Oppinions needed: Faulty asessment meeting?

[Tiger]

If you would give me your input if you have done an asessment, I would be very greatful.

So, I know that the way Autism is assessed can vary between countires but I need to talk about this and see what you guys have to say, becauce I am concerend and I don't think it was taken seriousley.

I was denied a "real assessment" but got a "pre assessment" meating where they asked me a few questions. I was supposed to fill in some papers but since I was in a pretty bad state of mental fatigue he read them aloud. And so, here are the things I reacted to afterwards.

1. The questions honestly, felt insulting. The examples he took for each question was for short:
- Would you stand up on a wedding and burp for all to hear? (His example on the question if I can know how to behave around people and know what is expected of me)
- If there was a big event in town and Police were showing people the way, would you follow their instructions? ( Also to see if I could understand expectations)
- What does raining cat's and dogs mean?( On the qustion of taking things litterary)
- If you moved to a new town how would you get friends? ( To check my social skills. On this one I honestly said I have no clue (but then I intelectualized and said " But I guess it would be a good idea to join a club of my interest?")

Non of them came even close to touching where the real poblems are... (possibly nr 4) I asked to give my own examples but he said it was not neccesary. When I asked to give them my own rapport of 36 pages he said they did not have the time.

2. He continued with saying that I was good at knowing when to speak, was clean (!?) and well dressed and did not speak with a monotone voice, so that does not speak for it being autism either. He also said I was emotional based on another question and that it aslo ruled out autism.

( So in his eyes an Autsitic person is dirty, monotone people who do not feel feelings, think that animals fall from the sky, burps straight out on weddings, refuses to follow orders from police...) I mean... what? We did not go into how I process information, n talking about me in groups, my social life, dating life, family life, work. I chose clothes for 2 hours before going there to try to represent my "true self" but also look formally dressed and avoid sensory disturbance...

I did not get to see what number he filled in on the questions for me and now my journal says I have done an asessment that showed nothing...
I've been asking for this for 5 years. I have been on sickleave for 7 and now this.

I live in Scandinavia. What do you guys say?

 

[Masked Man]

I don't know, your health system is probably quite a bit different than ours in the US, but to me this sounded like a sort of triage appointment, where the intake medical staff would determine the needs of the patient and where to correctly direct them to receive the proper treatment.

That's sort of how our office would handle something like that, but then again, our clinic does not do the same type of health care. That's my impression though.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I live in Scandinavia. What do you guys say?

As described, it seemed like someone was not interested in dealing with the Asperger's/ASD-1 diagnosis...filtering them out of the system, and rather was trying to filter their diagnosis for ASD-2s and 3s (autism classic)? Perhaps a cognitive bias... or perhaps it may have been coming from administration higher up... the effects of socialistic medicine, limited resources, and related budgetary constraints.

The fact that they were not interested in what you had to say, sort of shutting you down, and imposing their bias to reject you... that seems a bit odd by US standards.

 

[Tiger]

As described, it seemed like someone was not interested in dealing with the Asperger's/ASD-1 diagnosis...filtering them out of the system, and rather was trying to filter their diagnosis for ASD-2s and 3s (autism classic)? Perhaps a cognitive bias... or perhaps it may have been coming from administration higher up... the effects of socialistic medicine, limited resources, and related budgetary constraints.

The fact that they were not interested in what you had to say, sort of shutting you down, and imposing their bias to reject you... that seems a bit odd by US standards.

As described, it seemed like someone was not interested in dealing with the Asperger's/ASD-1 diagnosis...filtering them out of the system, and rather was trying to filter their diagnosis for ASD-2s and 3s (autism classic)? Perhaps a cognitive bias... or perhaps it may have been coming from administration higher up... the effects of socialistic medicine, limited resources, and related budgetary constraints.

The fact that they were not interested in what you had to say, sort of shutting you down, and imposing their bias to reject you... that seems a bit odd by US standards.

I don't know, your health system is probably quite a bit different than ours in the US, but to me this sounded like a sort of triage appointment, where the intake medical staff would determine the needs of the patient and where to correctly direct them to receive the proper treatment.

That's sort of how our office would handle something like that, but then again, our clinic does not do the same type of health care. That's my impression though.

