Help with Referral Form

[sonnesun]

The doctor has given me a form to fill out for referral to a specialised team to help possibly diagnose Asperger's. I just need to fill out three sections. But they are very small boxes, and I have a lot to say. He put dashes in the boxes where I'm supposed to fill out (which leaves me even less room). I don't really even understand the first two questions, are they questions?, I'm unsure. It looks maybe like a question and then an answer after the colon. But then surely I would really put anything significant in the last box.

As with the last question about brief history of difficulties, I have so much to say, I'm unsure what to put. What would be most significant. I would hate to leave out something important and not even get a referral because of it. I have taken a photograph of the page. I hope you can help me. I hate forms

 

[tree]

Don't worry about the dashes.
You can write over them, unless you would find
that intolerably offensive.

If you need more space to write, use another sheet
of paper. Use as much detail as suits you. The
more you say, the better a picture the people
using the forms get of you.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Write down what you would like to say if given the space on this forum and we might be able to edit it down for you and get the important parts out.

 

[sonnesun]

Thank you. These are good ideas. What I've decided to do is to take all the time I need to get everything I need to say right. I don't want to leave anything important out. I guess there is no rush, no deadline to speak of. I will jot it all down in a list on the PC first (like on Notepad) as I think of things I recall. Once I've done that, I will produce a first draft until I am satisfied with it, then I can post what I think here and see what you think. It may take me a while though, so probably don't expect anything this year.

Thanks guys. That's one less worry already

 

[puzzlingbill]

If the box on the form is too small, write "See Attached Sheet" in the box and on a separate sheet use "Answer to Question xx" as a heading for your answer. Answer as many questions as you need to that way. And I'd staple my attachment to the form so it wouldn't get lost.

 

[sonnesun]

These important little things appear so simply obvious to me now yet I never seem to think of them on my own. Another good suggestion, I'll do that. Thanks.

 

[fuzz]

I know what you mean about things sounding obvious once someone tells you.

For me it happens when I'm unable to interpret what someone is asking in a flexible way.

It might look like they are asking you to write your answer in the box, as that is what they have said.

But what they mean is use the box if you have space, and if you do not have space, write your answer on an extra sheet of paper, putting a heading at the top the same text as the question, so it can be matched up with the form.

I consider my confusion with such instructions to be a part of taking things literally, and so part of my Aspergers.

 

[dragonwolf]

I think most of us who have gotten diagnosed when older are familiar with the fear of not being able to get the medical people to see exactly what makes us seek them out to begin with.

Am I "autistic enough" to be referred and diagnosed? When communication is a core issue with autism, can I /communicate/ these issues adequately?

Take the time you need. Write everything down that you can think of. Arguably, the referral is the hardest part. Once you get to the diagnostic specialist, they generally know what to look for, and the tests themselves are quite thorough and good at digging at least into the key areas.

Also, if you have an NT friend or family member that you trust, it might be worth asking them for help, particularly with the "odd behavior" stuff, since that's pretty subjective and what's normal to you might be considered "odd" for referral/diagnostic purposes.

 

[JuliaCee]

I consider my confusion with such instructions to be a part of taking things literally, and so part of my Aspergers.[/QUOTE]

Oh yes, so many of us are like that. But on the other hand, we are not the ones likely to miss important details. That's why so many Aspies are great at jobs in which things have to be exact... like precisely when to launch a rocket so that the capsule enters orbit during the right window of opportunity. Just an example.

 

[JuliaCee]

These important little things appear so simply obvious to me now yet I never seem to think of them on my own.

That's probably true for most humans - we do consult each other a lot to look for new angles to solving a problem. Maybe we Aspies tend to do less of that networking, end up putting more pressure to figure out things on our own, and then give ourselves a hard time when we don't think of everything.

 

[dragonwolf]

That's probably true for most humans - we do consult each other a lot to look for new angles to solving a problem. Maybe we Aspies tend to do less of that networking, end up putting more pressure to figure out things on our own, and then give ourselves a hard time when we don't think of everything.

In my experience, it's because reaching out for help has been repeatedly met with "it's obvious, how can you NOT understand it?" and "you're smart, figure it out." Suffice it to say, such responses don't inspire confidence in seeking out future help.

 

[ConcernedDad]

The doctor has already filled out the form for you. The slashes mean that nothing goes in the box.

 

[sonnesun]

The doctor has already filled out the form for you. The slashes mean that nothing goes in the box.

It may look that way, but he actually told me and my mum that those slashes are the boxes I'm supposed to fill in saying "fill in here, here and here" whilst he drew the slashes in them. Looking at the form you can understand my confusion. I'm unsure the doc fully knows what he's doing.

 

[ConcernedDad]

Ok, sorry for my bad advice then. I now see where you said that in your original email. Yes it's confusing.

 

[sonnesun]

No it's OK. Nothing bad. What you've actually done is only help to confirm my confusion