Getting diagnosed with AS as an adult?

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zer0netgain
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03 Mar 2009, 8:08 am

If this is in the wrong forum, kindly move it if needed.

After 40 years of struggling to get by in life, I learned of AS and was shocked at how perfectly the symptoms match what I've struggled with for as long as I can remember.

Still, in spite of the struggle, I managed to teach myself to "fit in" fairly well, but my symptoms still pose a challenge to issues like relationships and employment because "faking it" only goes so far.

However, from what I can find, there are few people in the psychiatric profession who understand AS, and it's well-known that diagnosis in adults is harder because most adults with AS have learned to adapt and conceal their condition where it's easier to spot the symptoms in children.

So, if I want to have a diagnosis of my condition, how do I locate someone experienced with AS in adults who will not try to avoid making the diagnosis if indeed it is present? I hardly know where to start, but I figure other AS adults who have gotten diagnosed may have some helpful tips.

For what it's worth, I live in the Southwest Virginia/Northeast Tennessee region of the USA.



Thorny_Rose
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03 Mar 2009, 8:26 am

zer0netgain wrote:
If this is in the wrong forum, kindly move it if needed.

After 40 years of struggling to get by in life, I learned of AS and was shocked at how perfectly the symptoms match what I've struggled with for as long as I can remember.

Still, in spite of the struggle, I managed to teach myself to "fit in" fairly well, but my symptoms still pose a challenge to issues like relationships and employment because "faking it" only goes so far.

However, from what I can find, there are few people in the psychiatric profession who understand AS, and it's well-known that diagnosis in adults is harder because most adults with AS have learned to adapt and conceal their condition where it's easier to spot the symptoms in children.

So, if I want to have a diagnosis of my condition, how do I locate someone experienced with AS in adults who will not try to avoid making the diagnosis if indeed it is present? I hardly know where to start, but I figure other AS adults who have gotten diagnosed may have some helpful tips.

For what it's worth, I live in the Southwest Virginia/Northeast Tennessee region of the USA.


Oddly enough, many adult diagnoses of AS occur when the adult's child is diagnosed! That's how my condition was discovered...As the psychiatrist went over symptoms, my son would look at me and say, "Mom! That's you, too!" Errr...Thanks, kid.

When I was searching for a psychiatrist to work with my son's ADD (the original reason), I called a place that makes it its business to know the mental health profession...The mental health division of our state's medicaid program. I spoke with the state director over MH, and she was kind enough to direct me to a well-respected, competent psychiatrist whose specialization in ADD/ADHD, AS and other conditions in pediatrics/adolescents was a perfect fit for a variety of reasons.



zeichner
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03 Mar 2009, 9:15 am

Hi zer0netgain - welcome to WP!

Check this list - http://www.aspergers.com/asplist.htm to see if there is a clinician nearby.

I just asked my GP to point me in the right direction & she found a local psychology clinic with a resident specialist in adults with AS. (It was also her considered opinion - and I think she's right - that AS needs to be evaluated by a psychologist, not a psychiatrist.)

I would suggest that you prepare yourself prior to going in for an evaluation - make notes about your past (they like to ask about your childhood.) And consider what you want out of the process - which aspects of AS are causing you problems, which aspects you think you can ignore & which aspects you view as positive traits. A good psychologist will work with you to try to solve your AS-related problems in the context of AS - and they won't try to mess with aspects that aren't a problem for you.


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zer0netgain
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03 Mar 2009, 11:22 am

Thanks. 8)

Just got a letter out to the one closest to me (over 2 hours away 8O ). I'll see what she has to say.



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03 Mar 2009, 1:02 pm

I was diagnosed at 36. I brought my baby book in and a letter from my father, detailing my lifetime of autistic-like behavior. That helped tremendously.


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MrMisanthrope
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03 Mar 2009, 1:22 pm

Diagnosed at 41. Only validated what I already knew, but was still a good thing to do.


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03 Mar 2009, 2:09 pm

I wanted to add that I was diagnosed by two MD's. A psychologist assessed me at the same time. I paid for private diagnosis and got a public one at the same time with voc rehab. The MD's were specialists and they did fine.


