What's the procedure for getting tested?

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candp
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05 Dec 2010, 6:13 am

I'm just out of college and I'll have decent health insurance again starting in January, as well as services provided by graduate school.

Shortly after I left for college, several of my family members mentioned that, when I was quite young, they decided I fell somewhere along the Autism Spectrum; I don't believe Asperger Syndrome had been established when they decided this. Despite this, they refused to get me tested or let the school test me because they didn't want me to grow up with the label. Everyone who told me this has at least a Masters in either Counseling or Education with an emphasis in Special Education, so I can't just write their opinions off. Apparently my parents tried to do the behavioral therapies they did with the autistic children they worked with at home with me, but disguised them as play. My mother taught me sign language because I had a ton of trouble verbalizing things, especially desires. I still operate off of lists of social protocol they taught me; things like compliments, staring, recognizing facial emotions, not toe-walking or flapping my hands or spinning or running my hands along walls or touching my face in public, etc. Friends in college had to teach me how to give/receive a hug.

I was and still am very angry that no one mentioned this to me when I was younger. School was absolutely terrible and frustrating; I was constantly frustrated/sad/angry by how hard it was to interact anyone and get them to understand me or what I was saying. Everything social seemed so much harder for me than everyone else and I couldn't understand why. I'm better at it than I used to be, but I'm still anxious a lot of the time about how to act like a normal person.

I would feel better if I could talk to an impartial professional, someone who wasn't biased because they've known me for 20 years. I'd like to know for sure whether or not I fall somewhere on the spectrum. But I have no idea how to do that, or what kind of doctor to look for or if I just start calling up therapists in the area.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.



wavefreak58
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05 Dec 2010, 8:36 am

Don't just pick someone at random from a listing. Find an organization in your area that works with autism. They should be able to refer you to professionals that specialize in autism.


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Moog
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05 Dec 2010, 9:36 am

Your parents seem quite enlightened to me. They acted out of kindness, even though you may think they've done something hurtful. I've just hit 30 not knowing the first thing about what was wrong with me, no help or understanding or therapy, disguised or otherwise. So things could be a lot worse. Anyway, hope you find whatever you think you need to get on.


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Claradoon
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05 Dec 2010, 10:08 am

For my diagnosis, my family doctor referred me to a psychiatrist who works with autism. I was interviewed by a psychologist on their "team" and got diagnosed as having Asperger's. I told them I wanted a one-sheet diagnosis that I could show to people if I wanted to. That's because all kinds of people think they can diagnose and they have foolish ideas. This way they can see my "official diagnosis" and go argue with the psychiatrist if they don't like it.

The one-page says that they analyzed me, gave me tests (names of tests but not results) and then it recaps the definition from the DSM. Under that it says "A diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder is warranted." It's on hospital letterhead and signed by the psychiatrist. I also have a file half an inch thick from the psychologist, but I don't show that to anybody.

I like this test on-line:

http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php



candp
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05 Dec 2010, 11:23 am

Quote:
Don't just pick someone at random from a listing. Find an organization in your area that works with autism. They should be able to refer you to professionals that specialize in autism.


Good idea. Most of them seem to be for families or children, but I emailed the ones that didn't specifically mention children.


Claradoon, a psychiatrist or a psychologist? One's an MD and the other's a PhD, and they do different things. I hit a 157/200 on the test you posted, but it seems informal. It was interesting, though; the thinking about traps question was surprising and pertinent. Didn't know that was associated.



Claradoon
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05 Dec 2010, 12:08 pm

candp wrote:
Claradoon, a psychiatrist or a psychologist? One's an MD and the other's a PhD, and they do different things. I hit a 157/200 on the test you posted, but it seems informal. It was interesting, though; the thinking about traps question was surprising and pertinent. Didn't know that was associated.


Autism/Asperger's is a neurological condition which can be Dx'd by autopsy or observation of behaviour.

You will need both a psychiatrist MD (because Asperger's is defined in the DSM) and a psychologist PhD (because diagnosis is by observation, for which psychologists are trained). Your referral should be to a Psychiatrist specializing in autism. The Psychiatrist will have an arrangement for getting the observation by psychologist. At least, my Dx was like that and I've read of others the same.

I think it should be removed from the DSM and put in with whatever book holds neurological things, but who's asking me?

You're right, any test on-line is informal. I liked that one because it really does come up with a pretty good picture of me; I like graphics; a pic is worth 1000 words etc. Did the diagram look like you?



candp
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05 Dec 2010, 1:10 pm

Quote:
. Did the diagram look like you?


Yeah, I guess. I was farthest to the edge on what it called Perception, Hunting and Communication, but Social was more toward the middle. Makes sense. I definitely don't like doing a lot of social things and think they're meaningless, nonsensical rituals, but I go through with them because I was trained or taught to. Plus my parents were big on getting me to interpret facial expressions. Didn't help the fact I'm still really bad at expressing emotions correctly, especially in voice tone.


Thanks for the clarification on psychologist to psychiatrist referral system!



Claradoon
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05 Dec 2010, 3:32 pm

I've been through a kind of odd loop re self-respect since diagnosis. At first, even though I knew it and wanted it official, I went into a depression. Something about being worse than an odd-ball; no hope of ever fitting in; blah blah blah. Then I went through a period of reconciliation - I noticed Asperger's traits in myself and thought, "What's wrong with that?" Now I'm in a phase where I notice smaller things like gestures or voice, and I gleefully think, "That too! See, I'm only differerent!"



emjay89
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05 Dec 2010, 8:45 pm

Probably a good idea to go see your usual doctor/GP first and see if they can refer you to a specialist.