How do i ask for testing?

Post Reply New Topic

Hi all,

I'm seeing a new psychiatrist tomorrow (because i changed insurance plans). I want to ask to be tested for autism/Asperger's but am unsure of the best way to do this. I was going to just say, "I'd like to be tested, please!" but my therapist thinks this is the wrong approach. She thinks the psychiatrist might get offended because I'm telling her how to do her job, and that she would want to observe me and draw her own conclusions. This threw me into a panic (and a tantrum, i want my diagnosis NOW, waaah). Since psychiatrists usually only see me for 20 minutes once a month, that could take YEARS (or never).

How do I bring up this topic without offending her AND getting the testing that i want? Influencing/manipulating people is not my strong point--I don't get why people can't just say what they want straight out, and people tell me that's wrong somehow.

Honestly just be straight about it.

Or tell her how much trouble you've been having socializing and connecting with others and ask her what she thinks.
Then say that some people have said to you, they think you have Asperger Syndrome.

Don't ask. Tell her your problems and let her do the diagnostic.

I see nothing wrong with saying "I would like to be assessed for AS/ASD, please." and then explaining why you feel the assessment is necessary. That's actually how I contacted local psychologists.

Well, that didn't go very well. I had all sorts of reasons prepared for why testing and assessment would be helpful to me, only to be told they don't test adults for Asperger's/autism! I was starting to feel she didn't know what she was talking about, but didn't say that. I said that I'd read online that lots of people were diagnosed as adults, and she amended to say adult testing wasn't covered by my insurance, Kaiser Permanente.
She asked me why I wanted a label, which she seemed to regard a bad thing. All my excellent arguments I'd thought out went right out of my head, as I was struck by this wave of emotion. And when I get stressed, I forget how to speak, so all I could do was weep in frustration and gesture wildly. 'Cause that's so NORMAL.
Um. So. I think I could build a case for medical necessity (maybe in writing). For those of you diagnosed as adults, what tests or assessments were you given? How has diagnosis helped you?

Maybe you should look for a different doctor! There are those who specialize in diagnosing Aspergers or autism in adults. When I was diagnosed it was in two 2-hour-long appointments. I basically had to tell my whole life story and what parts of my childhood stood out to me... for instance feeling anxious and confused a lot in preschool because I was never sure what I was supposed to be doing and would get lost in the shuffle, and being really sensitive to noise, etc. She also watched my mannerisms and noticed I stimmed a lot when I talked. There was a multiple choice assessment as well. Some doctors also want to talk to someone who has known you a long time, preferably a parent or sibling, but this doctor didn't, which was good because my parents didn't want to participate. (They said, "We did all that when you were a kid, we don't have to deal with it when you're an adult!")

Since you are from Maryland I would call these people
Autism Society | 4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350 | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | 1(800) 328-8476

Well, you are what you are. When I got diagnosed, I didn't even know what Asperger's was let alone try for a diagnosis for it. I was there for depression and AS got picked up in me.

I didn't need to try. Just the way I was naturally gave it away. I wouldn't have even known how to act Aspie except I was just doing it naturally because that's what I am. That was how it got picked up in me.

I actually refused the first diagnosis but years later, I was in a hospital for depression and alcoholism and it got picked up again. I guess there's no refuting it!

If they're good at their job, they should be able to pick it up in you if it's there.

Thanks, guys. How do they diagnose adults, anyway? Do they give you a battery of tests, or just talk to you until they decide what you are based on your behavior patterns? If it's a battery of tests, do you recall the names of them?

Please check your PM's. I sent you info regarding Kaiser and how I got tested at there...