Half way through my formal assessment

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Ok so the doctor spent nearly two hours with my mother and really grilled her.

I went in for a little while and she told me some things about me as a child my mother told her that I had forgotten.

I have to go back on the 26th for my full grilling and tests.

She did not say I had it but she noticed I could not maintain eye contact with her.

At this stage I am convinced that the doctor doing the assessment it convinced I have it.

My mother was in a bit of denial since I put things together nearly a year ago.

She straight out told me today it looks like I have it alright.

I don't know how I feel right now I wanted to prove I had it just so I could prove I was right but beyond that I feel a little numb.

I am in Europe and it looks like this American thing has caught on over here too because it I get this diagnosis it will not be Aspergers but Autism Spectrum disorder.

The way family members go into denial and say ah no it must be something else.

I guess I was expecting professionals to be somewhat skeptical too but the two I have seen on my journey to this assessment and the Doctor herself seem to have no doubt about me.

I have Autism and I guess I am more obvious then I had ever imagined.

Like I said I feel a bit numb right now.

I got the diagnosis early this year and even though I thought it was possible, and I knew it was likely - must getting the feedback that two psychologists also thought it was also very likely that I was on the spectrum made me feel weirded out - as if something had changed for ever..and that I never had to question myself again on this subject. Its as if something has ended and something new began. Sounds a bit dramatic but there you go... !

I think I know what you mean by numb - I was v nervous after the psychologist took so long to interview my mother and get the report together... she didnt say that she thought I had it, so I was nervous reading it then I felt so relieved to have it all written down - and to have finally an explanation for a lot of stuff.

This has given way to relief and also a feeling of ...... boldness I think - and also feeling a bit more confident because I did self-diagnose and I did have to go against a few people's ideas in my family to get to this assessment.. some people dont like labels in my family..

so I wish you well with this and I hope that it is really helpful to you

Thank you shubunkin and about the label thing my mother was trying to talk we out of the formal assessment.

I think today has changed her opinion.

So, I got my diagnosis for Asperger's Syndrome in Feb 2012. I know that now it is different, as it is Autism Spectrum Disorder, but does that only apply to diagnosis' received after the revision of the DSM, or for all diagnosis', even before the revision.

Is it like now I am classified under the new DSM, or since I got my Dx before the revision, I am still "Aspergers"

Getting a diagnosis can help other family members, including extended family members, take the Autism Spectrum more serious, including for themselves, including for their children.

And it goes without saying that you are a worthwhile person whether you are on the Spectrum or not! And I for one welcome 'bridge persons' here participating at WP, and by this I mean some Spectrum traits but not others, although it sounds like you probably are Spectrum.


PS I myself am self-diagnosed and am comfortable this way. But then, I'm fifty years old.

I can relate to feeling of surprise and, i don't know how describe... maybe 'discomfort', at being told the results of my psych assessment by the neuropsychologist who conducted the testing, that some things I do are "classic" autistic or OCD indicative behaviours.

While our official diagnosis will remain Asperger's Syndrome, it may no longer be referred to as such by medical professionals. That is my understanding. It seems to be mostly a matter of semantics. Existing diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome under DSM-IV criteria = Austism Spectrum Disorder in DSM-V, as far as government support and insurance will be concerned. Last I heard, re-assessment should not be necessary just because the DSM wording and criteria have been somewhat altered.