My Psych Evaluation experience

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I finally had my psychological evaluation a couple days ago. It took forever (6 hours to complete everything).
First I had to do an IQ test. I had to put some blocks together into different patterns (really easy). Then I had to tell the similarities between two words (not as easy...). I also had to repeat numbers in order, and then backwards. I answered math questions that were read out loud (I know I pretty much nailed this part, it was super easy). The last thing I remember is looking some shapes in a pattern and seeing what matched the rest of the pattern.
On the next test, I had to take a spelling test and math test. I also had to answer basic history questions, and I started getting kinda frustrated at this point.
Then I had to do some executive function tests. I did a connect the dots type thing, then I had to put more shapes into groups, and also try to guess what certain proverbs meant (I wasn't very good at this specific part). After this, I filled out a depression and anxiety survey, nothing big. I also filled out some self-reports on the computer. One was about Adaptive Behavior and the other was about social stuff. There was also a personality test that was WAY TOO LONG.
We took an hour break, and came back to do the ADOS (this part was videoed since the only person in the room was the person actually giving the test). On that, I had to tell a story from a book with no words (I ended up just saying everything that I saw). I also had to show and tell how to brush your teeth. I got confused, and they had to emphasize the showing part, and then the testing person showed me how I should do it, but by doing something else. It was kinda embarrassing, and it took some time to actually do it, but I made it through. I had to answer a bunch of questions about my friends, and relationships, and things I liked (perfect opportunity to talk about every single one of my dogs!). Also had to explain what happy and sad felt like (I didn't know I had to be really specific, I just said "good" for happy, but they kept asking me for more). We took a break after this, and they laid out some toys and book to play with, but I just ended up spinning the top the whole time (it had a marker on it??? i was hyperfocused on that bad boy for so long). Finally, I had to make up a story using random small objects from a bag. Mine was about using a lamp and magnifying glass to make a plant grow, and then using an umbrella and making it die (To which the examiner was like "aw ", and I was like "eh.") They also got my mom to fill out some reports about me and stuff from my childhood while I was doing testing.
I find out results in October. I'm kinda worried that I masked too much, and that it's gonna com back with nothing and that this whole thing was a waste of time (but maybe I'm just worrying too much).

I had a similar experience; was pretty exhausting. They said most people found it "fun". Some things were fun, but I found it pretty draining. Because it got harder and harder as it went on, me having less energy, for someone with ASD, that is actually quite difficult.

Don't worry too much. From what you told, it sounds like ASD to me. They would have done it differently otherwise.

Yeah, it was pretty draining. But I'm glad I got it out of the way.

What do you mean? Just a little confused by that.

When they suspect ASD, they do the book, role-playing, dolls and so on.

Well done for getting through it, I didn't really like it so much when I did it. The storytelling part was the worst, but it wasn't terrible. Just a little mortifying.

I hope you get your IQ results and let us know them, if you don't mind a little prying and being nosy.

I wondered the same thing about masking given that I learned to mask at about age 5 years, and my practicum student diagnostician was someone I knew well (and still do, as we are currently working on an LGBTQ-autism project).

But, it all turned out, anyway. I suspect good diagnosticians can spot masking when they see it. So they would exclude it from their findings.

They called me unreadable, having a poker-face. Something the 65 year old psychiatry professor, almost never experienced. They still clearly diagnosed me with ASD and other things. These people are trained, but they had to get a specialist in the field for me. Great guy, loved him.

Oh okay!

I don't mind being nosy, I'm honestly the same way when it comes to stuff like that.

How good are you at reading the facial emotions of other people with that? (btw: The face is not the only thing to be read but to read the body or the sound of the voice is a much more difficult thing even for NT people.)

Do you happen to remember if they observed your behavior and mannerisms (and things like stimming) during the entire evaluation, or only during things like the intake interview and the ADOS?

My evaluation used only the ADOS-2 and its SRS-2 self-reported test. They recorded audio and video of the assessment. They didn't recognize my stimming because it isn't something they had ever knowingly witnessed (I stim by swiping the palms of my hands across a table or desk at which I am sitting, and if not a table or desk, I swipe my pant legs; I like the cooler temperatures and smooth surfaces because they calm me). I think when I explained it them, they recognized it. They reported in my written assessment that "There were no [...] hand and finger and other complex mannerism observed."

Last edited by AspieUtah on 14 Sep 2018, 8:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I was pretty good at that. The man said I aced it.

Thats fine to hear. A poker face may keep you from being liked by other people. Take a mirror and try some facial expressions. Knowing the own facial expression is always a good thing if it comes to deal with other people.

...Did they put you away ?

What?