As an adult what would you bring with you to an evaluation?

Post Reply New Topic

I contacted an autism specialist to see if he evaluated adults and he told me that he does. I am going to make an appointment but wondering if there is anything I should bring with me to the appointment?

i can't say if this would work for you or not, but i know it would work for me. some help, i know
anyways, i'd bring a list of talking points, that you have memorized but just the same have the list on a little scrap of paper somewhere that you can discreetly refer to it when you need a reminder. these talking points would be the things you have struggled-with and been bothered by for enough of your life that you are seeking professional help in ameliorating them. and since in retrospect, i realize it is not always a comfortable feeling being under the microscope of dispassionately intelligent people, i would bring a comfort thingy along and not be ashamed about doing so- for me, this would be a little teddy bear - for you, i wouldn't know but maybe you would know.

good luck
bruce

I am taking lots of notes as I research Asperger's and plan on having my talking points on a paper in case I need a reminder - just like auntblabby described.

As for something to carry for comfort, I tend to regard certain rings like that. I look down at my hands a lot and can look at the stone for comfort. I also have to dress in perfectly comfortable clothes - that includes texture and color.

The testing procedure for adults is pretty standardized. You don't need to bring anything - it's their job to determine whether or not you have AS or something else, so you don't need to come prepared to 'prove' anything. In fact, doing so could conceivably work against you, making them feel that you don't respect their education and experience enough to trust their judgment, which might cause the examiner to have a dismissive attitude. It's mostly the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (a long-ass multiple choice test), Rorshach inkblots, colored block puzzles, free association quizzes, and so on...you don't need to bring anything or study beforehand.

OTOH: Personally, I'm a 'carrier' - I always have something with me, whether its a huge shoulder tote full of pencils, pens and sketchpads, or just a small notebook and my iPod and keys - I'm just more comfortable having something physical to hold onto and fiddle with, but that's just me. I don't see how that would be a problem.

When I went in for my diagnosis I brought a copy of my high school transcripts (I would have brought my grade school transcripts but they weren't available) and printouts of the online AS tests I'd taken. My diagnosis was in two sessions, and the psychologist used the second session to ask follow-up questions based on the documents I'd brought in.

You should ask the specialist if there are any documents you should bring with you to help in the evaluation. My psychologist specifically asked for school transcripts.

i was asked to bring school reports. the assessment itself was interview based, very structured and took 4-5 hours going through details from childhood to now.

That's weird ASgirl. Didn't you have to do any psychometric testing or anything? I had to do WAIS testing, EQ / SQ tests, that awful eyes test, and some other stuff as well. It took several sessions! Maybe I should bring them my school reports hehe... they're well funny Where did you get diagnosed, at school / uni / NHS / private-medical? I got diagnosed through the NHS. It was weird. Glad it's over!

PS our cats look well cute

Maybe it depends on the person. I think the older you are the more difficult it is for professionals to tell because you learn to hide it with age.

Myself

Hi Marsian, my psychiatrist used the DISCO assessment (developed by Lorna Wing) and I did not have to take any test. It was a very comprehensive structured interview, going through heaps of information. It was done over a couple of sessions. I had it done at the Priory Hospital. But the optometrist was NHS.

I was told that DISCO was designed with adults in mind too, where as the other tests like the ADI and ADOS are more suitable for children/adolescent.

I brought a list of my autistic traits that I made using Microsoft Exel. I started talking, and eventually just showed the list to the psychiatrist and psychologist.
I also brought one of my Beany Babies (Sarge the German Shepherd) hidden in my bag for comfort and stimming.

For me the evaluation was a meeting with a psychiatrist and psychologist in which they just asked me questions, followed by a meeting of the psychiatrist and psychologist with my parents in which the same thing happened.