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This forum probably gets this alot but I came here because I think I might have Aspergers. I've been thinking about getting a professional opinion. I'm a little weary though cause I'm sure it will cost a bit. I don't if it really matters but I took two online tests.

I scored 32. 30-32 score possibly aspie. 33 an above likely aspie. The other test I scored 126 of 200 neuro diverse and 95 of 200 neurotypical. Traits of both.

I've always felt an been different and after a friend and some other people said I might have aspergers I started looking into it an it seems possible.

Any thoughts?
What type of doctor would be good to see and how much?

Thanks

Yes, the first test you did is the AQ (Autism Quotient) test, and the second one is the Aspie test. What I've actually read that 32+ on the AQ test is likely Aspie, but the exact cutoff does vary a bit depending on where you look.

For me, I started with just my GP, who talked to me for about 10 minutes and then told me that I was showing some signs of it, then gave me a phone number I could call to find a psychologist. Talking to a GP really would be hit and miss - I had a really good experience and consider my GP to have been a very valuable step in my path to diagnosis, but I've heard of other people who have had a much worse experience.

Once I talked to a psychologist, he was able to tell me in a single session that he was pretty sure I have ASD, but that still wasn't a formal diagnosis - a gut feel from a psychologist isn't a diagnosis; that took about 5 more sessions before I got an actual diagnosis.

A formal diagnosis as an adult is quite expensive unless you have insurance that covers it. In Canada, it's not covered by MSP and would have cost me about $2400, and the psychologist did caution me that the formal diagnosis probably wouldn't get me a thing other than formal confirmation of what he already knew just by talking to me. I did have insurance that covered it, so I did proceed with the diagnosis.

So, my path to diagnosis was:
1) Someone telling me that he thought that I might have it (was a huge shock to me at age 36!)
2) Googling "Do I have Autism" and finding myself at the AQ test on Autism Canada's website, and scoring 37.
3) Talking to my GP and getting the initial feel that it was a possibility.
4) Talking to the psychologist and being told he was pretty sure I have it.
5) Formal assessment with the same psychologist.

A diagnosis is not worth much. Professionals are mostly useless with just two concurrent conditions to confuse them, and Autism is a spectrum, so two cases may have almost nothing in common. I was visiting pros and support groups for almost two decades and nobody suggested an inherited trait. I eventually read about ASD, and suddenly my whole family history made sense. My counsellor is a research assistant, not a fount of wisdom.

Welcome to Wrong Planet

You would want to see a psychologist who specilizes in how autism presents in adults. They can be hard to find.

Sometimes if you agree to be part of a study universities will give discounted or free assesments. There are big universities in Syracuse and Buffalo. There might be support groups in those locales, they might have recommendations.

Advantages of a “professional” diagnosis are
Validation for what you suspect
You might be eligible for accommodations, supports, and disability benefits.

Thanks for the feed back. I do have health insurance through my employer not sure how much or any it would cover...need to check.


I've been thinking about getting the diagnosis more for a piece of mind. I'm the kind of person who likes to know how things work and the truth or as close as I can get so it kinda drives me crazy not knowing.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!