Is it worth getting a diagnosis?

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Hi all, this is my first post here.

Basically I did an AQ test recently and got a 'high score' (40). So I wondered if people here thought it'd be worth trying to get a diagnosis?

I'm not sure what the benefits of a diagnosis would be, or if there would be any. I'm certainly having problems in life at the moment, because of my apparent inability to do a number of things that come naturally to other people. Whether that's because I'm slightly autistic, or for other reasons I don't know.

What is your experience of going through life into your 20s and getting a diagnosis that late on?

Well hell, go for it! And... As for the benefits of a diagnosis, you don't have anyone saying "Well, how do you know if you don't have a diagnosis?"

And for being in your 20s? I've been reading that most Aspies get diagnosed that late (or early), so... Don't feel bad! Buck up, mate and keep your head up!


Whoa... That read too optimistic...

I was diagnosed at age 22, it's done a huge amount for me. I'd definitely recommend to people to get a diagnosis if they're having struggles in their 20s.

Personally, I was able to get through school fine, because its just academics. Yeah I was bullied, yeah, I was the odd one out, yeah, I almost was kicked out of a specialized high school because of my autistic traits, but it was just academics. When you expected more from me than me going to school, learning, and proving that I learned (preferably in non-test manners), then suddenly my difficulties got so much huger.

However, I have to comment on you asking this question based off of one online test. Determining you want to be evaluated for a diagnosis off of that can make sense, but any single test is even more likely to come up with false results than the combination of a lot of research. Whether you pursue a diagnosis or not I think you need to do a lot of research about the autistic spectrum and see what that does for you and how much you relate.

I'm bumping this thread because I'm asking the same question.


I'm debating with myself the worth of getting a professional diagnosis...as my signature shows, I've taken two tests online that came back with flying Aspie colors, but that's not the major motivation for getting evaluated.

I've been diagnosed with several psychological disorders over the years, from Major Depressive Disorder to Bipolar Disorder (which I still think I have), to Schizoaffective Disorder. I've learned about each of them in turn, in great fixation detail, and until reading "Navigating Love and Autism" and subsequently being directed here, I've never felt so...at home. I've never been in a community, even online, where essentially each of my odd habits and inabilities have been shared by others, and understood. I wrote on Facebook that I felt like I'd "found my mothership". I've always said that I feel like an alien from another planet stuck here, a statement based in my inability to understand other people or socialize with them adequately. I feel like Asperger's is the answer, it's what fits better than anything ever has. It relieves me to think that what once was thought as hallucinations makes total sense as being an Aspie thing, or a sensory integration issue. It all completely fits.

A college near me runs a center for autism treatment, and they administer Asperger's testing to people in the community. The downside...it costs $500. I can't afford that. I'm getting my tax return in the next two weeks, and I could either dedicate a massive chunk of it to getting tested for something I know already, or not. The same center runs a therapy group for college students with Asperger's, and I talked to the director of it and she's happy to have me join, and it's free. Which is awesome.

Is it worth spending that much money to get an answer that I'm already fairly certain of? Is there another route I could go? I really don't want to spend $500, because that's, IMO, insane.

Thoughts, anyone?

Some vocational rehab groups will pay for someone to get evaluated (by the person of their choice, if they deem it necessary and they deem you disabled and that you need their help, and you have low enough savings + income).

Besides that, make sure your insurance doesn't cover a diagnosis. Some insurance companies, and some states, do have that. It tends to go into the deductible, but if you're like my family and go through the entire deductible in a year its useful to go through insurance anyways.


However, my diagnosis cost solidly more than $500 and has absolutely been worth the money to me. You need to go through what you'll get from a diagnosis beyond knowing for multiple reasons - partially how impaired are you actually and how much do you just have autistic traits, and secondly, how much will you get from the diagnosis, and how much is that worth for you.

You have a group to go to that'd be free and allow you to work with them now, what about the future? Will you need to see a therapist or counselor or someone else who knows the spectrum? Will you need something like vocational rehab or other help specifically for supporting yourself? Are you disabled enough that you'll look into things like SSI, or other government programs (food stamps, Mass Health in Massachusetts, etc)? How much help will you get from other people knowing about your diagnosis?

And more than all of those, will you need accommodations?

For me, those types of things were absolutely worth more than $500 (and it helped that my parents paid, but I'd have gone out of my way to get a diagnosis if they hadn't). For you, it might or might not.

There's more than just knowing at stake, there's also the support there is for autistic adults being available or not for you, even if its far less than should be available.

http://turtleisaverb.blogspot.com/2011/ ... nosis.html has more about my view on this at least when it came to my situation.

Wow, Tuttle, thank you, this is really helpful.

The problem with trying to get my insurance to pay for diagnostics, is that I do not have insurance. I used to live in Massachusetts, which essentially has universal health care, and when I moved down to Florida, they cut it off. Florida has no such program, and to qualify for Medicaid, you have to be severely disabled and unable to work, and since I didn't lie on my application and told them I've worked for the last three years...they denied me. I work now as a nanny, but obviously there's no benefits there (besides the emotional and financial benefits...)

I will definitely think more carefully and weigh the pros/cons of professional diagnostic testing.

ALL UNDIAGNOSED ASPIES MUST BE DIAGNOSED then preferably medicated, its the only way

expect to see a spike in ASD incidence from 2012 onwards, more $$$$$$$$$ for you know who

this is how your money is being spent

meh

Heh, what medication can they possibly use to quell half the stuff that Aspies have?

I do take 4 psychotropic medications, however, but for comorbid bipolar disorder.

Asperger's isn't medicated for. Large amounts of us have co-morbid ADHD which is often medicated for, co-morbid seizures, or co-morbid anxiety/depression but ASDs themselves aren't medicated for.

Yes you should get a diagnosis as it will be important in the long term.

Thanks for replies.

I'm no closer to deciding what to do but plan to 'read up' over the next week, as Tuttle suggested.

What does all this mean? Is it to do with the elections in America?

Aside from qualifying for certain kinds of assistance, how has getting a Dx improved your situation? Has it enabled you to make improvements in life, increased you ability to cope with certain things? My sole interest in seeking a Dx would be to understand myself better and find ways to cope with issues I have, but can't I do that now? Did I ask too many questions in one post? Is that a silly question?

Well, as I have said elsewhere, getting a DX was an enormous validation for me. It explained a lot that had been puzzling me in my life, and even though I was very late getting that DX (late 40's) I feel that I am a much better person for it.

Having the DX also helped when I had noisy neighbor issues, because I could ask for needed accommodation. It also helped when I had to receive physical therapy and had to ask for a quiet room instead of being treated out in the main gym. It helped me to avoid or at least plan for unavoidable situations where I might otherwise meltdown. It helped me to decline jury duty which I couldn't have dealt with on a daily basis for long.

Sure, you can do all this without a diagnoses. But for me, having it made things a hell of a lot better in my life. BTW, you can never ask too many questions! And there aren't any silly questions!