Trying to get Diagnosed

[tiveria]

I'm a 44 year old woman, and after feeling a connection to so many people who have autism, I started doing some research. I watched videos, I took the Aspie Test and an Autism test I found from a reputable source, and I think I'm one of you. So in order to get help for some of the areas that I have a lot of issues in, I need to get diagnosed. I tried asking therapists for help w/o the diagnosis, and no. They refuse, which I get.

So I started trying to find a testing center. I began this journey by looking at my health insurance company and looked up the nearest office that said they do autism testing on the site. I called and left a message two days ago, no response.

So I called the next closest place, and they don't actually do autism testing. They tell me to call a psychiatry hospital about an hour away. I call the number they give me, and I get transferred three times before getting a random person's voicemail. I left a voicemail and no response. ,

So instead of directly looking at my health care plan, I start googling Adult Autism testing near me. Sigh.

The only place that references adult testing at all is a place that doesn't take insurance and costs over $1,000!!

I've heard from people on youtube that it can take months to years to be able to even get an appointment to get evaluated.

I don't understand why it's so difficult to even find a place to get tested. THIS IS CRAZY.

If this keeps up, I'm going to have to find other ways to help myself because it feels like there's no close by, covered by insurance (I have Cigna for crying out loud!), not terribly expensive facility.
If I had some kind of other illness, say I thought I had a heart issue, I'd be able to find a cardiologist that would be able to test my body, diagnose me, and help my resolve issues. I know Autism has only been really recognized more recently, but where's the help?
Sorry, I'm just very frustrated this week.

 

[Slime_Punk]

Hi and welcome!

This is extremely common, unfortunately. Being an adult with ASD and trying to get a diagnosis is extremely hard due to the lack of professionals who are even willing (and trained) to pick up on it. Have you tried simply looking for specialists rather than testing centers? That's what eventually got me my diagnosis in my late 20s - finding somebody who could diagnose adults took years, though. It's like you almost have to suspect it first because (almost) nobody is going to just up and tell you that you have symptoms of ASD as an adult, rather, most of them will tell you it's impossible if you're higher-functioning like I am.

I hope you stick around and find the answers you seek!

 

[VictorR]

Hello and welcome!

To add to Silhouette Mirage's comments, if you're seeking suggestions on psychologists who have experience with adult female diagnosis, I'm going to recommend you reach out to Kristen Hovet (she's an self-advocate) with details on your area at Contact as she has a list of names and may be able to make some suggestions.

Unfortunately, the topic of cost and waitlists is something that comes up a fair bit, and for a private diagnosis, $1500-$2500 is a pretty common price tag range, and a waitlist of 2+ years is not unusual either.

 

[Suzanne]

I am angry right along side you! Ridiculous to treat you in such a way, when it is clear that diagnosis should be easy to find.

You certainly have come to the right forum.

I would suggest popping over to where I reside ( France), because, even though I read everywhere that aspergers is not recognised and adult females are a big no no, since it is seen as a male condition. However, after seeing a pyschiastrist for several months, my husband asked for me to be referred and I was and received my diagnosis within a couple of months. And I was thoroughly tested. Saw a neuroscientist ( I think that was her title) twice and then, what was reckoned to be a two year waiting list, to see the "expert in autism", I received a week later and saw him twice. I had to talk about my childhood and my husband explained my traits as an adult.

 

[Crossbreed]

If you are in the USA, see Finding Support Resources in the USA...

 

[Thinx]

I'm a 44 year old woman, and after feeling a connection to so many people who have autism, I started doing some research. I watched videos, I took the Aspie Test and an Autism test I found from a reputable source, and I think I'm one of you. So in order to get help for some of the areas that I have a lot of issues in, I need to get diagnosed. I tried asking therapists for help w/o the diagnosis, and no. They refuse, which I get.

So I started trying to find a testing center. I began this journey by looking at my health insurance company and looked up the nearest office that said they do autism testing on the site. I called and left a message two days ago, no response.

So I called the next closest place, and they don't actually do autism testing. They tell me to call a psychiatry hospital about an hour away. I call the number they give me, and I get transferred three times before getting a random person's voicemail. I left a voicemail and no response. ,

So instead of directly looking at my health care plan, I start googling Adult Autism testing near me. Sigh.

The only place that references adult testing at all is a place that doesn't take insurance and costs over $1,000!!

I've heard from people on youtube that it can take months to years to be able to even get an appointment to get evaluated.

I don't understand why it's so difficult to even find a place to get tested. THIS IS CRAZY.

If this keeps up, I'm going to have to find other ways to help myself because it feels like there's no close by, covered by insurance (I have Cigna for crying out loud!), not terribly expensive facility.
If I had some kind of other illness, say I thought I had a heart issue, I'd be able to find a cardiologist that would be able to test my body, diagnose me, and help my resolve issues. I know Autism has only been really recognized more recently, but where's the help?
Sorry, I'm just very frustrated this week.

Hi and welcome. Great ideas here from others. Also have you seen Jessica Kingsley publishers catalogue for texts by women with Autism and clinicians about issues of diagnosis for women, and more. Useful.

 

[Raggamuffin]

Not sure how it is where you are, but in the UK if the NHS does it - you'll be waiting years. My brother has been waiting 2+ and me 1+. However, if I was willing to drop £1000+ I could probably get an assessment within a month. Not going to do that though. I did it with my ADHD assessment, and sort of regreted it, because the research, forums, books, articles and online assessments I did all made me positive I had ADHD, so even when it was officially diagnosed, I'd felt like I had wasted my money.

My advice would be to stay on a waiting list, find the cheapest means to get assessed, and continue researching in the mean time. At the end of the day, if you've done online assessments and score highly, chances are you probably have it. I did all sorts of ADHD assessments, and I was amused that the official assessment used pretty much identical questions.

Ed

 

[tiveria]

Thank you everyone for your words and feedback!

I live in Florida, in the US. I have started googling a lot of your suggestions so I can review more and find more options. There are very few autism specialists in therapy in my area, but I'll keep looking.
I also have ADHD (diagnosed by a PCP, not very thoroughly in my 30's), so I'm often torn between the two, and I know some things are overlapping.

I hope things get better with testing and more locations open up. I think women are harder to diagnose, especially if we're older and have learned to mask a lot of symptoms. I've always been good at mimicking people most of my life.

 

[Orange Glasses]

I would also recommend reading Dr Tony Attwood’s book, The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome.

Reading this book will have you better prepared when you find a qualified individual capable of giving you a complete assessment & diagnosis.

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): Revised Edition: Attwood, Tony: 8581000002086: Amazon.com: Books

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): Revised Edition [Attwood, Tony] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): Revised Edition

www.amazon.com