New, and I'm wonder if autistic...

[Tsurezuregusa]

Hello all.

I believe for ten years or so, I've noted some autistic traits in my behavior, but it wasn't until quite late in life that these would become a problem in my day-to-day life.

It was just recently when I, having just started therapy again (having seen a different therapist back in 2015) because of the social anxiety I experience, in addition to what I would call "lack of proper correspondence is social behaviors," had my therapist suggested during the first or second session that I have some mild form or autism, or "what formely was known as aspergers" according to her. While this I wouldn't find particularly shocking, I still feel uneasy due to the fact that my former therapist said "I don't think you have aspergers" at some point when asked - though to be fair, she refused to give me any diagnoses as she wasn't very fond of "psychological labels". I don't know what is the process of getting an official diagnoses, and at the moment I only have what is my current therapist opinion.

I find myself out of place everywhere, and this applies also to the neurotypical/neurodiverse split.
I feel in limbo, and I don't like it.

 

[tree]

 

[Juliettaa]

Hello and welcome.

I don't like 'limbo' either; I like to know.

I don't know what is the process of getting an official diagnoses, and at the moment I only have what is my current therapist opinion.

Obtaining a diagnosis differs depending on where you live.

In the UK, you can ask your GP to refer you for an assessment via the NHS, or you can pursue a private assessment. Professionals qualified to give an autism diagnosis in the UK are easily found via the National Autistic Society website.

autistic treats

Great typo!

 

[GadAbout]

As time goes by, we will be seeing more and more therapists as well as psychiatrists asking "I wonder if this is autism." This is a positive phenomenon, because it means they are considering a whole world of possibilities beyond what they formerly did. To anyone watching the growth of autism diagnoses, it should be obvious that it's an idea whose time has come. This doesn't mean it should be overdiagnosed; but if you are overlooking a whole group of people, and trying to conform them into diagnoses that might not fit very well, then it's a breakthrough when you finally get a sense of what to call them.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Tom]

Therapists aren't trained/qualified to make an autism diagnosis. I believe it would have to be a Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

 

[Isadoorian]

Welcome to the Forums! I hope you make new friends and enjoy your stay in the process!

And to add on a bit as to what Tom said, it's better to see a Psychologist or Psychiatrist (or some other Medical Professional) who specializes in Autism. It's a good distinction as they're more qualified to diagnose Autism than the average Doctor within the same field as they typically work with those looking at getting an Autism Diagnosis (hence the important distinction), so it'll be an easier, smoother process rather than running around in circles for some time before getting to that point or getting a misdiagnosis even.

Many people here have also gotten their diagnosis upon seeing their Psychiatrist/Psychologist for something virtually unrelated (typically Depression) as Depression is often a co-morbid of Autism.

 

[GadAbout]

Therapists aren't trained/qualified to make an autism diagnosis. I believe it would have to be a Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

I see a clinical psychologist for therapy. Therefore, she is my therapist.

She claims not to have any training in autism and in fact, she must be at least 65 or older, so she would have had to go back for continuing education to get that training. It's not an obstacle for us because I tell her how autism is affecting any situation; she lets me be the expert.

All of my autism knowledge comes from the Internet; I'm judicious what I accept, though.

 

[Nitro]

Hi Tsurezuregusa

 

[VAW]

Hello all.

I believe for ten years or so, I've noted some autistic traits in my behavior, but it wasn't until quite late in life that these would become a problem in my day-to-day life.

It was just recently when I, having just started therapy again (having seen a different therapist back in 2015) because of the social anxiety I experience, in addition to what I would call "lack of proper correspondence is social behaviors," had my therapist suggested during the first or second session that I have some mild form or autism, or "what formely was known as aspergers" according to her. While this I wouldn't find particularly shocking, I still feel uneasy due to the fact that my former therapist said "I don't think you have aspergers" at some point when asked - though to be fair, she refused to give me any diagnoses as she wasn't very fond of "psychological labels". I don't know what is the process of getting an official diagnoses, and at the moment I only have what is my current therapist opinion.

I find myself out of place everywhere, and this applies also to the neurotypical/neurodiverse split.
I feel in limbo, and I don't like it.

When i had my son diagnosed I was told by an autism specialist who works with Aspies, that if you are over 18 you can only be diagnosed by a neuropsychologist, to hold up in court (like for disability) it can only be a neuropsychologist for a diagnosis. Others can say they think you are like the specialist but she couldn't officially diagnose him.

 

[Nervous Rex]

Welcome, @Tsurezuregusa. Whether you are formally diagnosed or not, you are welcome here. Poke around through the forums, ask questions, participate, or just lurk - whatever helps you. You don’t have to be formally diagnosed to compare issues, discuss solutions and coping mechanisms.

 

[Nervous Rex]

When i had my son diagnosed I was told by an autism specialist who works with Aspies, that if you are over 18 you can only be diagnosed by a neuropsychologist, to hold up in court (like for disability) it can only be a neuropsychologist for a diagnosis. Others can say they think you are like the specialist but she couldn't officially diagnose him.

Odd. I wonder if that’s a state-specific rule. I got a formal diagnosis at age 48 from a counselor who isn’t a psychologist or psychiatrist (neuro- or otherwise), but who does specialize in counseling autistic children (I may have been the oldest child he worked with). I heard no talk of the requirements that one must have to issue a diagnosis.

