How do you get diagnosed with Asperberger's syndrome?

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yeah i wondered that too when i first found out about the condition. but there isn't any 'training' in this country, partly becasue a lot of that stuff can be taught.

they can't teach it because they're barely aware that they're doing it. to them it's almost invisible/natural. it's a bit like teaching someone to breathe.

Maybe I don't understand exactly what you mean by learning social skills. I took it to mean reading body language, which also includes the face. It's at councilor level in the states, not some high level degreed person. I had mentioned the book, the only reason I recall it, was it was unquie for it's time. Many more since then I'm sure. Most normal people are oblivious to it on the watching for it and of it. But do seem to respond to it,"correctily" on some almost unknown level. I would most certianly agree that there are that some that can not read it, I can only understand that by someone saying they can't and trying to imagine it, but will never know what it's really like. I wouldn't exactly say I'm at the opposite side of it, for I sure due miss cues, but that holds true for most as well. I was interested in it becasue standing on the edge of things all the time, I got bored and started people watching. I found that I could do the almost hidden language and make people do things that were more comforable for me to be in a group or around them. They were responding, to an imprint that I set in motion. I can do it to the point of making them so uncomfortable they're really pissed at me and don't have a clue why. They're blind to the cues I set in motion and act out of the imprint. I don't do it, but have done it, call it being courious. At the same time I can make others more comfortable being around me, just by moving objects around, which includes hands as well as ash trays. this type of thing can be taught and it can be self taught.

But again maybe I'm not seeing what you're really speaking of. I did say I can only imagine what you speak of, and just saying that means I can't feel it or write it from your side.

yes, and it is called 'the school of Hard Knocks" mostly. I am sure we can relate a lot of how we learned to conform more closely to those we need to live with. we talk about it daily in the Dino Aspie Cafes.

However, if you are thinking of a course you can take, a training seminar, perhaps an acting workshop where you learn useful things;
how to look at the nose of the person you are meeting, so it looks like you are meeting the eye.
How to look right into the eye, at least once in every conversation,
How to lean into the person when learning their name and exquisitly pull off that crutial first 90 seconds of ever meeting anyone.

Most of of here could contribute their helpful hints, and we could put together some sort of shorthand for learning social skills for elder Aspies
(we indulge our selves in endearing nicknames and shorten the Asperger's Syndrom with just identifying as an "Aspie") you might be very literal in your thinking, and would like to be formally introduced to the idea we might be a bit irreverent about our 'Syndrome' from time to time.

I'm Merle, glad to meet you.

Merle

Only if you can also pronounce it correctly.

I was diagnosed by a medical doctor and quite by accident. Then a neurologist seconded that opinion and another medical dr is also agreeing with the first one now. So seems there's no escaping being an Ass Burger. Still the diagnosis hasn't gotten me anything, not even a toaster oven. I take that back. Because my diagnosing dr encouraged me to find other Aspies I managed to find Nutbag who is also on WP so I had someone to go fishing with today. So the diagnosis gained me a cool new friend who likes a lot of the same things I do. But still not sure when the prize patrol comes around or how I can get that toaster oven. I don't bother with telling them at work. I figure it causes more harm than good to flaunt the dx in some places.

Lol, never heard it, dunno.

In the UK, go to the Dyscovery Centre tel 01633 432330.

This was urged by an expert at a leading centre in communication disabilities who is acquainted with me.

I haven't been yet so I can't give you a review.

As I am also dyspraxic and they reputedly specialise in the combination (that is where the letter y comes from) there apparently isn't anywhere else. Crucially, they claim they will be able to issue my GP and support workers with specialised guidance to enhance their working with me, as part of the assessment package.

I'm sure they would suggest alternatives - I don't know if any exist - if you are absolutely 'devoid of' dyspraxia or they might well have suitable skills to deal with that variation also.

Anyone else in the UK seen any experts that brought really useful practical benefits?

I'm wondering about this too. I've had problems all my life similar to what I've read about Aspergers. I've been diagnosed by medical doctors as having ADD, hearing problems, anxiety problems etc. This explains some of my issues but never really seemed to explain why small talk makes me angry and why every one is always telling me to smile etc. Aspergers really seems to fit me. At work right now it is causing me a lot of big problems. Its something I've seen time and time again. Eventually it ends in them firing me and saying "We think you're really smart and a really hard worker but you just don't "fit in". I don't care if its Aspergers or not I just want to know what is wrong and get some help fixing it. I think if I was able to tell my boss this is what is what makes me different, this is how I think and why I say what I say it would help a lot. I could get extra time to respond to improptu questions. My coworkers might be able to understand and wouldn't assume I hate them just because I don't like saying hi in the morning. I've been aware of my problems and I've worked on them on my own all my life but if I could actually tell my boss "I'm trying and please be patient." It would make him helping me more effective. If I could write out what I want to say in meetings so without them thinking its weird I would be able to communicate much better. The problem is I have no idea how to go about getting a diagnosis. Do I got to a medical doctor and get refered? Do I go to a psychiatrist or psychologist and tell them I think I have Aspergers? I know a lot of people with Aspergers go to speech pathologists. Do I make an appointment with one of them? Will they think I'm nuts if I go in and tell them I think I have it and what do I do from here?

Yup. Still waiting to find out. Have no clue. I was let go from work and am finding it diffficult to find employment. Failing all job interviews. Sometimes the interviewer is just staring at me as if to say, "I can't believe that I'm spending time with this person!"

Oddly, I am an attorney and did well academically in law school. I can research any topic and have been told that I'm an excellent writer. However, when I'm in a social situation I give the impression that I am ret*d. In a job interview, I stutter or babble endlessly.