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03 Mar 2009, 6:16 pm

As Zeichner mentioned, a psychologist is more likely to help you than a psychiatrist would. The reason for that is, psychiatrists typically refuse to recognise AS, and are more likely to label you with something unrelated, such as schizophrenia or general depression, because those have pharmaceutical treatments.

What will you do with the official diagnosis after you get it?


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oomogi
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04 Mar 2009, 2:35 am

may i sugest u contact your local autism society for a qualified referal


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MissConstrue
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04 Mar 2009, 2:49 am

Can totally relate^^

No doctors even mentioned ASD while growing up and yet I got misdiagnosed for everything else. The only person who knew me well was my therapist who happen to have a daughter who had just gotten diagnosed for it.

I can't tell you how hard I tried to fit in all my life and most people thought I was either faking it....whatever "it" was.

I think it's still not well known in parts of the U.S. Not many doctors know of it from where I live.

It's important you get a diagnosis and ask for a psychiatrist who speciallizes in ASD. My biggest problem was those who only worked with children. So it took a long time with trying to hook up with the right people.

Good luck.


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millie
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04 Mar 2009, 3:05 am

good luck.
i was dx'ed at 46.
i am currently int he process of accepting the dx as a reality and i am really gutted and suicidal some days, and releived on other days.

but i am glad to know, and i understand the process of accepting the dx is part of what i need to do.

find a specialist in AS who can get your history.
take info from childhood and write up as much as you can.
get feedback and reports ( old school reports may show a spike in one area and a deficit in another - the unneven pattern of abilities can be indicative of AS, along with other traits and indicators.)
write what you can about your traits, if you feel you want to.
take along feedback or info from your family members if you can - people who can report a bit about how you were as a kid.. did you have special interests even then? what were they? how did you react in social situations etc etc.)



good luck on your journey and a warm welcome to WP.



zer0netgain
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04 Mar 2009, 6:50 am

Flismflop wrote:
What will you do with the official diagnosis after you get it?


Have it bronzed perhaps? :lol: :lol: :lol:

(That was a joke).

Honestly, other than an affirmation of what I believe is the case, I don't know what advantage it will offer.

I refuse to live on government assistance, so I'm not seeking to be classified as "disabled" because of AS.

However, if there are career opportunities where someone with a "disability" would get preferred consideration, it would be nice if for a change AS worked in my favor rather than held me back. It would also be nice that if I manage to land an opportunity (in spite of AS) and my condition starts to pose problems, the diagnosis would be a way to address the issue rather than what typically happens...my being forced to leave the job.

There may also be career counseling services or other things for AS people but they could require proof of the AS condition. Self-diagnosis is cheap and likely accurate, but it's not "proof."



zeichner
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04 Mar 2009, 7:23 am

/\ I think you've got a reasonable attitude about the Dx. Best of luck!

Have you taken the Aspie Quiz yet? - http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php - It will give you some idea of the types of questions you will probably be asked during your evaluation (and, I think, it's a fairly valid tool for self-evaluation.)


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MrMisanthrope
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04 Mar 2009, 9:32 am

zer0netgain wrote:
...However, if there are career opportunities where someone with a "disability" would get preferred consideration, it would be nice if for a change AS worked in my favor rather than held me back. It would also be nice that if I manage to land an opportunity (in spite of AS) and my condition starts to pose problems, the diagnosis would be a way to address the issue rather than what typically happens...my being forced to leave the job.

There may also be career counseling services or other things for AS people but they could require proof of the AS condition. Self-diagnosis is cheap and likely accurate, but it's not "proof."

And there you have EXACTLY why I went and did it.


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lionesss
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04 Mar 2009, 9:44 am

Yep after my son was diagnosed then it hit home with me as to why I had my issues and struggles especially during my childhood that I still deal with today. It is happening more and more that not only children are diagnosed but so are adults.. and many times that happens after their children receive the diagnosis.



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04 Mar 2009, 3:25 pm

zeichner wrote:
/\ I think you've got a reasonable attitude about the Dx. Best of luck!

Have you taken the Aspie Quiz yet? - http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php - It will give you some idea of the types of questions you will probably be asked during your evaluation (and, I think, it's a fairly valid tool for self-evaluation.)


My aspie score was 166 out of 200 and my neuro-typical score was 41 out of 200.

I really need to go see someone and get an official Dx.