Was assessed for Asperger's yesterday...

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wo0
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07 Jan 2011, 4:16 pm

So I'm currently 27 and found out about AS after taking the AQ test on facebook and scoring high. Since then I took more tests and read a lot, including Tony Attwood's book 'Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome' and I just knew I had it. So I made an appointment to see a psychologist (not an autism specialist as I couldn't find any locally) and after waiting 3 weeks I went along for the appointment yesterday.

Overall it took five hours. The first hour we discussed my difficulties, childhood, teenagehood, relationships with peers, interests, etc. He was taking copious amounts of notes. After this I did cognitive testing for around 3 hours. This included lots of memory exercises (e.g. repeating sequences of numbers back at him, drawing pictures he had shown me, remembering short stories, etc.), and other tests such as matrix problems (i.e. "what's the next shape in the sequence").

It was pretty obvious to me I was sucking terribly at all the tests that were verbal, but when the tests were based on looking at something in front of me I felt 1000x better. Not sure if that's typical for Aspie's but anyway...

Finally I sat a personality test. It was 560+ true/false questions with statements like "I am a good person", "People are out to get me", "I make friends easily", etc.

Then he said he would write up all the results in a report and call me in 3 weeks so we could "get to the bottom of all this, and see if this is Asperger's". So now I'm waiting. =)

I'm anxious as heck, especially as I was so honest about everything. Hopefully he confirms my self-diagnosis and maybe even suggests ways I can improve (e.g. support groups).

Exciting stuff, I will post an update here after I see him next...



Todesking
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07 Jan 2011, 4:34 pm

Its good your taking care of it by getting tested at age 27 I was found to have it age 40.


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j0sh
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07 Jan 2011, 4:37 pm

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Just hang in there. The hard stuff is out of the way, and now you just need to wait for results. Is there some kind of special interest you can dive into for a few weeks?



jonnysound
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09 Jan 2011, 1:07 am

I have my 5 hour diagnostic assessment soon. but its a long waiting list. 2nd June! took 2 months to get this letter for the appointment. I have to take my mum with me. you have to wait 3 weeks?, i was hoping to find out right after the test :x



blahblah123
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09 Jan 2011, 1:23 am

To anyone who has been diagnosed, do you feel relieved that you have aspergers? I mean, so you can explain to everyone why you're so "weird" and different?

I'm slowly working up the courage to go see a psychiatrist.



jonnysound
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10 Jan 2011, 2:06 am

I'll be happy if it is, then it all makes sense with all the obsessions, confusion, social things etc.. :lol:


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(officially diagnosed with Asperger's 2nd June 2011 @ 12:56pm)


AbsentMindedProf2
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10 Jan 2011, 6:23 am

I'm really interested in your post.

I'm unsure whether I would be diagnosed Aspergers or not. I think more likely yes than no.

Having given it quite some thought before I'd decided that I was happy with not trying to get a diagnosis - almost as if to see it for me as just as a personality type (with all the traits for better and for worse so well-described on the pages here at WP) and to get on with things whether that involves trying to adapt to social situations as well as possible or giving myself space to be myself a little more now and again.

But that said, I can also relate to what jonnysound says:

Quote:
I'll be happy if it is, then it all makes sense with all the obsessions, confusion, social things etc..


It makes sense of a lot of things: issues, times when things haven't gone as well as hoped etc., and maybe it would be useful to have a full professional opinion on that. Would it be a relief? I'm interested in any answers people have to that question too.

Scores on the Aspie Quiz:
114 Aspie / 96 NT
...but when my wife did the quiz, answering as she thought I would do:
133 Aspie / 68 NT
???


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note to self: must try harder to think of witty and appropriate aphorisms

Aspie Quiz results: Aspie Score - 114, NT Score - 96
However, with my wife answering the questions as if me:
Aspie Score - 133, NT Score - 68.
what does this tell us?


magicmom
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10 Jan 2011, 8:11 am

You are really brave. Not everyone is as brave as you to reseach and learn.
And you should be super proud of yourself. Trying to find out about you is healthy
and smart. Whatever the results will be you know that you have some unique
qualities otherwise you would never have been interested in reading Tony Atwood
or learning about AS.

Hang in there just a few more weeks.
Thinking of you and hoping you find the answers.