What exactly are the tests a psychologist uses?

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My psychologist appointment isn't till November, but I took a couple of the tests mentioned in the thread at the top here and I see that it's stated that these tests are not diagnostic. So I'm wondering - what are the tests used for diagnosing Asperger's?

It's not just a "talk" diagnosis, is it? The psychologist just talks to you and sees how you interact, and that's it? Because that's too subjective - there'd have to be some kind of objective test to administer, I would think.

Those who were diagnosed by a psych, what exactly goes on in the first appointment? Were you or can you be diagnosed in just one appointment? I'm hoping it's not a multi-appointment deal stretched out over months.

The psychologist will administer a bunch of intelligence tests, and academic-accomplishment tests.

He/she will administer SOMEWHAT objective Aspergers-related tests to you, and to either your parents or a good friend. He/she will then compare your self-assessment with the assessment of those people who are close to you.

I was just asked a bunch of questions and then I had to do three practical tests, and that was it. She told me at the beginning that she wasn't a psychiatrist but that she used to be a paediatrician but now she works with adults.mI'm wondering if this is usually the case? I was referred to the clinic by a psychiatrist though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropsychological_test.
There is a list of different neurophsych tests listed here. I had a broken down IQ exam, several tests on task switching and executive function, and a few others.

Hmm my parents would not be available for that - my mother is passed and I'm not on good terms with my father (besides he's in Louisiana) (and besides he doesn't know me, only met him last year). Guess it would be my roommate (so he has to come with me? He's the only choice for 'good friend')

Ha I can already imagine what he would say about me - 'has meltdowns when she can't find her possessions, not enough friends, doesn't socialize, odd sleep schedule, gets absorbed in listening to same songs over & over, let's irritations from work bother her way too much, can't accept criticism, hates plans getting changed, loves her pets, etc' Oh yeah he'd provide an honest assessment of me

I'm actually looking forward to my appointment.

That sounds just like me.

Me too.

That's practically verbatim to what my mother wrote on the form she was asked to fill out about me

Anyway, to answer your question OP, the tests and the time it takes to administer them can vary depending on the doctor. My tests were broken into three days over three or four weeks, but I've read of many people getting all their testing done in one fell swoop. The most accurate and thorough tests used for assessing autism are the ADOS 2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) and the ADI-II (Autism Diagnostic Interview) -- as you have no parents available to discuss your symptoms, you won't be given the ADI because it's a detailed document that parents are asked to fill out about their child's history. The ADOS is set up like a series of games and brief social activities. You'll be asked to do things like describe the plot of a wordless picture book, pantomime tooth brushing or face washing, describe what's going on in a specific picture, invent a story using random objects as props that are in the story not the same as what they are in real life (a popsicle stick as a person or a playing card as a bed for example), and you'll have a conversation about things like emotions, what friends are, why people get married, etc. Your interactions with the examiner will be measured by another person, sitting unobtrusively in the same room and recording your results.

Other tests you may encounter are the WAIS-IV (an IQ test), the RAADS-II (a paper or online self-assessment measuring autistic traits) anxiety, depression, and other self-assessments, and possibly a test of attention span to rule out ADHD.

Maybe what my therapists did wasn't legit then because all they did was RAADS and the AQ test.... hmmm....

There's probably alot more he'd tell them about me, I just can't think of it ATM! I once had a meltdown because I couldn't find my plug-in air freshener unit

Thanks StarTrekker for that detailed information on testing - I know a bit of what to perhaps expect. Thanks to everyone who replied

Where did you all go to get diagnosed? I am wary of psychiatrists (only want to prescribe meds in my experience) and have not had great luck with therapy, either. I can't seem to find any professionals that actually specialize in ADULTS with Autism/Asperger's, and I'm not even sure if they are qualified to diagnose or just provide therapy. I've called two and have not received a response at all. I am in New York City for christ's sake, there should be more specialized resources for this. I also have minimal insurance and have a feeling I'll be paying out of pocket, but I need a formal diagnosis for my own peace of mind. This is driving me crazy. Any advice?

Me, I just requested it of my doctor. I just told him that I have reason to believe I have Asperger's, and he said he could refer me to a psychologist (I can never remember which one can prescribe - psychologists or psychiatrists, but I think the latter can, and the former doesn't?) I need a formal diagnosis too. I want to be told I'm on the right track. But I'm in Ontario so it's bound to be a different process than NYC.

My testing was divided into 3 ? 2 hour sessions, plus a 45 minute follow-up.

The testing included:
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)
- Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA+Plus)
- Brown ADD Scales
- Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST-R)
- Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRiEF-A)
- Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-IV)
- Vineland-II Adaptive Behavior Scales
- Advanced Clinical Solutions (ACS)
- Adult Asperger Assessment (AAA)
- Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2)
- Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III)
- Multidimensional Anxiety Questionnaire (MAQ)
- Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)
- Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test

Plus an interview (the discussion mostly focused around an intake questionnaire I completed which documented my history including early childhood development).

Some of the above tests were questionnaires (completed by myself and my wife outside the sessions). Some were administered by the psychologist.