Where can a 61 year old Woman get diagnosed in the USA?

[Mary Anne]

Hi, I have always had sensory processing disorder, but have never been diagnosed. It’s causing me to lose my job, which I desparetely need. Plus, I just want to finally be officially diagnosed. How can an older person get diagnosed and how much does it cost? Thank you.

 

[Crossbreed]

You can contact the Autism Society of America (or its local affiliate) for a recommendation. Many that are geared toward children will see adults, too.

Are you on Medicare and/or Medical Assistance?

(And welcome to AC.)

 

[Mary Anne]

I am currently on Medicaid, but also have some blue cross insurance from my job also. No Medicare for me...and no retirement either on horizon!

 

[Crossbreed]

Medicaid should be enough.

 

[clg114]

Welcome to Aspies Central. I did not get a diagnosis until I was 62. I am in the US and I got my GP to refer me to a psychologist with experience with autism. After three appointments, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. My insurance would not pay and it cost me $350.00.

However, this was ten years ago and I was diagnosed using the criteria from the DSM-4. The DSM-4 was replaced in 2013 with the DSM-5. With this new criteria, the term "Asperger's Syndrome" is not used anymore. For political and economic reasons, it is harder to get a diagnosis with DSM-5.

The best place to start is with your regular doctor. Good luck.

 

[Mary Anne]

Medicaid should be enough.

I was asking about Whom would I see to get diagnosis? A regular psychologist will not do the testing. It seems to need some sort of specialist? It’s so much easier with children to get diagnosis!

 

[Mary Anne]

Welcome to Aspies Central. I did not get a diagnosis until I was 62. I am in the US and I got my GP to refer me to a psychologist with experience with autism. After three appointments, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. My insurance would not pay and it cost me $350.00.

However, this was ten years ago and I was diagnosed using the criteria from the DSM-4. The DSM-4 was replaced in 2013 with the DSM-5. With this new criteria, the term "Asperger's Syndrome" is not used anymore. For political and economic reasons, it is harder to get a diagnosis with DSM-5.

The best place to start is with your regular doctor. Good luck.

 

[Mary Anne]

Thanks so much! Mine could not refer me. Had no clue where an adult would get tested. I have googled and found that children get tested with ease and regularity, but when it comes to adults, there is nothing spelled out. No testing centers for adults. I am looked at strangely when I mention my desire to get diagnosis at my age. I think folks feels that if you make it to your 60s, you stop wanting self knowledge. :-(

I was hoping there was a name for the “type” of testing specialist so I could google that. This sensory processing disorder is extremely difficult to live with.

 

[Crossbreed]

I was asking about Whom would I see to get diagnosis? A regular psychologist will not do the testing. It seems to need some sort of specialist?

That is why I recommended Autism Society & affiliates. They maintain a list of specialists in your area.

 

[Nitro]

 

[Mary Anne]

That is why I recommended Autism Society & affiliates. They maintain a list of specialists in your area.

Thank you very much Crossbreed! I do not/ did not see your prior mention of Autism Society & affiliates. Thanks for clarification.

 

[Thinx]

Hi I like your cute pirate kitten picture. Hope you enjoy it here, there's a lot of information around and people are kind and helpful here. I hope your work situation improves soon, it sounds tough. I added a snow flake cos I m on a train to London from Manchester UK and it's a bit snowy !

 

[Streetwise]

welcome in the UK I was under the misnomer that everybody had an autism diagnosis team in their county !no I was wrong! someone was diagnosed by speech therapist !other people by a psychologist! my diagnosis took an hour and a half, there were a psychologist a speech therapist and someone else.
The oldest man in the UK was 83-years-old !one thing I would say don't mask your traits act the way you always act do you have any record of how you behaved when you were a child ?school reports !hospital records !doctors records! or friends or relatives !who are older than you !it will give the therapist an idea of how you are challenged or was as a child .

 

[Catana]

I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from getting an official diagnosis, but what is your goal in getting one? Do you want to be entitled to services? Do you want your employer to recognize and make adjustments for you? It's very possible that even with a diagnosis, that won't happen. It might even get you fired.

Even if you pursue diagnosis, there is a lot you can -- and should -- do for yourself. There's a huge amount of information on the internet about dealing with aspie problems on your own, and possibly with the help of family and friends. Also more books than you can read in a lifetime, by people on the spectrum, who share what they have learned about living with autism and aspergers. Read, read, read.

 

[Myway]

Hello and Welcome to AC.

 

[Mary Anne]

Oops sorry, I had missed this and had not responded! I actually just quit my job AFTER 11 months and a big part of it was due to sensory issues. I have a very good idea now that I am, due to all the evolvement in these threads. Yes, I would think a proper diagnosis would allow accommodations at work. Why would they fire me? Could they? I found getting officially tested is very expensive for children as well as adults. I do not have the $3000.00 to $5,000.00 it costs. I also found only one person out of the 13 I contacted willing to work with an adult! Another referred me to another. I got the feeling that it was very difficult to get tested.

 

[Crossbreed]

Yes, I would think a proper diagnosis would allow accommodations at work. Why would they fire me? Could they?

Not officially, but they can make up a different reason, if they were so inclined.

I found getting officially tested is very expensive for children as well as adults. I do not have the $3000.00 to $5,000.00 it costs.

See if you are eligible for Medicaid.

 

[the_tortoise]

You can get some counsel/therapy for sensory issue from an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory processing disorder and sensory integration therapy.

Most of them work primarily with children, but among all the practices geared towards kids some of them will see adults, too even if they don't advertise it (because there is nowhere else for adults to go) -- you really just have to call/email and ask them if they would be able to help you.

There is also a book called "Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight" written specifically for adults with sensory processing difficulties.

For an autism evaluation and diagnosis, I suggest calling the places that evaluate children and asking them for referrals -- often those who work with different age groups are colleagues that know each other. And in asking for a refrerral, you may find that someone you ask also has experience with adults.

Okay so I didn't read the whole thread....seeing your last post, Mary Anne, I wonder if you couldn't get an evaluation through vocational rehabilitation services (seeing as you had to quit your job because of issues that you would like to have evaluated)? I read of someone in the US whose evaluation was covered by vocational rehab -- although I don't iknow when that happened (things change s governments change) nor what state he was in.

 

[Mary Anne]

Not officially, but they can make up a different reason, if they were so inclined.

See if you are eligible for Medicaid.

I am on Medicaid. Which is why I cannot get diagnosis. But wait.... that does give me an idea! Thanks. I documented my sensory issues in emails. May be able to show them. I also own 2 copies of that book! Hard and soft copies! I read it years ago, and thought “that’s me!”

 

[Crossbreed]

I am on Medicaid. Which is why I cannot get diagnosis.

If you get leads from the Autism Society, you can ask [those leads] if they take Medicaid. (Most of them do because it is most common for auties to live in poverty.)