Aspergers evaluation> What happens?
Hello new guy here *waves*
I have recently been referred to an autism specialist as a few doctors believe I could have aspergers. Now going out and seeing new people especially people in places of authority like doctors and such scares the life out of me. I was just wondering if anyone can tell me what happens at these evaluations as to try put my mind at rest.
Many thanks.
It depends. Some ask you questions relating to AS symptoms. Some get you to take an IQ test.
I first got tested by a psychologist who I saw about social anxiety first, so she basically looked back at all her notes, plus got some background from my mum and had 1 session where she diagnosed me.
But then my GP said she wasn't experienced enough to diagnose me, even though she said she was.
So I saw a psychiatrist who after not even an hour after questions diagnosed me with AS and said I should go on disability, so that I at least got something out of the diagnosis.
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They're really quite nice. My son has seen various doctors while he's been going through the process of being diagnosed, and they just talk to you... ask you questions about your life, your routine, how you feel about things. My son actually found it really helpful to talk about the bullying and teasing that he experiences. He was also tested for dyspraxia, which involved trying to do a few simple physical things like standing on one leg, walking toe to heel and so on, but I think that had nothing to do with the aspergers.
He's also been asked to look at pictures people, and identify what they were feeling... he said he found it "quite interesting". And he's listened to recorded dialogues in various tones of voice, and been asked to describe what the actors etc were doing.
Don't worry, it's not threatening or anything.
It's so long since I was diagnosed that I can't even remember it happening, but it seems that things have changed a lot for the better in the last thirty odd years.