Who did you go to in order to be properly diagnosed?

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Hello all! (first post here)

All my life, I've been different - the kind of different you are most likely to understand. Last year, I was introduced for the first time to the possibility of having Aspergers, or Autistic Spectrum Difference (or "Diagnosis", etc. - I don't see it as a "disorder" and refuse to call it such..)

In the past months, I have read extensively on Aspergers and ASD, and recognize it as the most fitting explanation for my differences, matching nearly identically with other manifestations described. I actually felt a sense of relief, believing for the first time that I had a degree of understanding of my 'differences' that I could actually enumerate with some degree of objectivity and accuracy.

In October (2009), I began seeing a psychologist at an organization that maintains a program for Aspergers, for the purpose of being evaluated for the program. I met with the psychologist four times, probably six hours or more total, whereby he interviewed me on my history, life events, and administered an "IQ test".

In late November, I met with the psychologist for his interpretation. It was his opinion that I did not have Aspergers or ASD, and his strongest argument for reaching this conclusion was my results from the "IQ test". He said that my IQ was too high to have Aspergers, and that my 'differences' were not a result of ASD (which I believe), but the result of being of above average intelligence and therefore being unable to relate to peers.

I don't accept this interpretation, belief or diagnosis, and firmly believe I do fall in the category of ASD. Question is, where do I go to get properly diagnosed for this?

IQ too high? TOO HIGH? That's ridicules! People with Aspies regularly have very above average IQs. I'm going through the same process as you with my psychologist. It was after my IQ test placed me in the 99th percentile that my psychologist suggested Aspergers. (Note that I'm still undiagnosed. We'll see) What I'd recomend it to simply get a second opinion. See a different psychologist.

Note: Your post (Among other things) says that you've spend "sex" hours with your psychologist. I'd fix that.

I think there is a lot of attention placed on IQ in these matters. But...can't Asperger's have above average intelligence? Here is what I have read:

Some research suggests that academically gifted individuals share traits with Asperger's (gifted is an IQ of at least 126 to maybe 130 by most definitions). If one looks at the traits of the gifted, they do share a similarity with Asperger's. My IQ is 111, so I am not gifted in that sense. But, I do know of plenty of Asperger's people diagnosed with IQs in the gifted range. We call that twice-gifted. So, it is quite possible that a person with a high IQ is twice-gifted.

I work with gifted students. And they do not normally have the social akwardness that I have. They often desire to talk a lot and share experiences. They like to plan out the next social event. They are often quite into cliques though. The gifted often have problems with procastination and perfectionism. It is worthwhile to research the confusion with Asperger's and giftedness and decide for yourself where you fit. And again, it is quite normal to be twice-gifted (Asperger's and giftedness).

I think one of the best things to do is look at the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's and see if you fit. If you meet the criteria---then you meet the criteria (at least that is what I think).

hello Moony!

Yes, I know it sounds off base (to disqualify Aspergers because of a high score on an IQ test), but it is what he said. I am waiting on the written report (as he called it) to see what he's prepared to be 'held' to, and will share it here once I receive it.

The irony is that I don't feel all that intelligent - I have stated for some time that I am no more intelligent than average, instead being more observant than the average person.

I'm also put off by the fact that this psychologist works for an organization that maintains a program for people with Aspergers - I would expect that he would be more familiar than he is appearing to be..

Welcome to WP, a_minority_of_one.

That's unfortunate that a psychologist who ought to know better doesn't. About all I can think of is keep asking around and calling psych*s until one with proper knowedge turns up (easier said that done, of course) and hope for the best. They're all supposed to be equally competent, but that just isn't reality.

One thing I've seen as advice (from Jim Sinclair, on the Autreatinfo list) was to ask professionals what 'kind' of autistic people they typically see and work with. I.e. unable to live independently, Silicon valley engineers w/AS kids, in connection with legal problems, low IQ, high IQ, kids, men, women, etc. Maybe the organization you mentioned functions to serve severely effected or intellectually impaired people?

And this forum is a huge repository of ASC people's experiences that you can also explore. The professionally written stuff is an outside-in view, and the experiences here are inside-out. Nothing wrong with trying to look at things from both directions.