Yes that sounds about right. If they had found something they deemed worthy of looking up they would send me to the ones responsible for doing an evaluation of Autism and type. I just don't feel that the questions seem "serious" and it felt strange that he did not tell me the result from a paper that I was supposed to fill out myself... but if it is very different from how you do it in the US it is not easy to judge, I understand.

 

[Tiger]

As described, it seemed like someone was not interested in dealing with the Asperger's/ASD-1 diagnosis...filtering them out of the system, and rather was trying to filter their diagnosis for ASD-2s and 3s (autism classic)? Perhaps a cognitive bias... or perhaps it may have been coming from administration higher up... the effects of socialistic medicine, limited resources, and related budgetary constraints.

The fact that they were not interested in what you had to say, sort of shutting you down, and imposing their bias to reject you... that seems a bit odd by US standards.

I got that feeling as well, did not feel nice... I know the desicion comes from him. That's what the doctor handeling my sickleave said. But I only got a letter I could not respond too and then all went on vacation. Then I ended up in a meltdown followed by shutdown and could not reply, so I am looking into it a little now. Thanks for input, I understand it is hard to tell with different systems.

 

[Shamar]

If you would give me your input if you have done an asessment, I would be very greatful.

So, I know that the way Autism is assessed can vary between countires but I need to talk about this and see what you guys have to say, becauce I am concerend and I don't think it was taken seriousley.

I was denied a "real assessment" but got a "pre assessment" meating where they asked me a few questions. I was supposed to fill in some papers but since I was in a pretty bad state of mental fatigue he read them aloud. And so, here are the things I reacted to afterwards.

1. The questions honestly, felt insulting. The examples he took for each question was for short:
- Would you stand up on a wedding and burp for all to hear? (His example on the question if I can know how to behave around people and know what is expected of me)
- If there was a big event in town and Police were showing people the way, would you follow their instructions? ( Also to see if I could understand expectations)
- What does raining cat's and dogs mean?( On the qustion of taking things litterary)
- If you moved to a new town how would you get friends? ( To check my social skills. On this one I honestly said I have no clue (but then I intelectualized and said " But I guess it would be a good idea to join a club of my interest?")

Non of them came even close to touching where the real poblems are... (possibly nr 4) I asked to give my own examples but he said it was not neccesary. When I asked to give them my own rapport of 36 pages he said they did not have the time.

2. He continued with saying that I was good at knowing when to speak, was clean (!?) and well dressed and did not speak with a monotone voice, so that does not speak for it being autism either. He also said I was emotional based on another question and that it aslo ruled out autism.

( So in his eyes an Autsitic person is dirty, monotone people who do not feel feelings, think that animals fall from the sky, burps straight out on weddings, refuses to follow orders from police...) I mean... what? We did not go into how I process information, n talking about me in groups, my social life, dating life, family life, work. I chose clothes for 2 hours before going there to try to represent my "true self" but also look formally dressed and avoid sensory disturbance...

I did not get to see what number he filled in on the questions for me and now my journal says I have done an asessment that showed nothing...
I've been asking for this for 5 years. I have been on sickleave for 7 and now this.

I live in Scandinavia. What do you guys say?

It seems to me that doctors in Scandinavia have the same attitude as doctors in the U.S. They would rather not deal with adult autism because they know nothing about it. The diagnostic criteria are merely guidelines, to be ignored if it looks like it will actually result in a diagnosis.

 

[Masked Man]

Yes that sounds about right. If they had found something they deemed worthy of looking up they would send me to the ones responsible for doing an evaluation of Autism and type. I just don't feel that the questions seem "serious" and it felt strange that he did not tell me the result from a paper that I was supposed to fill out myself... but if it is very different from how you do it in the US it is not easy to judge, I understand.

I would guess that those questions that were not serious were there as kind of like a filter. They serve to filter out the people who think they have autism as compared to the ones who really do (or have something else).

There are people who come into our clinic who pretend to have a condition when in reality they are drug-seeking. So their answers to our questions are what they think we want to hear, or they are what they have read about or seen in the media.

That's not to say that's what you are doing, but those questions in your post sound a lot like what we might ask people to filter out the ones who want drugs as compared to the ones who really do have a problem.

 

[Judge]

It sounds like what you went through at best could be summarized as a "complete waste of your time".

Though autism assessments have the potential of being very good to very bad even among individual physicians, let alone nations and their respective medical communities.

