of course your a Veteran in which all of our vets get free healthcare but like Europe or Canada they wait months, years to get seen.

In the case of people without insurance here its illegal after Barrack Obama's Affordable Care Act became law and even with Obamacare seeing a mental health provider you pay a co-pay same with regular insurance since Obamacare is more or less just a market place of different insurance companies.

Someone from Europe or Canada I understand you guys have to jump through tons of hoops and have a long wait time so I can see how someone with possibly Autism gets discouraged because the simple process of me picking up the phone getting a referral and setting an appointment is complicated for me so I can't imagine how hard it must be to deal with all of that.

If we knew where the OP came from I think it be easier to advise the person.

Cause when I say getting second opinion means seeing another doctor within a week or two and I know that someone from a Free Healthcare country a second opinion can be months or years or be a huge expense

I'm from the US. Your post is politically motivated. Please go educate yourself on sites not written by the Republican tea party before you spread fear unnecessarily.

It is true, under Obamacare, one can sometimes get a free (and somewhat quick) evaluation. In fact, I did just this recently. For me, this was adequate in that I've held a diagnosis since I was a young child and did not require a full work-up. I had lots of information about how I'm different, but Aspergers wasn't acknowledged when I was a child, and since I was verbal, autism was not considered. I wanted official confirmation from an expert that Aspergers was the right label, mostly so I could stop hedging my words when I seek professional help. So, the insured evaluation was right for me. However, it does cost thousands of dollars in the US to get evaluated. You're just not paying it directly if your insurance company pays. Insurance companies will only pay if the evaluation is only to be used for medical purposes. So if you need accommodations in school, or you are looking to receive government support, the insurance will not pay. In places with socialized medicine like the UK, it is true that they often have to wait for long periods of time for evaluation. They have the option of paying for private, and it will be quicker. Again, people with more financial needs still get more help. The difference is that in their case, evaluation costs several hundreds of pounds instead of multiple thousands of dollars. How we got to the place where healthcare is so much more expensive in the US than anywhere else in the world is too long of a topic for this site, but the problem is WAY older than the affordable care act.

However, this is exactly my point. You and I got a diagnosis while using Obamacare. But we as far as I can tell from your writing, neither one of us got a really good, thorough evaluation. A really good evaluation is multiple days of testing. It includes intelligence testing, which in itself costs over a thousand dollars to administer. They use normed tests, which are more expensive. While talking to a person for a while is fine, its not the same standard of care. Rich people in either system, who can afford to shell out for private evaluations, are still getting the better assessments.

^And I should add that the standard of evaluation is done by a PhD with a specialty in evaluation, or sometimes a psychiatrist with the same specialty. Its not done by a clinical psychologist. And while I'm sure it was great for your purposes, the word of a psychologist is not going to be considered anything other than a reason to refer to a doctor with more credentials for "real" evaluation, if you need to use your label in any official capacity.

I received multiple days of testing in which I was observed and unknowingly little things were used as a test. Also had a good six hour test, with meetings days afterwards. It wasn't just you sit on the couch or take just a long test its multiple thorough testings with them also looking deep into your history. At the end of everything you should have a 10+ Page Psychological Evaluation. Each visit was a 30 dollar co pay.

Also Obamacare is not free it's a GROUP market place healthcare system. Sort of like you getting heathcare from your job your on a group policy. Obamacare is GROUP policy and the Government through taxes pay's for a portion like a job would and then you have your percentage with of course co-pays.

Accommodations has nothing to do with your insurance unless you need a home healthcare aide in which you should call your insurance company and see your options. Asking for an Accommodation at school or work is typically provided by the Government/school, or the employer. The only way the employer wouldn't grant an Accommodation if it's not a reasonable accommodation or puts too much of a burden on the employer.

Also if you have Government support such as Medicaid you can get a discount if your buying into a Group Policy whether it's an Obamacare or Employer based group policy.

As for your comment on people who cannot afford Healthcare as our President as consistently said not having insurance is not an excuse you either buy insurance through an employer or the Obamacare Marketplace. If you can't afford it our President links that to a person driving a car without insurance and what to do we do to people who drive without insurance? As he says, jails. So you're option is get insurance, or fine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u6cKd3WCIU

Now I had crappy insurance, very crappy but the entire process was quick and thorough.

I stand corrected on the evaluation thing. Sounds like you found a really good situation for evaluation. If you're in NY/NJ, let me know who they are. I'm asked for referrals from time to time.

In Chicago but check this out, depending on the route you're taking on finding a doctor there is easier ways to find out. Private Message me and we can talk a little more about it.

Hey everyone. I'm sorry that I haven't replied here, I had no idea that so many have even answered here and I want to thank you all for answering. I'll try to reply later on.

For now yes, I have visited my doctor who told me that the first times we met he had thought about me having Asperger's, which I don't understand why he never shared this with me. He, however now thinks that I could possibly have a BPD but has forwarded my papers to a person who can do the tests for the Asperger's. I'm now reading about BPD but some of these signs don't really fit me but I'm not going to push it away thinking I don't have it and how I "definitely have asperger's". My wish to feel and be normal is still there and whatever it's BPD, Asperger's or something else that's not allowing my brain to work normal, I want to find it out and get the right kind of treatment.. because the treatment I have gotten now is obviously not working.

I have already found this article about BPD and Asperger's and their differences and even in that the Asperger's sounds more like me, but again is this just me believing I have it or do I really have it?