This is very interesting. I have read that Aspergers can manifest a range of IQ's from average to high. I have not read anything specific on what the highest IQ "cut off "is or if it even exists for psychologist to rule out Aspergers. You would benefit from a second opinion and/or to re access yourself and see if any information explained to you by the psychologists make any sense at all. This IQ business is an important aspect of diagnosing any disorder but achieving a higher score should not be the only ruling factor if all other criteria "fit" ( and your life experience) as not having Aspergers. If that made any sense at all to you .
My other thought is that although a psychologist may say to you " your IQ is too high for an Aspie" this should not be taken as an insult to anyone diagnosed with Aspergers. We all come in different shapes and sizes ..note to self. In my opinion , Psychologist have yet to come up with all the answers or the range of Aspergers not to mention diagnosing girls for that matter, so consider that your high IQ may be n exception to "their" rule or perhaps just another form of PDD. I would look up your states local department of mental illness and see if they can refer you to a specialist. Hope this helps.

Welcome.

I was diagnosed by an ASD specialist. He works solely with people on the autism spectrum and has trained in this specialist field.
My experience is many "generic" type psychologists are way behind and lacking in understanding regarding ASD's and tend to have a fairly narrow view of it - often based on the stuff they learned at college twenty years ago!

Before going to an ASD specialist - who i might add - stated he found it absolutely OBVIOUS i was on the spectrum (as he knows what to watch out for and screen for, and my forty or so pages of detailed self-analysis, criteria breakdowns and reports from family members was also a bit of an indicator ) - I was told by a generic psych in my home town that I could not have an ASD because I was female.

make sure you seek out an ASD specialist.
I think my specialist just might also be a tad more conservative in his diagnosing than some of his peers.

Many people with Asperger's have average or above average IQs. It's really weird how a guy in charge of a program for people with Asperger's would tell you that you can't have it because your IQ is too high. I wonder if this psychologist doesn't have the right credentials. Though, unfortunately, there are still many professional psychologists that don't understand autism well, and consider autistic to be synonymous with being unintelligent. Try doing a search for another autism specialist in your area. In my state, I was able to find an autism specialist that works with adults in my area by phoning a representative from the department of developmental disabilities. I found the information about the department of developmental disabilities by navigating the state's website. (However, the person who diagnosed me wasn't a specialist. He just have a lot of experience dealing with autistic people.)

I am amazed at the ineptitude of your health care provider, a_minority_of_one. I hope you might find someone worthy and educated in Psychology so you may have a 'proper' diagnosis.


I found my DX from a forensic psychologist. I live in the capitol city of my state, and the state asylum and penitentiary is here and he worked in a half way house. I went through several meetings and appointments with him, test after test and ink blots and seemingly ages in a windowless room lined with dusty bookshelves full of social science books some clear back to the nineteen thirties, I scribbled with #2 pencils and put the puzzles together and tried to find patterns in the colored dots. One day I went in for a consultation and he sat down and told me on and on and on. . .and when I found one of the DXes was specifically Asperger's Syndrome it was a good thing for me. However the psychologist didn't think it particularly significant, as he said it was probably a residual from a childhood condition that I had overcome with age. So, not really everyone knows about it.

I went to a educational psychologist, who I was referred to by my Office of Rehabilitation counselor back in august of 2009. Though I had been diagnosed with asperger's by a counselor back in 1999, but the autism agency who took me in decided to change it back to Autism and mental retardation to get me into their program, which was inappropriate for me. Because of this all of my doctors thought i had this and it ruined my life, especially the retardation part. It even caused me to be depressed and a whole lot of problems. So, I took charge of my life, left the Developmental disability services, went to the rehabilitation services to go back to school, needed a re-evaluation,especially since my new therapist said I needed one. So I got one and it turns I out I have a high IQ, about 124-130, and I have mild to moderate Asperger's. Now, I am doing well in school, and that agency is now sorry for what they did. Goes to show you that an appropriate diagnosis and taking charge of your own evaluation without anyone else's involvement can get you very far.

True. You need to take charge of your own life.

It’s kind of like being car sick. When I’m driving, my eyes just naturally do whatever they do and I’m fine. When I’m a passenger, I don’t know what to do with my eyes and it makes me sick.