All of the specialists are pediatric?

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RikkiK
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03 Jan 2015, 11:53 pm

Near where I live. There's even this great Autism/PDD specialty center through my provider (though I doubt my insurance even covers specialty psych), but it's for children.

I mean, technically I'm still 19. I know some place count pediatric as high as 21, but I know it wouldn't even be the approach I need as an adult. Advice? The only adult specialist I found doesn't do actual evals. I would like a specialist, because I'm very afraid of being immediately dismissed by someone who doesn't know ASD well, as I have with crap high school counselors and family, etc.



ASPartOfMe
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04 Jan 2015, 1:03 am

Not all, but pretty much so. Similar situation with research also. This is a huge problem.

There are several options all of them with some serious issues.

The best option seems to be that universities that will asses and diagnose you for free as part of a study. But you will have to pay the expense of getting there if one is not nearby

Fly to a big city where there are adult specialists but you will not only pay for airfare and lodging but the several thousand dollars cost of the assessment as it is not covered by insurance. This option is most likely cost prohibitive for a 19 year old.

Taking a chance with your local psychologist. Some do understand autism but the risk is high for a non or mis diagnosis. If rejected and you can afford it, go for a second third or fourth psychologist. But that opens you up to allegations of diagnosis hunting and fictitious disorder.

The very controversial Self diagnosis option. It means what it says generally researching the topic and perusing your life based on the assumption you are autistic. You will get no benefits such as disability without an official diagnosis. While many will be supportive a significant portion of the autistic community will not consider your belief that you are autistic valid and may resent the self diagnosed for allegedly trivializing their autism. Various support groups seem to accept the undiagnosed and on Wrong Planet criticism generally limited to the concept of self diagnosis not you as a person. Here you can get answers from people who have gone through similar issues as you have. When researching if possible interview people who knew you as baby or a young child. Read a number of books


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Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 04 Jan 2015, 1:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

BTDT
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04 Jan 2015, 1:07 am

There is a good reason for the reluctance to do adult evaluations--psychiatric disorders typically show up in early adulthood--greatly complicating diagnosis.

But, if you have kids with autism, then it becomes much easier to give out an autism diagnosis--as it often runs in families.