What's involved in testing?

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Hi, I'm new to this group, I have so many questions but I will start with this one- what is involved in being assessed as an adult for Asperger's and is it worth the emotional turmoil to go through with it? I have my suspicions but I don't want to be formally assessed if it is a very lengthy, harrowing process. Anyone from Australia with advice?

Welcome to WP!

I don't remember my testing, it was quite a while ago.

I'm in the U.S., and I don't know what the differences are in the testing.

Sorry I can't be of much help.

Tim

The particular tests may differ between different places, depending on the psych, but they should not cause emotional discomfort or even stress.

Thank you for asking this question. I am also interested in knowing what the testing process is like, and also what (if anything) happens afterwards.

I had an interview and some tests on processing data. That was it.

Here in the 'States, a diagnosis is almost worthless to an adult (and may cause broad segments of health care coverage to be canceled,) unless it is needed for accomodations under the ADA, (and as a civil servant, it is not necessary for accomodations.)

self diagnosis might be enough-a common thing to see on here.
research it a bit,see if it matches history,ask parents about history.

diagnosis is worth it for those who have support needs,but for people who are able to support themselves,who work and need no adaptions made for them while there,it is not worth it-the diagnosis automatically applies the term 'disability' to person in most places,which is not suitable for the highest functioners,it is assumed regression-another is the risk of having children taken away,and the discrimination and stereotyping of the label-it affects the rest to but what get out of it has to be better than the risks.


being assessed for an ASD can depend on the specialist,some will diagnose in one appointment using very basic core criteria,but others take a while and will want to find out a lot more.
am think it is better when they take their time to diagnose as are able to learn things about self that maybe never realised,are able to get a better idea of differences and difficulties and things that might help.
they will want to know about childhood,they might or might not do an IQ test,and possibly other tests on things like visual processing.

if want to go for assessment,make sure it is with an ASD [in adults] specialised pysch,not always possible to choose though as not everywhere has them.

I'm not sure where in Australia you are but Tony Attwood (who is considered one of the foremost experts in the world as far as I can tell) has a clinic in Brisbane. More info here: http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/contact.html

well in my case i saw several doctors, i did all kinds of physical tests like standing on one leg, i had to mimic the doctors hands when he asked me two, i had to put things in order on this pegboard wich i was horrible at, it was like a washer, a rod, and something else.. my childreports were taken into account, my job history, i had to do some math and english tests, and i spent the better part of the day chatting with the doctor about barry bonds.

Thanks everyone for your replies, it made me realize I should think a bit more about this decision further, I'm not really sure why I have this desire to be 'confirmed'.

I have an appointment to see my psychiatrist on the 29th. I hope she'll be able to diagnose me then (cause I have to pay $65 for the apt), but she might just refer me to someone else or have me reschedule for a longer session. I'm pretty sure they scheduled me for a 15 minute session and I fear that won't be long enough.

I decided to try to get diagnosed because I do have problems with work and school. If I could qualify for any accomodations or services, that could really help me. It might also cause me to get more effective treatment for depression and anxiety, since I suspect AS is the root cause. I'd also like to know for sure if it's AS or HFA. I'm pretty sure I'm on the spectrum.

I've never heard of health benefits being taken away because of AS. Mr. Mark, do you know which companies have done that and under what circumstances?

I'm getting anxious about it too. I'm annoyed that I'm having to wait a whole month between making the appointment and actually getting to see the doctor. I hope I won't have to get parents or past employers involved because I would prefer for them not to know.

Yet it may give some peace of mind. I think that I'd like to know as long as it wouldn't involve my parents.

Okay, this is partly speculative, not completely factual on my part. Here are the facts.

Capital Health Plan (owned by Blue Cross/ Blue Shield) will not pay for autism or anything related to autism.

CHP does not pay for screenings for anything, except mammograms, colon cancer, etc.. things that cost less to treat early.

CHP did pay for my autism screening. 100%

The only thing I can think of that they would deny me, claiming it was autism related, is psychological services. I'll bet they can think of more. There were also little subtleties on the part of the diagnostician and my primary, like there was a message I was supposed to pick up on.

All of this slowly coalesced in my mind the months following my screening.

