How were you diagnosed?

[Amethyst]

I've been debating on whether or not to contact my family doctor and initiate whatever the procedure may be to receive diagnosis.
So, I'm wondering, what was it like for you? Did you initiate it? What kind of tests did they put you through? How was it determined? Did it take a long time?

Thanks

 

[Cali Cat]

I've been thinking about going for the official diagnosis too. I haven't done it yet because of the cost. It might prove beneficial in the long run though. I hope you get some feedback on this topic because I'd like to know about it too.

 

[dudeman]

I was diagnosed in 1997. Mom had apparently been suspicious for awhile and I was almost held back in fifth grade out of concern I wasn't ready to move on, developmentally speaking. It took until I was 14 before my teacher suggested testing me and as far as I can remember, it was relatively painless. They just asked me a bunch of questions and gauged my response. Nothing to it.

 

[AsheSkyler]

The nicest reason why I haven't tried yet is cost. Before I came here, I had just come across the Musings of an Aspie blog and she details her process here: Adult Diagnosis | Musings of an Aspie

My mother does have a bachelor's in psychology and she's always suspected I was a wee autistic, and she was taught about autism and other such psychology in the 80s, so maybe I won't have much trouble out of the doctor like I usually do with doctors when I go to get evaluated since they should be much more familiar with it now.

 

[ExplosiveTMT]

I was diagnosed at age 3, and I can't recall the time when my mum took me to get testing done.

 

[Kirsty]

I have a question.

I was diagnosed in 1995. I was at a language unit for a few years during primary school because I wasn't coping in mainstream and I had speech language therapy along with assessments with specialist teachers too. Have always had support academically. I was registered as handicapped which qualified me to be on benefits til I was 18 then I could work. It was on my doctors note saying I had a semantic pragmatic disorder which is on the high end of the spectrum and it was originally printed on a business letter with the logo of 'University hospitals' with a brief description of my difficulties, but I don't recall going to hospital. My dad doesn't remember either and I don't speak to mum. I have nearly all the traits. I relate to so many people on here too. I feel the school diagnosed me and a doctor didn't, but I don't know. Does this mean I have a 'real' diagnosis? They're just teachers and not medically trained. Would the results of my school assessments, etc, had been passed on to the doctors or something to be analysed at the time to give a diagnosis? I had no idea I was on the spectrum 'til recently - didn't know what was 'wrong' with me so I googled 'semantic pragmatic disorder' and there was my answer. Everything fell into place since then and I'm understanding myself a whole lot better than ever.

Dan Metevier

 

[zurb]

I looked into it when I was passing through Singapore. For adults it seemed a fairly quick and not too expensive process. For my kids it was more complicated for some reason. In the end we didn't do it as I didn't think any benefits (not sure what they are) would offset the cost and time stress involved. Back home I think it's very difficult.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

I was diagnosed in September 2013, after sitting through a 6-hour psychological evaluation. They put me through all kinds of tests and puzzles, then gave me the results a week later.

 

[photoaddict]

I'm not formally diagnosed, but I helped my brother seek his diagnosis. We just looked up local psychiatrists and looked for one who specialized in autism. He called that office. I don't remember if they asked him to get a referral or not, but I don't think so. He went to an appointment with the psych, who did the evaluation, then explained his diagnosis to him and the reason that the psych felt it was most accurate for him (ASD & OCD, the OCD was added because, while he felt it was a part of the ASD, insurance covers different things for OCD that it won't cover for ASD). He was awesome and my brother loved him. I'm sad that he retired because I would have liked to bring my son to him.

 

[clg114]

I first heard about AS when I was 61 yr. old. I started researching AS a lot and the more I read, the more I thought I was a Aspie. When I was 62 yr. old, I contacted a doctor who had a lot of experience with autism. I just wanted to know for sure. As far as I'm concerned the money was well spent. Getting the diagnosis was very uplifting, I knew why I am the way that I am. Now, at 68 yr. old, I don't think the diagnosis has changed my life very much. However, It might have made a difference had I known when I was young.

 

[alien girl]

I wasnt diagnosed officially, but ran into a fellow aspie a few years ago at work, and he told me he knew the moment he saw me. it made perfect sense. i even flap my fingers and a million other things. and i took two tests online and they both said I'm very likely an aspie, and everything I read on the net, from articles to forums, confirmed it.

I will get diagnosed when i have the money for it.

 

[Warmheart]

Since I attended a fundraiser event in September and ended up trapped in a non-verbal shutdown there, which lasted over a week and had me walking into traffic in a fog, I decided I need some help. Hormonal hoopla of menopause, like during adolescence, is exacerbating what I've dealt with all my life. Hopefully, this time I can secure a diagnosis and some help, without ending up yet again in a psych hospital as in my 20s. Nobody diagnosed autism back then (during The Early Pleistocene) if one was mostly verbal.
I have 4 hours of neuropsych testing coming up in February. I'm worried I'll go into shutdown then and become non-verbal if stressed, as that happened twice last week.

 

[Madwag]

I've been debating on whether or not to contact my family doctor and initiate whatever the procedure may be to receive diagnosis.
So, I'm wondering, what was it like for you? Did you initiate it? What kind of tests did they put you through? How was it determined? Did it take a long time?

Thanks

I wish I never even mentioned it to my doctor. They think I'm mentally unwell and refer me to a shrink

 

[dudeman]

Then they're not a very good doctor and ought to be reported to the local medical board.

 

[Shannon Beech]

I wish I never even mentioned it to my doctor. They think I'm mentally unwell and refer me to a shrink

Is seeing a therapist such a bad thing? That's how I was formally diagnosed. My mother was concerned about my troubles socializing and requested that I go see one for help with social anxiety. My therapist works a lot with people who have autism and children with autism. Seeing one may not be a bad thing. It's certainly better than self diagnosing.

Did you see the therapist? What did the therapist say? I'm not trying to say that your doctor couldn't of been in the wrong, however, it could also be your perception of what it means to see a therapist. People don't only see a therapist because they're mentally unwell. Therapist can help with the range of problems. It's very helpful especially with the social ones.

 

[Shannon Beech]

Then they're not a very good doctor and ought to be reported to the local medical board.

Why? For requesting that the patient see if therapist? That's how I was diagnosed. That is a legitimate way to be properly diagnosed. Therapists have more training in identifying traits of autism that general doctors do.

I feel it is important to point out for those who've been formally tested and were asked that bunch of questions that determine that they were autistic, to know that most of the time the person asking those questions would've been a psychologist. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeing a psychologist. They are usually the one to help diagnose you.

 

[dudeman]

I was referring more to the "mentally unwell" bit. It would be a standard, expected thing to be referred to a psychiatrist for diagnosis, but if the referring doctor thinks you're "mentally unwell" because you think you might be on the spectrum, that's not right. It assumes that there's something wrong with being on the spectrum, which, needless to say, is a somewhat bigoted attitude. Thus, they're not a good doctor and they ought to be reported to the local medical board.