Also taking into consideration the logistics of your nation's healthcare system. Rising prevalence of autism in Scandinavian countries and various locales may also seem overwhelming to some medical professionals, who may choose to take bureaucratic "shortcuts" just to lighten their caseload. Especially with adults which can potentially complicate the diagnostic process.

Perhaps best to start the process again if possible, but with fully qualified medical professionals such as psychiatrists or neurologists. With a possibility of having to go outside your nation's healthcare system to get a proper diagnosis at a considerable cost to you.

 

[Matthias]

@Tiger Doctors only diagnose disorders, such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder). If you have autistic traits but they aren't severe enough to qualify for a disorder, you don't meet the criteria for ASD. Most people who have autistic traits don't qualify for a diagnosis because their symptoms are too mild.

 

[vergil96]

It sounds like the asessment was directed at the higher end of support needs, not ASD-1 / less severe end of Asperger's syndrome.

( So in his eyes an Autsitic person is dirty, monotone people who do not feel feelings, think that animals fall from the sky, burps straight out on weddings, refuses to follow orders from police...)

It does happen. I know such people. They are otherwise successful in life. But certainly it's not reflective of all people on the autism spectrum.

People who don't maintain personal hygene do so not because they don't know, but most often have (often mental) health problems. It happens to me sometimes too. It's mental health issues. Either way, the asessment seems to look for major, not subtle problems.

 

[Matthias]

I've been asking for this for 5 years. I have been on sickleave for 7 and now this.

I missed this line at the end. Are you on sick leave because autism prevents you from working?

 

[717]

If you would give me your input if you have done an asessment, I would be very greatful.

So, I know that the way Autism is assessed can vary between countires but I need to talk about this and see what you guys have to say, becauce I am concerend and I don't think it was taken seriousley.

I was denied a "real assessment" but got a "pre assessment" meating where they asked me a few questions. I was supposed to fill in some papers but since I was in a pretty bad state of mental fatigue he read them aloud. And so, here are the things I reacted to afterwards.

1. The questions honestly, felt insulting. The examples he took for each question was for short:
- Would you stand up on a wedding and burp for all to hear? (His example on the question if I can know how to behave around people and know what is expected of me)
- If there was a big event in town and Police were showing people the way, would you follow their instructions? ( Also to see if I could understand expectations)
- What does raining cat's and dogs mean?( On the qustion of taking things litterary)
- If you moved to a new town how would you get friends? ( To check my social skills. On this one I honestly said I have no clue (but then I intelectualized and said " But I guess it would be a good idea to join a club of my interest?")

Non of them came even close to touching where the real poblems are... (possibly nr 4) I asked to give my own examples but he said it was not neccesary. When I asked to give them my own rapport of 36 pages he said they did not have the time.

2. He continued with saying that I was good at knowing when to speak, was clean (!?) and well dressed and did not speak with a monotone voice, so that does not speak for it being autism either. He also said I was emotional based on another question and that it aslo ruled out autism.

( So in his eyes an Autsitic person is dirty, monotone people who do not feel feelings, think that animals fall from the sky, burps straight out on weddings, refuses to follow orders from police...) I mean... what? We did not go into how I process information, n talking about me in groups, my social life, dating life, family life, work. I chose clothes for 2 hours before going there to try to represent my "true self" but also look formally dressed and avoid sensory disturbance...

I did not get to see what number he filled in on the questions for me and now my journal says I have done an asessment that showed nothing...
I've been asking for this for 5 years. I have been on sickleave for 7 and now this.

I live in Scandinavia. What do you guys say?

Sometimes on a test, they are no looking at what your answers are, but other things, like your behavior, and your reactions. The problem with adults is that they learn to mask, so they have years practicing how to hide and fake, so theoretically everyone that can take themselves to the doctor's office without assistance is already working in looking less different, and the ones that need assistance have being in the medical system since childhood.

"He continued with saying that I was good at knowing when to speak, was clean (!?) and well dressed and did not speak with a monotone voice, so that does not speak for it being autism either. He also said I was emotional based on another question and that it aslo ruled out autism."

This explanation kind of confirms that they where no interested on your answers as much as in your reactions... did you repeat the questions when they ask? how many times did you repeat them? did you stutter? how bad? did you interrupt when they speak? where you silence when they where expecting you to speak? why you didnt insist harder on bringing your own examples in 4? did you have unusual eye contact? did you stim?