Hi,

I'm in the UK and was diagnosed as an adult last February.
Until this time last year I had no idea that I had autistic traits. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for years, and even went through therapy. With hindsight, I'm surprised the therapist didn't pick up on my body language and lack of eye-contact. But about a year ago, I met some new people. A couple, one of whom is AS, the other NT but involved in ASD issues because of her husband and two of her children also being AS. The very first time we met, she took me aside and gently asked me if I knew anything about Aspergers. I didn't really - I'd heard of it and knew it was something to do with autism, but that was all. She suggested I read some books because she thought I was AS because I was so like her husband. I read Claire Sainsbury's Martian in the Playground. I was amazed at how much of me was in that book. However, it is a kids' book, so I went on to read Attwood. After that I decided to approach my GP for a referral to CLASS which specialises in adult diagnosis and is part of the Autism Research Centre, based in Cambridge.

http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/clinical/class.asp

If you look at the link to TESTS, you will find the tests used for self-diagnosis. They are simple questionnaires.

I did them, and my self-diagnosis was surprisingly high; so I was keen to go for a professional assessment.

The assessment itself took place at ARC in the leafy suburbs of Cambridge. It was based on the questionnaires that both myself and 'informant' had filled in and returned prior to the meeting. The 'informant' is typically a parent or sibling - someone that knew you during your early developmental years. They wanted my informant (in my case my mother) to come to the assessment too. I also took my partner and the friend that first suggested my AS.

The whole session was quite relaxed and informal, even funny at times when there was realisation that some of my funny 'me-isms' are pure AS! The psychologist would direct certain questions at certain people, but on the whole we were all free to chip in at any time.

The session lasted about three hours and was not at all daunting. At the end of the session, Dr Robinson simply read out a summary stating that she was able to make a diagnosis of AS based on the questionnaires and the session. She explained that a full diagnostic report would be sent to both me and my GP, and the day ended with me being given a handful of leaflets and a cosy label of "AS".

I got the report through the post within a week. Meanwhile I had checked out some of the websites mentioned in the leaflets.

What else happens after the diagnosis is rather up to the individual. In my case not much as I have a steady job and a steady relationship; and I have muddled along with AS for 42 years without even knowing it, so further intervention didn't really seem neceassary other than the psychologist writing to my employer to explain the diagnosis and outline a few simple ways in which to make my work life less stressful. This was done at my request - you don't have to inform your employer, but in my case there was certain methodology in the workplace that was causing regular meltdowns.

Most importantly of all, I have found my diagnosis enlightening and uplifting. At last I can be summed up in two words. Having an ASD makes me feel special.

To me, autism is NOT a dirty word.

I hope this helps.

whitbywoof,
do you know whether or not a parent or sibling has to be present to gain diagnosis? My mum never allowed me to be tested when I was little as she didn't want me to be 'labelled' and feels pretty much the same now. I'm working with someone I know who works with Autism West Midlands who is helping me start the process for diagnosis, and she said that my mum wouldn't have to know, but your description makes it sound as though she would need to be involved.
Also, as you are from the UK, could you tell me how expensive the whole thing was?

Hi Aly,

I was a bit worried about having my mother there as we have never really been close. As a child, my grandmother was the primary carer, but she is now too old and frail to travel. Also, mother and I were estranged for about 10 years so I really didn't feel that she knew me well enough. The important thing is that the informant knew you during your pre-school years – it doesn't necessarily have to be a mother – could be father, grandparent, older sibling, aunt or uncle, possibly even a close family friend, childminder, vicar, etc. If there really is no one to fill that role you'd have to speak directly to CLASS, I'm not sure how flexible they can be. They need to get a clear idea of your developmental progress. I suppose primarily to distinguish between AS and HFA to get an accurate diagnosis. Because my mother was not my primary carer, my results from childhood are almost NT whereas my adult assessment in incontrovertibly AS! Interestingly, some of the things that were discussed my mother had not considered unusual as she felt she would have been the same. Consequently she was offered an assessment too – this seems to be quite common, that parents discover their own autism after their child’s assessment.

As for cost, as far as I can work out historically sometimes CLASS charge and sometimes they don’t. I had read, been told by them and prepared myself for a £1000 bill. Just after I got my appointment and sent the cheque off, their terms and conditions changed to no charge from early February this year. I was understandably miffed at missing that deadline. However, they never cashed my cheque, so there was no charge for my assessment. As far as I am aware it is still free, but check on the website link I posted earlier. They seem pretty up front about their terms and conditions.

Maybe show your mum my earlier message – about me finding the ‘label’ liberating. I’ve always felt like a bit of a lost soul, but now I know I’m not lost, I’m AS. I am happy that I can be so easily summed up in two words!

If you think the assessment and knowing once and for all will put your mind at rest, go for it.

PM me if you think I can help any further – I still have all the documentation from my assessment.

WW.