54F in menopause, and maybe on spectrum

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hi.
I am not sure if I belong here, but I decided to check it out as I learn more about ASD. I am 54 and in menopause and it has been very very hard, and led me to realize I might be on the spectrum. But I don't really know. I am debating getting an assessment through Prosper, but not sure if I want to continue.

Hi to everyone.

You're 54 so I assume you've been muddling through life reasonably well without therapy or special accommodations. So whether or not you get an assessment is likely a matter mostly of personal interest.

With no compelling reason for a formal diagnosis, some people would rather not get one. Others, like myself, did not need an assessment but got one anyways. I thought it was wonderful to finally know why my life had been strange.

My diagnosis is:

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 (Mild)
With an additional note that I also satisfy the criteria previously associated with Asperger's Syndrome.

I got my diagnosis shortly before my 65th birthday. I retired (comfortably!) when I was 56! I did not need the diagnosis but it was wonderful to finally know.

If you decide to pursue an assessment I recommend checking out your health insurance coverage. They might cover part of the cost.

When I decided to get an assessment I called my health insurance and asked about it. They were immediately interested in helping. But they did not know what they were talking about! I don't think they got many requests for adult autism assessments so they were unfamiliar with them. They gave me bad information that delayed things a few months.

It turns out what I needed was a licensed psychologist who worked with Autism and took patients my age.

The assessment is likely to cost $2k to $3k. In the confusion of dealing with my insurance company I strayed outside their network of providers and they planned to cover about half the cost. I suspect they would've covered more I had stayed inside their network of providers.

But, I was so happy with the assessment result I nearly chose not to request even partial insurance coverage.

I was very happy to understand the difficulties that I'd been hitting my whole life.

Welcome to Wrong Planet! I hope you can find some answers here.

Welcome to WP!

Hi, welcome to Wrong Planet.

Welcome to Wrong Planet.

As Double Retired, you can get a fairly accurate assessment online for free. It is not perfect but it will get you close.

Jimmy M is reminding me to mention AQ.

When I and my bride first suspected I might be an Aspie I didn't feel confident in the opinions of a couple of amateurs. Then I found AQ...when it said I was Autistic I had more confidence that I probably was. For some folk the unofficial AQ diagnosis might be enough. I thought it was probably correct and it convinced me it was reasonable to seek a formal diagnosis.

My bride was concerned a formal diagnosis might work against me but I felt secure enough to get the diagnosis. I was comfortably retired, financially secure, and had a good academic, military and work histories.

The diagnosis has not worked against me. Now if I could just get it to work for me! I've flagged the diagnosis to my various medical providers (I'm old) and am not having much success getting them to adjust to my Aspie traits. I don't seem disabled, I am not like Rain Man, why the heck should they adjust to a diagnosis they don't see any reason to worry about?

I'm 50 and on the spectrum, and very worried and anxious about menopause, which I haven't started yet. I'm even afraid to talk about it with my mother, who is in her early 70s.

Anyway, welcome.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

You are welcome whether or not you seek an assessment. And hello

Welcome to WP