Getting an official diagnosis?

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I am self-diagnosed. I first came across a reference to AS on Slashdot, asd "geek autism", and it became sort of a joke with myself. Then I made the joke to a friend, who told me about AS specifically and pointed me to an article on Wired's website, and it really did make sense.

I have a friend who has a child with AS, and apparently he is not as high-functioning as I am. He does not believe I have it. Also, my mother was a special ed teacher who has worked with AS kids, and she says I'm not either. My dad also says he doubts it, which I find amusing because I see a lot of Aspie in him as well.

I've been fairly certain that I actually am for about five years, but wasn't really positive until I found this site.

Now I'm wondering... is there any benefit to getting an official diagnosis? As near as I can tell, there's no treatment, other than antidepressants (and I have my family for that), and the possible gluten-free diet (which ain't happening, I'll deal with it).

Oh, and... how would I go about getting such a diagnosis?

For many, a DX is confirming what they have already suspected and just a simple peace of mind. Sorry, I can't offer any info on getting one though.

I balk at going for an "official" diagnosis since I don't see what difference it would make. The only places I tell people about being an aspie are here and two other online communities that have a lot of aspies. I don't tell people offline since there'd be no reason to do so, and besides it's my business.

On one of the other forums that I participate in, one with several aspie members (self-diagnosed and otherwise), there was recently a debate that became rather heated: someone posted the notion that those who have not obtained a formal diagnosis from a mental health-care professional should not make any claim about being an Aspie. I countered that there some people are unable to obtain such a diagnosis for one reason or another (lack of access to an appropriate professional, lack of funds with which to pay for a visit to an appropriate professional, etc.), and that she was not being fair to those people.

So now I am wondering... should I bother getting an official diagnosis? All I have to lose is the time I'd spend finding and seeing a psychiatrist... and I doubt any of them would make a formal diagnosis with a single visit. Plus, I've done considerable research on my own about AS (taking advantage of my undergrad degree in Psychology for where and how to look for info), and nothing else (eg, ADD, ADHD, bipolar depression, etc.) has ever come close to describing me.

NAW! A lot of doctors are quacks ANYWAY! It is too subjective. ESPECIALLY if you are older, and people don't know enough to put the pieces together. Take your life, and compare it to the profile, and others that think they have it. If it fits, maybe you can learn something.

Heck, I had SOME behaviour that came close to tantrums. My employer once did something behind my back, and I FLEW OFF THE HANDLE! In retrospect, it WAS tantrum like. I DID have a point, but still WHY was I like that? Why THEN? Other times I can be on an even keel. And I do subtly rock sometimes. I have had a stim for as long as I can rmember. Yet nobody seems to notice. I always considered it normal, etc... If I was listening to an ipod, one would think it was in beat to the music! My mother thinks I am simultaneously involved with MANY things, rather than only 1-2 at a time. Odd, since most for DECADES thought I was interested only in electronics. I tend to avoid cases where uncoordinated movements may be obvious. OTHER things my mother sees, but how many others realize about my skewed senses? So how could a doctor honestly tie it all together, etc???

And it apparantly can take DAYS!?!? CRAZY!

Steve

I have recently discovered AS. I am 55. The likelihood of having AS has answered so many questions I have had about myself, given explanation to so many confusing experiences, and put so many aspects of myself and my behavior into perspective.
However, being self-diagnosed does not give finality to all of my questions and answers. Therefore, I am in the process of obtaining a professional evaluation through the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center. A professional evaluation will give authority to, or eliminate, that which I strongly suspect and which many online self-tests have lent credence to; that I do have AS.
I found a diagnostic resource through MAAP. You can probably find resources in your area by visiting the MAAP resource site here;

http://www.asperger.org/MAAP_Sub_Find_I ... upport.htm

I'm inclined to agree that it's not fair, especially considering the value I myself am gaining from this forum despite the lack of a professional dx. But there's always a concern about Munchausen syndrome.



I guess the real problem I'm seeing here is this-- what if I'm wrong? What if I'm actually suffering from something else? I really don't think so, as AS seems to be the only thing that explains me, but could I be hurting myself by assuming that it's AS and not something else?



Which raises the other point. I know enough about medicine to know that just because it comes from a doctor, it isn't necessarily true. My mom always like to point out that they call it "practicing" medicine for a reason. (I'm not so extreme... but I admit there's some truth to it.)

I just received AS DX a few months ago.....hasnt made me any richer, younger, better looking, smarter or......fill in the blank.It would be nice if I wasnt so cynical,because I still am not sure I believe it.I know something is "different" and out of kilter with me and havent found anything that fits so many diverse traits,but....psychology is so wrong,so often.I think,short of a physical test,I will always harbor some question about this DX.I just wish knowing about AS would actually take away some of my "spaceiness"....it makes it so difficult to accomplish the things I would like and frustrates and depresses me.I am not saying I want to be more "NT" but I would like find better ways to cope with the traits I dont like....maybe it is really dissociation "not" caused by the AS.I can deal with most of the other traits but this "spaceing out" is driving me nuts.

My wife periodically will ask me "Where were you just now?"

I never have an answer.

there are lots of advantages, they let u off for many more things, plus you can claim disability benefit

Well, that's all well and good for people who need it. But my job involves sitting at a computer for eight hours and sometimes talking on the phone. Admittedly, talking on the phone is irritating, but what with the getting paid and all, it's not so bad. I've no need of a disability benefit, and no desire to get any special accomodation at work.

I'm also wondering if an official diagnosis might make it harder to gain employment. Is one required to disclose such a diagnosis to an employer?

I'm reasonably certain I couldn't lose this job for it... even if I thought my managers were that sort (they're not), such would make me a very wealthy man. My so-called disability has never prevented me from consistently getting glowing performance reviews, and no jury in the world would fail to award me massive amounts of cash.

Well, it is against interviewing rules for employers to even ask you about disabilities or medication or s**t like that. In fact, I'm even going through discrimination of disability with my job at this very moment, my union is encouraging me to press charges.

So, no, you are definately not required to tell about your diagnosis to the employer, I didn't have to. But the employer knew though, and I was still kept, and went on to become one of their best employees in my position.

I have seen others here post ,that it is more difficult to get life insurance (outside of your job)with a DX of AS.I dont know if this is true.I dont think you would have an easy time trying to get disability with an AS DX ,especially ,if you have years of work experience.They really dont care if your job makes you miserable....lots of NT are miserable in their jobs.If you are capable of doing even the most menial type of work for min. wage,they will expect that before they will consider disability.(i am referring to the USA policy)I know their are people who have gotten around this with a good lawyer. Living on disability isnt much fun either.

I really cant see much point in getting a DX,unless your AS is giving you a lot of difficulty.There may be some things a counselor would recommend for a person with AS then a person with social anxiety caused by life experience.Some people find a sense of relief knowing "why" they are so "different" but that only works if you can completely trust the DXer.