When I get home, I try to analyze what went wrong. However, at the time of the conversation or interview, I'm totally clueless. I cannot read the other person and cannot figure out what the social dynamics are in a group. I've always felt different - ever since I was a small child watching the other children play but not knowing how to "join the group" - something that most children do instictively.

Asperbergers (however you spell it) sounds like me. I would like to be diagnosed. If I am negative for Asperbergers (correct my spelling if it makes you feel superior), then at least I'll know that I'm just a jerk. If it's positive, then finally I'll know what steps can be taken to correct my deficiencies, or if that's not possible, learn to accept them.

yep, that attitude alone will get you diagnosed as one of us!

Merle

Same boat here... add to that a casual (and incorrect) diagnosis and Rx for "restless leg syndrome" because I stim by constantly moving my feet, toes, lower legs.



I hate that myself - do other people smile naturally? Me, I have to think about smiling and whether or not it's something I want to do and sometimes by the time I do smile, the occasion has passed and then I just look weird or insincere.



At my last place of employment when I got promoted and ended up managing a team of almost 20 people (talk about my worst nightmare!), I got in trouble with the higher ups because my team complained that I didn't greet them warmly in the mornings. It was hard to explain that if I had to take the time to stop and do that and make my head quiet enough to do all that small talk, that I was going to be completely useless the rest of the day because I could never get that concentration back and it used up what little bit of "people tolerance" I had at that point.



That's what I'm wondering too. I went to another website and found a list of doctors near me but it looks like some are in pediatrics (and at 36, I doubt they would see me) - do I just call until I find one taking adults? How long does it take once I see the doctor? Do they do it that day or is there a lot of testing and seeing other specialists?

hello,
my name is Merle and I am 57 years old. Your description of being dx with 'restless leg syndrome' because of stimming reminds me of once I was dx with 'Lupus' but it was 'always in remission' because how else could they add up all the physical issues I has having other than 'all in my mind?'
I have known about Asperger's from a segment on NPR one morning. I didn't think for a moment that it wasn't me, it fit me perfectly! Getting DX as AS is another thing entirely.
It is like going to a doctor with a broken leg and they say "OK! now. . just tell me how to set the leg, how to make the cast and put it on and we will get right to work!" In other words, you are going to be your own best advocate, researcher and therapist.

'Cause those doctors that even KNOW about it (other than one that told me I must be pretty special to think I had such a rare and little known 'disease'.)

I have had people that should know better suggest I just learn all those social skills that others find lacking within me, then 'everything will be alright!"

your mileage may vary,

Merle

Thanks for your support. I'm making an appointement at a speech and hearing clinic and hoping for the best. I'll let you know how the trip to the clinic goes. I'm still not sure yet whether to tell them I think I have Aspergers or just tell them my symptoms and see what they come up with.
It seems like this is a common problem that needs to be brought to the attention of clinicians. I'd like to work on that. Any suggestions?
Lupus always in remission? I'm no doctor but that seems like a pretty ambitions diagnosis. I assume this was coming from a physical health doctor?
Has anyone without diagnosis tried going to speech-language pathologists? For those of you who are diagnosed, how were you diagnosed? What kind of clinician did you go to? Was anyone diagnosed as an adult? Did you diagnose yourself and then go to a clinician or did they come to that conclusion for you?

I am not sure how useful a diagnosis is yet. I was married to an AS for 14 yr and didn't know he was AS until I was trying to recover from a complete meltdown/breakdown. I described some of the funny and bizarre things my ex did during the marriage and the psychologist said. Your ex has a full blown case of Aspergers syndrome. I said What???? Never heard of it. So I looked it up on the internet. Sure enough, he had every last symptom, criteria, etc. What makes me sad is his 2nd & 3rd wives haven't fared any better. It's gotta be the Aspie's way or the hiway, so to speak, in a relationship. Also, after you leave them, you are to blame for the entire failure of the relationship and the meanest person in the world to anyone who will listen to them. My ex has the maturity level of about a 12 yr old. It was fun sometimes, but got old after a while. It felt like being married to an adolescent who hated his parent, just for being a parent. Who wants to be your lovers' parent??? Not me. It makes me laugh, because his present wife has herself, or he convinced her that he has a "mild" form of Aspergers. She also is explosive bi-polar. I have many bi-polar friends and they say they will probably kill each other eventually. I hope not. It just all makes me sad. I just wish I could forget ever having met him. I am so mad at myself for getting sucked into such a hopeless situation, when every other woman that was normal steer clear of him. It does prove what a lose I am.

Fiona, I have had a diagnosis for 3 days now. It took me quite a few months after self diagnosing to find resources for adults on the spectrum. If you live in N. California I can recomend the M.I.N.D. Institute in Davis/Sac area. I received my diagnosis from a Psychiatrist in SF who is affiliated with the Autism/Aspergers clinic at UCSF. I paid out of pocket so it cost me a bit of money, but this keeps my insurance - HMO and my Union out of my business. The benefits for me in being dx'ed are that I don't wonder if I have it wrong and, for now at least, I started yesterday to give myself credit for doing some things right in spite of a disability rather than kicking myself in the butt for my failings. For anyone who prefers to not call AS a disability, fine - do what you want, but this DISABILITY has F***ED my life up for 48 years so don't bother telling me otherwise. OK? Thank You!

I wanted to update my trip to the speech pathologist. Apparently see a speech pathologist is not the way to go about getting a diagnosis. I was turned away in the first five minutes. I did tell them I thought I had Asperger's. I told her what symptoms I have and about the trouble I've been having at work. She didn't listen to what I was saying at all just how I said it. Basically she couldn't help me because I didn't have an accent or similar speech impairment. I'm thinking about making an appointment with a regular psychiatrist.