How to get a diagnosis as an adult and how much?

Post Reply New Topic

As the title says, how? I'm totally clueless. Ask your GP for a referral? Do you go see a psychologist or a psychiatrist? I'm thinking the former since the latter would probably try to push drugs on me. How many sessions does it normally take? Also how much? Yes, I know it varies depending on location. Since I'm in New England, it's going to be pretty expensive I bet. I'm pretty positive I'm on the spectrum but would like to find out for sure or if there's something else which has led to my pitiful life.

I think the first critical step is identifying someone qualified to do a Dx for AS in ADULTS who is willing to grant a Dx if it is sought.

Once you find who can do it, the next step is to find out what is needed to be referred to them.

I find the first step hard enough by itself. The number of people qualified and skilled at AS diagnosis in ADULTS is a comparatively short list compared to those who can do it for minors.

I have just come home after the first consultation in a psychological center with aspergers-expertise, - mostly for young people, but.... the psychologist told me, that he had been working with Tony Attwood
I found the center myself and talked to them. The psychologist adviced me to seek him for depression and ask for a referral from the PD. (I had just come out of a slight depression, so OK) She thought it a great idea and wrote me one.
It seems, I was right, but it also seems, that I have a touch of ADHD.
I will see him again next week and will eventually end up with a paper or a report to my doctor.
I´m paying 383 Dkr. - about 67 us Dollars per consultation.
You could go the same way.

Provided medical people in the part of the US where the OP lives do things the same way as they do where you live.

If you have health insurance and are a member of a particular health clinic, have a behavioral health specialist or psychiatrist diagnose you down there. You might pay a small co-pay. This was how I got my AS diagnosis.

Of course, but I have got the impression, that the health systems all over basically share some things, such as possibility of referrals from PD and therefore cheaper consultations for people without health insurance.
Is it different in the states?

I don't know how to get one either and I don't have a primary doctor to ask for a referral.

The OASIS site lists local resources:
http://www.aspergersyndrome.org/Local.aspx

I was diagnosed through my Medical insurer Kaiser Permanante. I asked my doctor how to go about getting a diagnosis and she reffered me to the Behavioural therapy dept where a Specialist diagnosed me with HFA. I'm 37.

I googled neuropsychology for my town here in the US and found a handful locally who work with aspergers.

Intake was $175 and I have been told that the full-day testing would be ~$1,500-$1,800. During intake I was told that because I have insurance (but haven't decided whether to file or self-pay), they *may* be willing to give me the insurance rates rather than the self pay rate. Kinda blew me away as the insurance rates are way lower than self pay - shouldn't that be the opposite?

Lordy lawz, our economic system needs a massive priority overhaul...

Anywhosal, perhaps google for "aspergers <where you live> help" and see if there are specialists in the area that can diagnose and ask them how much it costs?

Just go to a doctor (GP) and ask them about it. They can refer you on to someone who can make the diagnosis (psychiatrist or clinical psychologist).

It's a medical condition, so treat it like one.

I have an eval next tues, being given by my psychologist. I was referred by my GP. They're in the same building. A GP may not be able to do it themselves, but they should know where to refer you. Referrals for various conditions of all sorts are routine.

In the US, insurance companies make doctors accept a percentage of "usual and customary" charges. This only drives up the cost of health care because if a doctor is compelled to accept 1/3 of U&C and needs $50 to cover the cost of running his practice on a per-visit basis, then he has to raise his standard rate to $150 to get that $50 from the insurance company.

This is why some people either look for a doctor who does not accept insurance (and can set his own rates) or find a way to pay "under the table" so an audit by the insurance company won't see that he'll do the work for less than he says he'd charge a non-insured for the service.

Yes, it's messed up. Insurance should pay 100% of what is deemed to be a fair cost for the services rendered considering the costs involved in operating a practice, not just hack thinks down to a percentage to create the illusion of a "discount."