( nevermind, I can't post links but was from Aspertypical blog with a title of 'The Borderline of Asperger’s: The similarities and differences between Borderline Personality Disorder and Autism' )

As answer to autistic people not being able to express what's going on with them, that has been my problem all these years (and I'm close to 30). It hasn't been until recently and especially after I read about aspergers how everything that has happened in my life and how I have behaved had made sense, that is if I have Asperger's. I still struggle to speak out what I think and what I feel, especially in front of a person that I'm not that familiar with. It's much, much easier here where I'm alone in my room and I can take my time typing and re-check that I'm saying what I want to say. Where when I'm at the doctors office there's a time limit and I have to answer questions in x time with everything going around and trying to pick up my thoughts, it gets frustrating when every time I feel like I didn't say what I needed or wanted to say and I shut down. And again, no it's not because I'm shy or scared off people. To me there has been a lot of signs through my life that could lead to Asperger's but I have never paid attention to them because I honestly thought everybody has them or there is no need to pay attention to them. I don't deny the fact that I could be perfectionist but this does not explain everything that's wrong with me. I don't want to be autistic and I didn't take the test thinking how I wish to be one because that would mean that I can never be the 'normal' I wish to be, yet I can't be 'normal' even how much I try. I just want to know why I can't be like everyone else, why doing certain things are so hard for me or why I behave the certain way. The only positive thing about me having Asperger's would be that I could finally stop trying to be this 'normal' because there's a reason why I can't be one.

Anyway, sorry for my rant.

Hi Tuska,

you're not alone with that combo, I also may have ADD and Asperger's. Day dreamer too and like to "play alone". Tend to think a lot too. Maybe you can recognize what I experience.

As far as the Asperger part goes, I've never been tested BTW :

I'm a bit frustrated sometimes with how "spontaneous" I'm supposed to respond and how enthusiastic I'm supposed to be at given times. I can be those things but at my own pace and moments and not when it's immediately required. It's an introvert thing too. Monotonous talking can really bore people but I'm not always in the required "animated" talking mode.

I noticed with Scandinavian people that they can often have more of a nasal voice and monotony. Perhaps you can try out to break the habit a bit and listen to how French people can sound for instance, sounds more like music. Exaggerate things a little to make things a bit more juicy and emotional is what people like sometimes. I know it feels fake if there's anything I need it's authenticity but sometimes you need to let go of that superseriousness. Just see it as something to play around with when you feel like it and try to see the funny side of things. Hope that's of any help otherwise ignore .

I can relax and try to smile with my eyes as silly as it may sound. I do want people to give my attention and feel warm and comfortable with me and I feel I can as long as I don't start technobabble or something. Women are hard to read though when I think they like me it often turns out it was just politeness. Sometimes I just want to be left alone and really love the peace and quiet especially outside with nice weather. So I look for it more.

Eye contact I've become more comfortable with. Unless I really need to concentrate mentally on more complex matters that require thought. You notice that a lot of people look elsewhere when you start looking for more eye contact. I do like eye contact in conversation but have trained myself a bit over the years and have met way more people. I found out it's really more pleasant with the right people as they feel like you're listening better.

My ADD part:

For me it can hard to not get bored with people at times and I don't always listen well. They often care about different things than I, like traveling and excitement, while I like philosophy and the quiet life, but I also need my impulses and sparks to get me going. New ideas, interesting information bits and yes while a bit intellectual my monkey brain finds sex interesting too.

I've had boring jobs requiring attention to detail and failed miserably due to my concentration disorder, drifting off would lead me to spend too much time and I'd still make too many mistakes. I was better off working in Information Technology. I still did have huge problems with planning stuff and communicating about it. Too chaotic still and I don't work fast.

An eye opening metaphor was somebody showing me that the way an ADD lives is more in curves than a straight line. "Normal" people are more efficient and walk the straight line in their career and personal lives. Know exactly what they want and achieve it much faster. I'm still moving in those curves but I feel I'm slowly getting closer to what I'm supposed to be and do in life in all aspects. I need more time for things and I need to be left alone more. But have friends and also would love to find a significant other, an increasingly tall order it seems.


Both traits can really be a social handicap. I just hope to find more likeminded people with above average intelligence, free spirits, with different opinions than the standard. Hard to find but occasionally I do succeed, I meet a lot of people.

The notion that in the US all you got to do is call your insurence company get a referal and just pay a co pay is overly simplistic. Most insurence companies Obamacare or not do not cover adult assessment but will cover 180 hours of ABA because in 42 states covering treatments is mandated by law. Also many competent clinictions because they are in such demand do not accept insurance.

As an adult your best bet is to try and get yourself into a research program where often the assesment is paid for.

As late as 2012 only 1 to 2 percent of research and support money went to adults. Awareness of the neglect of adults is starting but is its very early stages.. The bad news it is going to be years if not decades for adult assesments and supports to be where it should be. The good news is that demand for adult research volunteers should increase,

Just be aware that the advice to get into a research program is NOT VALID for women. The tests they use to determine who is allowed to be labeled autistic for these tests are strict, observation based (so it doesn't matter how you feel, it matters how you act), and normed on boys with autism. (Norming is a process where scientists decide how to grade tests and where to put the line for who "passes."

Its known that autistic boys have significantly different presentation than autistic women, however, science hasn't started to address this in the research field.

I'm all for advancing the study of autistic women, but I don't want to lead any of the women on these boards into a humiliating situation. Its pretty broadly known that women are having a really hard time getting diagnosed, and these research facilities are not there to help you get a diagnosis. They are testing you to make sure that non-autistic people don't slip in and mess up their research.

We are never going to have a complete understanding of autism until we get away from the steriotypes that autism is an "extreme male brain" and then proceed to only test people who follow that theory - right? Its circular logic and that's exactly what science is supposed to prevent. But it is what is happening in research circles right now and there is no reason to put your own metaphorical neck out there.

If you know of researchers who are the exception, please let me know. But I can tell you this much - the Seaver Center in NYC is not one of them. I know of a really bad situation that happened with them.