Then again during masking you train to avoid most of this things, so they dont show as much.

I did ask my doctor about autism and he said that I dont look like it, and he also said that getting a diagnosis as an adult is really hard unless there is documented history from childhood.

 

[vergil96]

he said that I dont look like it,

Mine acted like it was obvious that I'm autistic. It wasn't an asessment, just a visit. She also said that adult psychological asessment is taxing and unneccesary. I agree, because I don't see how it could do anything for me. It can be useful under some circumstances such as getting unemployment benefits, but it varies from country to country. In my country, Asperger's syndrome isn't a diagnosis that helps get disability benefits and people with this diagnosis get disability because of other conditions (related or unrelated to their autism...) such as bipolar, schizophrenia, depression that gets them hospitalised over and over again, epilepsy, blindness etc.

 

[717]

Mine acted like it was obvious that I'm autistic. It wasn't an asessment, just a visit. She also said that adult psychological asessment is taxing and unneccesary. I agree, because I don't see how it could do anything for me. It can be useful under some circumstances such as getting unemployment benefits, but it varies from country to country. In my country, Asperger's syndrome isn't a diagnosis that helps get disability benefits and people with this diagnosis get disability because of other conditions (related or unrelated to their autism...) such as bipolar, schizophrenia, depression that gets them hospitalised over and over again, epilepsy, blindness etc.

I think that the benefit is in the validation, you know for sure why you are the way you are... when I was a little kid I have some behaviors that where concerning to the adults so they have me to see a doctor, and the doctor recommended testing for hypochondria and for autism, the adults where mostly concern with the first one, so that is what they did... but the more you know, apparently half of the autistic people also are hypochondriac, a disproportionate percentage when you compare to non-autistic.

Though I dont recall anyone in this forums talk about hypochondria... but this is a common occurrence with me, I research things that are different with me and there is almost always a connection with autism.

But also this is my problem... If I learn about the symptoms of an illness, I will express this symptoms, because my hypochondria, so the more I learn about autism, in theory, the better I get at showing the symptoms... So I dont really know... I never know for sure when I am sick for real or when it is in my mind.

 

[Tiger]

@Tiger Doctors only diagnose disorders, such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder). If you have autistic traits but they aren't severe enough to qualify for a disorder, you don't meet the criteria for ASD. Most people who have autistic traits don't qualify for a diagnosis because their symptoms are too mild.

I missed this line at the end. Are you on sick leave because autism prevents you from working?

Long story but I am on sickleave. Big part of what causes problems for me at work is what I would say Autism rellated yes.

 

[Tiger]

It sounds like the asessment was directed at the higher end of support needs, not ASD-1 / less severe end of Asperger's syndrome.


It does happen. I know such people. They are otherwise successful in life. But certainly it's not reflective of all people on the autism spectrum.

People who don't maintain personal hygene do so not because they don't know, but most often have (often mental) health problems. It happens to me sometimes too. It's mental health issues. Either way, the asessment seems to look for major, not subtle problems.

Did not mean to bad mouth any of it. I have problems with showers too in long periods. But to me the fear of being badly precived and treated has been so welded into me that it's become part of masking. In my oppinion they do not even bother to hear me out if I don't put myself together.

 

[Tiger]

Sometimes on a test, they are no looking at what your answers are, but other things, like your behavior, and your reactions. The problem with adults is that they learn to mask, so they have years practicing how to hide and fake, so theoretically everyone that can take themselves to the doctor's office without assistance is already working in looking less different, and the ones that need assistance have being in the medical system since childhood.

"He continued with saying that I was good at knowing when to speak, was clean (!?) and well dressed and did not speak with a monotone voice, so that does not speak for it being autism either. He also said I was emotional based on another question and that it aslo ruled out autism."

This explanation kind of confirms that they where no interested on your answers as much as in your reactions... did you repeat the questions when they ask? how many times did you repeat them? did you stutter? how bad? did you interrupt when they speak? where you silence when they where expecting you to speak? why you didnt insist harder on bringing your own examples in 4? did you have unusual eye contact? did you stim?

Then again during masking you train to avoid most of this things, so they dont show as much.

I did ask my doctor about autism and he said that I dont look like it, and he also said that getting a diagnosis as an adult is really hard unless there is documented history from childhood.

