Psych community not taking me seriously!

[gouldgrl]

I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Has anyone else encountered resistance when seeking an ASD diagnosis? With all the research I've done on this disorder, I am fairly convinced I've been living with it my whole life. However, I am fifty years old, and a woman, which means I probably didn't present overt symptoms as a child.

I recently was given a neuro-psych evaluation through Vocational Rehab. The diagnosis: Schizoid Personality Disorder. Why? Because the psychologist said there was a lack of evidence of ASD in childhood. Well, for one thing, she didn't spend much time discussing the issue of ASD during the interview portion of the evaluation. So, I suspect a lot of psych professionals are trying to stem the tide of self-diagnosis of ASD.

I would accept an answer of "no ASD" if I was actually taken seriously by a neuro-psychologist who knew what to look for and how this condition is sometimes subtly manifested in adult women.

Any advice on how to go about finding someone who will take me seriously?

 

[tryingtoregister]

I'm no doctor, so take this for just an opinion.. but Schizoid Personality Disorder is a real thing as well. Maybe just raise your concerns with your therapist and ask them to explain the differences and really where the diagnosis was born from

 

[Vanilla]

I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Has anyone else encountered resistance when seeking an ASD diagnosis? With all the research I've done on this disorder, I am fairly convinced I've been living with it my whole life. However, I am fifty years old, and a woman, which means I probably didn't present overt symptoms as a child.

I recently was given a neuro-psych evaluation through Vocational Rehab. The diagnosis: Schizoid Personality Disorder. Why? Because the psychologist said there was a lack of evidence of ASD in childhood. Well, for one thing, she didn't spend much time discussing the issue of ASD during the interview portion of the evaluation. So, I suspect a lot of psych professionals are trying to stem the tide of self-diagnosis of ASD.

I would accept an answer of "no ASD" if I was actually taken seriously by a neuro-psychologist who knew what to look for and how this condition is sometimes subtly manifested in adult women.

Any advice on how to go about finding someone who will take me seriously?

Hi,

Being a woman with Aspergers, there's sometimes the chance of being mis-diagnosed. Some professionals may not be trained to spot it in women, which is a bit annoying, but reality at this point in time.

The first reason for this is that it was previously thought that only men could have Aspergers until fairly recently. The second reason is because they may try to find the symptoms present in males with Aspergers, as opposed to females with Aspergers. The final reason, is that woman are known to hide their condition, very well in fact, as they are aware that something is a bit odd about them, and so learn to fit in. If this sounds like you, it's possible you're an Aspie. Being a mature woman too, I'd say you'd have mastered hiding it well by now.

If you google Aspie Girls, or females with Aspergers, you'll see what I mean. Because of this, I would call around, and ask specifically for a specialist, who specialises in Aspergers, and more importantly, knows the difference between males and females with the condition. I recommend writing a detailed list, of all your past, and current symptoms, and bringing it with you (or asking if they wouldn't mind you emailing it to them before the appointment).

Hope his helps.

 

[Ereth]

I wasn't diagnosed until I reached adulthood (I'm twenty-four now; it's been almost four years or so). I've never had any other mental health issues come up besides depression, but apparently females tend to have subtler symptoms, or are more likely to "go under the radar" because girls are traditionally expected to be more interpersonal from a young age.

Best wishes to you.

 

[Arashi222]

My suggestion would be to ask for a referral from the vocational rehab place. Suggest to them that you would like a second opinion and from a someone who specializes in ASD's. In my experience ask for someone who deals more with woman an ASD's because even with my neuropsych that I had for my reevlauation that diagnosing girls is hard because most people spend their education looking and dealing with boys. So that is what i would do.

 

[gouldgrl]

I'm no doctor, so take this for just an opinion.. but Schizoid Personality Disorder is a real thing as well. Maybe just raise your concerns with your therapist and ask them to explain the differences and really where the diagnosis was born from

Thanks for your response. Yes, Schizoid Personality Disorder is a real thing. I don't deny that I manifest some of its symptoms. However, to accept that diagnosis is to deny the myriad other symptoms I've been struggling with throughout my life--ones that I believe are attributable to ASD.

 

[gouldgrl]

Hi,

Being a woman with Aspergers, there's sometimes the chance of being mis-diagnosed. Some professionals may not be trained to spot it in women, which is a bit annoying, but reality at this point in time.

The first reason for this is that it was previously thought that only men could have Aspergers until fairly recently. The second reason is because they may try to find the symptoms present in males with Aspergers, as opposed to females with Aspergers. The final reason, is that woman are known to hide their condition, very well in fact, as they are aware that something is a bit odd about them, and so learn to fit in. If this sounds like you, it's possible you're an Aspie. Being a mature woman too, I'd say you'd have mastered hiding it well by now.

If you google Aspie Girls, or females with Aspergers, you'll see what I mean. Because of this, I would call around, and ask specifically for a specialist, who specialises in Aspergers, and more importantly, knows the difference between males and females with the condition. I recommend writing a detailed list, of all your past, and current symptoms, and bringing it with you (or asking if they wouldn't mind you emailing it to them before the appointment).

Hope his helps.

Yes, it does! Like you, I've done a great deal of research on this topic and understand how girls and women may not present as obviously as men. I just wish the mental health professional who evaluated me was educated enough to understand this.

 

[bentHnau]

I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Has anyone else encountered resistance when seeking an ASD diagnosis?

Yes.

The diagnosis: Schizoid Personality Disorder.

Same with me. Twice.

Why? Because the psychologist said there was a lack of evidence of ASD in childhood.

I got that excuse as well.

Any advice on how to go about finding someone who will take me seriously?

I went with a state agency specializing in developmental disabilities. Perhaps you have such a thing where you live?

 

[gouldgrl]

Yes.

Same with me. Twice.



I got that excuse as well.



I went with a state agency specializing in developmental disabilities. Perhaps you have such a thing where you live?

I'll definitely do some investigating. Thanks for the tip! Did you find a more reasonable outcome with that agency?

 

[bentHnau]

Yes, so far it's been more reasonable in that they were far more thorough in investigating my symptoms. I haven't received the results of my evaluation yet, though.

 

[Ste11aeres]

It's been forty years since you were a child, so, regardless of who she may have interviewed, or whatever, she can't really verifiably know whether or not ASD was manifested in your childhood.

 

[XAND]

I am encountering the same problem (except from the male perspective), including the willingness to accept "no ASD" if it can be sufficiently explained to me. Unfortunately I have little helpful information—still undiagnosed—but I can offer some solidarity, at least.

I do have, or have been treated for: Social Phobia, Major Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, OCD, OCPD, General Anxiety Disorder, and some symptoms of ADHD and PTSD. There may be some merit to the Schizoid Personality Disorder in your case, but your psych choosing to single that out, as mine did, ignores the fact that comorbidity is common on the autism spectrum. You may have traits of SPD, but that does not preclude autism. Not at all.

I will be very interested to learn if you have any success.