What does Asperger testing entail?

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I've been given an appointment. They said it would likely last around 6 hours. Could someone please tell me what types of testing will be done, etc?

i'm nervous.

I'd like to know as well. I'm currently debating whether or not to go to my GP and ask to be tested

As am I!

You talk to a psychiatrist about what's been going on in your life. It's like a normal conversation (that is, awkward).

They will probably test things like how good you are at remembering things. They may do an IQ test, a personality test (a test that asks you questions about yourself), or an achievement test (reading, math, etc.).

They will ask about problems in school, and they will try to talk to your parents about your early life. If they can't talk to your parents, they'll ask you.

They'll also be watching your behavior, like your body posture, whether you make eye contact, how you speak. Try not to be too self conscious (and anyways, they know that anybody going through testing is going to be a bit self-conscious anyhow).

You'll have to wait a while after the testing to get any answers. They have to process the tests and things.

If it turns out you have autistic traits, they'll try to tell whether they come from autism, or something similar like being very introverted, having social anxiety disorder, being socially isolated by circumstances, or having some other psychological or neurological condition like depression or ADHD. If your autistic traits aren't due to anything else, then they'll determine whether they are strong enough for a diagnosis. Usually the question is something like, "Is this person impaired in any major area of life?" If the answer is yes, then you'll get a diagnosis; if not, you may get something like "sub-clinical autistic traits", which isn't a diagnosis but could help a counselor figure out how to help you with life issues, if you are going to see one.

Nada.

Last edited by Biogeek on 26 Sep 2008, 10:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

Six hours?! !!

Wow...I somehow ended up with a dx after a 30 minute checkup, and I went in for migraines and sensory issues! I guess I'm REALLY awkward at the doctor's office.

(I'm seeking something that feels a little more official than that.)

So far, I've been to a therapist for SIX MONTHS and they haven't bothered telling me whether I am or am not an Aspie.

My very next apointment I am going to stick the issue.

Getting a tad off subject but, I would not be able to stand testing for 6 hours at once/one day. Perhaps if they broke it up in chunks, or else did two hours one day, and then two the next...

I had testing for about an hour and a half, where they fired quetsion after quetsion at me and it was like.. shut the hell up already. -_-
.

It wasn't for aspergers though as I already had that. I forget why they had me do that oddly enough.

I'm supposed to go for testing in a couple of weeks. So far they haven't described the process. If it goes on for too long, especially without warning, I would just walk out. I've been around too long to take that kind of crap. Even with a warning. Six hours of testing in one day makes no sense.

You must have not gone through much medical stuff. Imagine an entire day of waiting and taking tests. The tests themselves do not take very long, it's waiting around to take them.

They stick a finger up your ass, and if you like it, you have Assperger's.


...just me?

Indeed just you.

I'm wondering too. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac and whenever something happens to my health, even slight, I assume something terrible. (high heart rate one week because of SSRI med, went to doctors. And by high I mean an increase from 70 bpm to 80 bpm. Yeah) So while I know logically that there is basically no chance of me having AS I'm going to press for a test anyway. I have my issues don't I? (well, not AS issues but issues none the less)

It depends on who you go to to get your diagnosis and what stage of life you are at as to how the testing is done. Much of it will be interview no doubt.

For a child it takes much less time generally, today we made an ASD diagnosis in less than an hour.

All interviews in my case. Just talking and the psycho/psychic observing me as I spoke.

One was about 8 minutes to confirm that I had Asperger's out of a hour long session (I guess I'm obvious). The other was over a few sessions which involved a lot of background information from my mother, and explanations about how I am outside of a professional setting; this one was Autism (it was assumed that I had Asperger's when taken at face value).

how much does six hours of clinical testing cost?

I went for an appointment with a Clinical Psychologist earlier this week although the guy did not specialise in autism or AS (I think they sent me at short notice because I keep hassling my GP about my increasingly self destructive thoughts) he thought there is no chance I have AS.

The whole thing took less than an hour and was highly inconclusive as I had my guard up and lied my ass off about a few things (I was frightened of being sectioned or something), completely forgetting all of the things I had pre prepared to ask about the week before.

Are psychologists supposed to give useful coping strategies or professional insight? I went away feeling even more confused and annoyed with nothing but questions and no answers whatsoever. Apparently I do not fall into the high suicide risk category (even though that was the reason my GP referred me) and so since there is no preventive treatment available or counseling on the NHS (which I still struggle to believe but that is what he said) he seemed to be saying that unless I have a complete freakout and survive trying to take down a SWAT team singlehandedly they are not that interested in speaking to me.