Sorry you experienced that. And yes I can see what you mean. But I don't see how they can believe it though? Surely they must know about masking by now. I even told them that I do it and need help with breaking those walls down just so they would be aware. I offered to show them video logs where I talk to myself about things becauce I speak more unmasked there since they are my own day vlogs. I have a library of them from 12 years back so there are quite a few. He said they could not... But that would show me more real I thought. But if they only looked at behavior then I guess that question was not needed for them . It scares me though, becauce this is having a heavy cost right now.

 

[Tiger]

I think that the benefit is in the validation, you know for sure why you are the way you are... when I was a little kid I have some behaviors that where concerning to the adults so they have me to see a doctor, and the doctor recommended testing for hypochondria and for autism, the adults where mostly concern with the first one, so that is what they did... but the more you know, apparently half of the autistic people also are hypochondriac, a disproportionate percentage when you compare to non-autistic.

Though I dont recall anyone in this forums talk about hypochondria... but this is a common occurrence with me, I research things that are different with me and there is almost always a connection with autism.

But also this is my problem... If I learn about the symptoms of an illness, I will express this symptoms, because my hypochondria, so the more I learn about autism, in theory, the better I get at showing the symptoms... So I dont really know... I never know for sure when I am sick for real or when it is in my minSoun

I think that the benefit is in the validation, you know for sure why you are the way you are... when I was a little kid I have some behaviors that where concerning to the adults so they have me to see a doctor, and the doctor recommended testing for hypochondria and for autism, the adults where mostly concern with the first one, so that is what they did... but the more you know, apparently half of the autistic people also are hypochondriac, a disproportionate percentage when you compare to non-autistic.

Though I dont recall anyone in this forums talk about hypochondria... but this is a common occurrence with me, I research things that are different with me and there is almost always a connection with autism.

But also this is my problem... If I learn about the symptoms of an illness, I will express this symptoms, because my hypochondria, so the more I learn about autism, in theory, the better I get at showing the symptoms... So I dont really know... I never know for sure when I am sick for real or when it is in my mind.

Sounds tough I can rellate to some extent. But more with all the wierd things my body is up to before I learned about the nervous sytem, faschia, freeze, fawn, EDS and muscle tension in Neurodivergent people. Before then I could research a lot, but now when I have more experience it is a lot less. For me the problem is when I try to inform people of boundries, why they are important or applying for jobs in the past. The accomendations I needed to be able to work at all was not granted. Most of it no big things (they just went against formalia or "normal" and when I tried to work the "natural way") I hit the wall harder each time, ending up in sick leave. So it I imagine that if I could have support from officials about what I am describing they might understand. I also like to have order in things and some stupid part of my brain says "it's not real until you have it on paper becauce that is the rules" Ugh... so I find it hard to advocate for myself when people pull the "so why aren't you diagnosed then?" So I'm trying to be as clear as possible.

 

[Tiger]

@Tiger Doctors only diagnose disorders, such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder). If you have autistic traits but they aren't severe enough to qualify for a disorder, you don't meet the criteria for ASD. Most people who have autistic traits don't qualify for a diagnosis because their symptoms are too mild.

I would say that the parts I feel is a problem is not mild. People close to me have helped in the past but they are gone now and can not be witness. A lot has to do with communication, working memory and experience differences.

 

[Shamar]

I would say that the parts I feel is a problem is not mild. People close to me have helped in the past but they are gone now and can not be witness. A lot has to do with communication, working memory and experience differences.

You are new here. I was diagnosed at age 60, and that evaluation happened only by accident at a job search site. Prior to that I had no idea that I had autism, although I knew from an early age that I was different and could not fit in with other people. My diagnosis was a revelation. I had seen more than a dozen psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health experts, none of whom seemed to have a clue, despite presenting with what amounted to the diagnostic criteria. Now, when I see a new one, I don't tell them I am autistic, but test them by listing all of my autistic characteristics and ask what is the problem. If they don't list autism as a possibility, I tell them "If you cannot even suspect that I am autistic with all that, what makes you think you can treat it?" So far only one has been correct, and that one was for an interview for my son.

I would suggest taking some of the online tests for autism. They are not diagnostic, but will give you a good indication. The best seems to be AQ (Autism Spectrum Quotient) or RAADS, although others here may disagree or have other suggestions. The Embrace Autism site has these and other tests. Good luck.