Now, it was explained to me that a Diagnosis (with a capital D), is mostly just a detailed document that can be used to persuade another official that the person is autistic. To that end, it should document the observations made by the diagnoser and explain why those observations indicate autism. I can see that one may be more persuasive if it’s signed by a neuropsychologist.

 

[clg114]

Welcome to Autism Forums!

 

[VAW]

Odd. I wonder if that’s a state-specific rule. I got a formal diagnosis at age 48 from a counselor who isn’t a psychologist or psychiatrist (neuro- or otherwise), but who does specialize in counseling autistic children (I may have been the oldest child he worked with). I heard no talk of the requirements that one must have to issue a diagnosis.

Now, it was explained to me that a Diagnosis (with a capital D), is mostly just a detailed document that can be used to persuade another official that the person is autistic. To that end, it should document the observations made by the diagnoser and explain why those observations indicate autism. I can see that one may be more persuasive if it’s signed by a neuropsychologist.

I am not sure if it is maybe a state requirement? But based on my son's other disabilities he was at the doctor a lot and they are the ones who sent him to this specialist who works with children with autism, however she only could diagnose children under 18. She is the one who told me that he needs to go to a Neuropsychologist for a formal diagnosis. He had a revue coming up for his disability and in order to hand in that paperwork also he had to have a formal diagnosis. This specialist with Autism had all the degrees behind her and she said my son is an Aspie but in order to get a formal diagnosis it would require that. She did give him tests and wrote his scores down which proved he was an Aspie and they knew he was but it wouldn't hold up other than knowing that you are. The SSI board had the written word of 2 doctor's that said he had anxieties worst that they ever seen and the written test scores of the specialist but they wouldn't accept it without a formal diagnosis. I guess being a type of Neurological thing that is what they needed it from. (but they are crazy there, my son also had a written thing from his specialist for his ulcerative colitis stating he could not work because the bleeding was so bad, the SSI board said the doctor was inconsistent and would not accept his statement. The nature of his disease is inconsistent lol Times it gets very bad and times he doesn't bleed as much, a constant up and down. also he had his PA who wrote the board a letter on his anxieties and they kicked that out of court because they said she wasn't qualified to diagnose that being only a PA.)

 

[clg114]

Odd. I wonder if that’s a state-specific rule. I got a formal diagnosis at age 48 from a counselor who isn’t a psychologist or psychiatrist (neuro- or otherwise), but who does specialize in counseling autistic children (I may have been the oldest child he worked with). I heard no talk of the requirements that one must have to issue a diagnosis.

Now, it was explained to me that a Diagnosis (with a capital D), is mostly just a detailed document that can be used to persuade another official that the person is autistic. To that end, it should document the observations made by the diagnoser and explain why those observations indicate autism. I can see that one may be more persuasive if it’s signed by a neuropsychologist.

I was diagnosed at 62, by a psychiatrist who specializes in autism. However, I am not disabled and do not get any help. Maybe that is the difference. Or it could be different from state to state. Or in other countries.

 

[VAW]

I was diagnosed at 62, by a psychiatrist who specializes in autism. However, I am not disabled and do not get any help. Maybe that is the difference. Or it could be different from state to state. Or in other countries.

I think so, because we only had him formally diagnosed as part of his disability although he didn't need that because physically he had enough. It was basically for him , his psychologist knew and diagnosed him and this specialist with ASD knew, his doctors knew but the SSI only would go by a diagnosis from the Neuropsychologist

 

[VAW]

Hello all.

I believe for ten years or so, I've noted some autistic traits in my behavior, but it wasn't until quite late in life that these would become a problem in my day-to-day life.

It was just recently when I, having just started therapy again (having seen a different therapist back in 2015) because of the social anxiety I experience, in addition to what I would call "lack of proper correspondence is social behaviors," had my therapist suggested during the first or second session that I have some mild form or autism, or "what formely was known as aspergers" according to her. While this I wouldn't find particularly shocking, I still feel uneasy due to the fact that my former therapist said "I don't think you have aspergers" at some point when asked - though to be fair, she refused to give me any diagnoses as she wasn't very fond of "psychological labels". I don't know what is the process of getting an official diagnoses, and at the moment I only have what is my current therapist opinion.

I find myself out of place everywhere, and this applies also to the neurotypical/neurodiverse split.
I feel in limbo, and I don't like it.

I remember when i first took my son in to be tested, we live way in the country and there isn't a lot of close by doctors qualified to determine if he had ASD or not, the specialist who works with Autism here could only diagnose children under the age of 18 but she does work with adults too, just can't formally diagnose them, she gave him some tests and was certain he had mild ASD, but when i took him to the neuro-psychologist she also gave him 3 hours worth of tests but really didn't want to diagnose him in the autism spectrum because he didn't show many of the traits most had. Such as always focusing on a certain thing, like if it were trains that is all they would talk about or be interested in. She said she just wasn't sure he had ASD even though he had some traits of it. Now his doctor's were sure of that, even his specialist for his UC said that he was sure he had that because he has two sons with it and has seen the signs, his neurologist for his migraines said he had it because he had one of the worst cases of anxiety he had ever seen, his P.A. thought he had it, and his ASD specialist was certain he had high functioning ASD. but for some reason the one who could diagnose it wasn't fully sure. In the end she did give him a diagnosis of high functioning ASD plus avoidant personality disorder and high anxiety syndrome.