Taking a list of AS characteristics to an assessment

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When going for your assessment, for AS diagnosis, should you take a list of characteristics?

I imagine at some point someone may ask me why I think I have asperger's - I don't know, maybe they'll just rely on their own observations - but if they do this then I doubt I'd be able to tell them. It's like when I went to therapy in my teens, I went because I was unable to talk to people, so I never understood how it was I was expected to then talk to the therapist.

I'm not sure how well I would be able to communicate AS characteristics to the person doing the assessment, there is a list a mile long with example after example, having a list may be able to express these things easier than I can...but I can't imagine anyone wanting to try to read through several pages worth of such examples...and I don't think medical professionals would appreciate a list made-up of examples from online lists of AS characteristics.

The need for diagnosis is growing more and more desperate - due to issues with benefits, support, etc. - so I'd want to get it all sorted as soon as possible, make sure there is no hold-up, as I have memory issues and no family to talk for what I was like as a child I worry this may hold-up diagnosis. I guess in a way without knowing what assessments are really like, given as it seems to differ greatly from area to area, I don't know what to expect and am getting anxious as well as wanting some control over what will happen.

I definitely plan to take a list of characteristics to my appointment, when it happens.

I will also explain that if I do not list my symptoms in writing that I will forget some of them. I hope it doesn't cause an issue, but I get a whole hour and a half and the person I am seeing doesn't necessarily specialize in AS.

Taking a list might be a bad thing. I suggest show it to him but do not leave it with the doctor. You will be given questionaire which they use as a persanality test of some sort if you leave the list and you do not appear on paper to have some of those traits you listed then it could cause some problems. Such as more testing or visits maybe. But then again I am paranoid.

When I went in for an assessment I was given a lot of forms and questionnaires to fill out ahead of time, so there was no need for me to take a list with me. The only problem I can see with taking your own list to the assessment is that some doctors are very touchy and like to do things their way, and they might be uninterested in seeing your list. I don't think you should let that stop you however. The other possible problem is that psychologists and psychiatrists often want to learn about you by talking, and they will not be interested in the list. I find this attitude on their part quite annoying, but sometimes you just have to go along.

I think sometimes it doesn't matter if the person isn't willing to listen. At my first meeting with a psychiatric nurse practitioner (who I'm seeing for meds management-I was shifted onto her from someone else), I told her my son had Asperger's and I believed I did too. I could almost hear her mind snap shut. It was literally one of the first things I said to her, so it wasn't after observing me for a while. Some professionals are highly suspicious of people who do their own research and almost seem to reject your thoughts on a matter of professional principle.

I don't know if it's necessary to give the list to the practitioner, but I know it helps me to have information written down so I can refer to it.

I took a list...and I never once pulled it out. The interview just kind of flowed, and I took the advice of someone on one of my facebook groups who told me not to rehearse and just let them see the real me in action (because I rehearse EVERYTHING). I never gave them my list (they will ask you the questions they need if you are specifically going for an AS diagnosis!) and I was diagnosed after one session instead of the four I was originally supposed to attend.