Aspergers Syndrome - Presenting your case?

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Hello everyone,

I believe I am living with Aspergers Syndrome (Or perhaps a different ASD).

I have been doing some research (which is how I originbally found this site) and it seems that it's best to "Present your case!"

As ridiculous as this does indeed sound, I understand going prepared would be beneficial as (and I'm sure you'll understand) I have problems getting my point accross.

However, I don't want to go into the doctors with a folder full of "aspergers symptoms" and indeed I don't want to go in with a folder full of waffle - although I guess taking in lists of my history etc would be helpful.

So, it leaves the question, how should I approach it?

Should I say I believe I mahy have been living with AS/ASD?

Also, I have "Anxiety" and they always seem to blame any issue at all on this. Although after researching, I believe it has been as a result of the unknown, underlying AS/ASD.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I'm really nervous that they will just totally dismiss this as I'm in my twenties and in the UK and it seems to be notoriously difficult.

That (^^) is pretty much what I did.

I presented it in type - with words similar to those two statements to yours at the top - followed by request for an assessment referral (in bold, large font). Following that I had a couple of short examples of things that had been problems for me for each of the "triad of impairments". It was one side of A4, and a large enough font to be easily read - and not too detailed.

I did it in writing because I always find it difficult to talk in appointments. I write down key points before hand as it helps to clarify what I want to say (like a script) and it also acts as a backup if I actually can't speak. On the occasion I brought this up with my GP I was unable to speak to volunteer this information, but was able to answer direct questions after she had read it.

I have a history of depression & anxiety, am in the UK and I was 37 at the time I approached a GP (who had never met me before) with this, and I am also female so that makes it even less likely I'd get taken seriously on this - and like you I was scared of being dismissed. But I wasn't.

Last edited by YellowBanana on 27 Nov 2011, 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It's quite possible that your GP has no idea about AS. What I did was arrange an interview at an autism centre with a remedial kindergarten for autistic children and support for autistic adults. At the time I thought I definitely had AS so I just said on the phone "I have AS and don't know what to do next." They gave me an appointment for a one-hour session and I prepared a numbered list of over a hundred things from my life which seemed to indicate a suspicion of AS. After about twenty minutes the person conducting the session said it was clear I had AS and gave me some addresses where I could get a diagnosis. I then LOST one of the addresses, had an unfortunate telephone conversation with the other one. I was too embarrassed to contact them again so I made an appointment with my GP. Because I knew she wouldn't have time to listen to a list of 110 items I wrote a document detailing briefly what was wrong with me, what AS is and that the two matched each other, apparently. She gave me a referral to the university psychiatric clinic who said they don't deal in AS. So I rang up the place where I'd had the unfortunate telephone conversation and was given an appointment for testing in 15 months time because they have such a long waiting list. Since then I have been to an AS support group and been given again the address I lost. Tomorrow I'm planning to phone this person, a psychologist who specialises in AS and who has a waiting list of only 5 months.

I hope this information helps you in some way.

(Since attending the session at the autism centre I have decided that the person who saw me wasn't qualified to judge whether I have AS, so the question is still completely open).

Last edited by Halligeninseln on 27 Nov 2011, 5:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

My parents called up someone who specialized in diagnosing ASDs saying that there was reason we thought I had Asperger's.

Actually going to see him, I brought nothing, we just answered his questions, not trying to "prove" it to him.

I agree. It's really important to go in with something written. About one side of paper with the most important points. I knew I would get nowhere if I just mumbled something about AS and mentioned a load of problems. Starkly described in black and white it looked much more convincing. Also, I don't see anything wrong with "arguing one's case" because all one wants is to be taken seriously enough to be tested. In the test itself one doesn't have to argue anything, because you want an objective evaluation and if you don't have AS then that is what you want to know.

I brought in a list of symptoms, well spaced out lines and in point form. The second time I wrote a mini essay, haha. But I got diagnosed both times. Second time was to get on disability and make it official.

If you haven't got the best memory and find it hard to talk I don't see what is wrong with a small list of the most impairing symptoms. Although if you are good at talking maybe just answering questions would be good enough because doctors don't want you to tell them what you think you have.

I didn't present a case at all. I just called the psychologist and said, "I have Asperger Syndrome. I want to be tested. How much will it cost, and when can you see me to get this started?"

It's really that simple. Make an appointment and let them do their job. Just be sure to pick a doctor that specializing in ASD's. If they don't advertise that they do, look elsewhere.

If you pick a specialist, you shouldn't need to present a case. If you have it, they'll see it. If you don't, they'll let you know, and tell you why.

This was also why I didn't present a case. I wanted an accurate diagnosis, I didn't want one that wasn't accurate even if it wasn't the result I expected. I acted no "more autistic" in the testing room than I would have anywhere else that day. I've heard people say you should play up stimming and such, I strongly think that you shouldn't, you should act entirely natural, because that's how to get the accurate diagnosis.

Don't claim that you can do more than you can do, but at the same time, don't show off your autistic traits to try to get the diagnosis that you want.

I figured I'd ask them whether or not I had AS, or if it was just NVLD, or if NVLD and AS were different, and then ramble on incessantly about the differences between NVLD and AS I researched, then ask whether or not they thought I had AS. I think then they'd promptly tell me to stop talking and that I have AS. I think it's more because I come off as so "weird" that people just go "hell, something must be wrong with him, but I don't know what."

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies!

YellowBanana - I'm glad that you managed to get an assessment, could you tell me who you were sent to and what the assessment was like?

Halligeninseln - One of my concerns is the possibility of my GP not knowing much about the Autism Spectrum. I have been considering contacting an autism centre and asking them a few things, I might give ethat a try.

Tuttle - Thanks for sharing that, I'm not looking to prove anything per say, it's just that when I am in a situation, especially appointments etc, I often lose track of things and forget half of what I want to say. I also read that it's usually a good idea to "present your case" although I'm posting this thread because I'm unsure about that.

MrXxx - Thanks for your reply, I need to first go through my GP as I will be seeking an assessment through the NHS and therefore I can't directly make an appointment with a psychologist. I will try to get a Psychologist who specialises in ASD's though.

I'm surprised it was so simple. Here it seems to take five months minimum. How long did you have to wait? I have savings and would be very willing to pay for my own diagnosis if it could be speeded up. I hate this limbo state of not knowing.

When there was the idea, I might have autism my husband called a clinic for me to get assessed. Because I would have too many problems to do it myself, I cannot do this. I had an appointment within two weeks with a specialist for autism. I did a couple days of assessment and my husband got interviewed, because my family isn't here and I got diagnosed. This week I had a doctors appointment to receive special support. I was scared that they would't believe me (maybe it's a common problem when you are receiving DX late and you think "noone believes you and you don't believe yourself", because you are so insecure about yourself and everything in general). So I asked my psychologist, if I had to bring some evidence, that autism is harder to detect in women. But she told me not to, because people might think, that I "want to convince" them. So I just went there without anything. The doctor asked me questions like whether I cook on gas or electricity. I don't understand this question. Anyway, I hardly do cook. But it is on electricity.

Listing things you find noteworthy to have there for you seems like a good idea. Going in with "I think I have Asperger's this is why", I don't think is a good idea. I'd list everything you find noteworthy whether it fits with what you know of Asperger's or not, have that available and refer to it while answering questions to try to help you remember what to say, and then if/when you are asked if there's anything more to mention give it to them. At least the specialist I saw would have asked pretty much all of the relevant questions anyways.

I agree

The other concern I have though is finding someone suitably knowledgable in ASD's especially with regards to adults. It's not so easy when it's done through the NHS :-/

Yeah, I definitely...

- Dont want to convince anyone of anything (nor appear as if i do).
- Do want to know what it is that I am living with.

Also, I am curious about this gas or electric cooking too, I can't see what this has to do with anything. I'll do a websearch and see if anything comes up and if it does I'll post back.

Yes, and you are right. You feel, that there is something wrong with you and you find the most answers in the autistic spectrum, so it is very logical to ask to be assessed. For - I guess - almost everyone here, it is normal, that you want to prepare yourself into detail. But my psychologist (specialized in autism) gave me the message: other people (NT) will give another interpretation to it than you do. It's like they call it "pretending" or "cheating". (Sorry, I don't want to offend non-autistic people on this forum by writing this). It is only the reason my psychologist gave me to be careful to provide information like that.
But: This was not to receive a diagnosis but to receive general support.
So if you have a person assessing you, who knows about Asperger's, they will understand why you are prepared into detail, I guess.
I mean, they should know it in a way or not?