Need something explained.

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Could someone please tell me what the diagnosis process is like? Like, the kinds of questions you were asked. (specifically) The sorts of traits they don't think are associated? What your personal experience was like? What family history stuff they look for? Other stuff that happens. Anything.

Anything you think would be informational to me. Details are greatly appreciated. I have a huge problem with really general statements.

Maybe what would be good or bad about having a diagnosis?

Thanks,

They didn't question my family history (not everyone on the spectrum has a family history of it). I had the ADIR and ADOS tests done. For the ADIR, they interviewed my father (with very few questions at all directed at me). The ADOS was done on another day, and it was just the psychologist and me. She did activities to determine behaviour, communication, social skills, etc, and there were a few questions analyzing my ability to understand emotions and social relationships. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I can't tell you what they DON'T think is associated, because she didn't discuss with me what wasn't relevant.

The DSM is what they use to determine diagnosis. For Aspergers, it says

I see an experienced psychologist who specializes in Aspergers/Autism spectrum.

The first appointment addressed the question I had when I set up the appointment: could I have Aspergers?

Apparently, the first part of the appointment was part of the interview/assessment, not just an introduction. The doctor made observations and asked questions such as: are you happy?

After we settled in, he said: you wondered if you could have Aspergers? In fact, he thought so and his initial assessment revealed to a greater degree than what I was aware off. He explained his reasons very clearly point-by-point. He said it was worth continuing with a full assessment which has since corroborated the working diagnosis.

I completed a battery of diagnostic questionnaires. Our visits include interaction/observation and feedback. I am very physical so they are activity based. For example, I draw when I have trouble speaking.

He also quickly began to work with me on skills such as communication. For example, I learned a story-script so I can put the parts of telling a story in order. Not a story book kind of story, but just how people greet each other and tell the other person about something interesting in his/her life that the other person might like to hear for a quick conversation. I am a middle-aged woman and here I am just learning that "no wonder" talking to people can be such an awful experience. I could never figure out what wasn't working. I just found it increasingly easier not to talk to people. He wasted no time. He did not just tell me I have Aspergers, he set to work non-judgmentally teaching me and helping me. He also lets me teach him. He doesn't think he knows it all. He asks me if he has understood correctly and if he can't understand he says so and accepts me anyways.

I don't know how it is for others. My doctor is like no doctor I have ever met before. It is not a "suit and tie" visit and I have never before found a place where I can sit with another individual and so fully be "myself". It is a huge relief. It is also kind of sad because I see the difference and had a long line of bad experiences to get there.

For me, this diagnosis made my whole life make sense. It was validating. I "knew" I was different, but as an older woman, I was "missed" and have had quite a challenged life because of it. It is helping me with some accommodations at school, and it has taken some pressure off in terms of beating myself up for not meeting the expectations of others and sticking up for my needs. This is my new beginning.

I hope you have a good visit.

Nothing to be afraid of.

Basically its a lengthy battery of interviews, and aptitude tests. Combined with interviews with family or friends.

The product is an exhaustive inventory ( a thick report) of all of your strengths and weaknesses that anyone would find interesting- whether they dx you as having aspergers or not.

What about if you don't have any real, close relationships or family members?

You would have to talk to the doctor diagnosing you about that for the specifics.
But you must have some kind of family i would think.

you're age is listed as only 26- so you must have parents and or siblings- or family friends or cousins- or some folks like that to interview.

I was twice that age when dx'd only a couple years ago. My parents were both unavailable (one is dead, the other is in a home with alzheimers), but I have a sister and a lady friend-kinda girlfriend. They were both interviewed seperate from me. My friend also joined me for the final results.

The fact that you lack friends is itsself means you're a likely aspe.

I was 9 when they notice my brother and I had it.
13 when they said it was Aspergers but could not diagnose it that way.

They will ask you questions.
and if it seems likely they send you out for a 6 hour test.
Q/A puzzles etc.

My family is the poster family for AS
Mothers side and Father side
FIGHTING IRISH! all comes from AS! it makes the family picnics interesting though.

Just wondered what you mean by "fighting Irish" and "all comes from AS"? Do you mean that the Irish ancestry has something to do with the AS?

Well, my last diagnosis process lasted for about 4 moths; the psychiatrist asked us about the previous diagnoses, she asked questions about my family and about school, she asked my mother about my childhood, and she made me do some drawings. And she also gave me and my mother some tests to do.

Two questions:
1. Could it be done without any help from relatives and friends?
2. Should I mention since the beginning that I suspect I have AS or should I simply say I am weird and want to figure out why?

Hi:

Yes, I suggest you say you suspect you have AS. You can say you feel "weird" as one of the reasons why you suspect AS, but "weird" is too broad. I hope the professional you are seeing is experienced. I am an older woman and when I told one psych I wondered if I had AS, he told me right away that it was highly unlikely given my age and case closed - that is not verbatim, but for brevity, that is the gist of what he said throughout the appointment. If you get a response like that, turn around and walk out. If you are seeing someone less experienced, but open to exploration, that is a good thing. Otherwise, and experienced doctor makes all the difference.

No, you don't need friends and relatives. Do, however, list your current difficulties and emphasize those that have been life-long or very long standing problems. If you have access to report cards and that sort of thing, they can be helpful.

Just give the information you are able to - in assessments for any reason, the "biggies" are employment, school, and social. How are/were you affected in these areas? Sleep habits are another big one, whether you have racing thoughts or that sort of thing, what are your moods like, do you have thoughts of suicide, do you avoid places/people/things and why, do you have sensory issues and what are they, do you have friends and why or why not, why do you think you are weird - is it subjective, do you get called names, what do you like to do, how is your concentration/organization/retention, etc, do you have trouble articulating, do you need time to respond, how do you respond to stress and what sorts of things contribute to stress ... maybe just make some headings and put a few notes under each so you are prepared. My doctor likes me to share "anything and everything". I don't know what your experience will be, but at least have these answers ready.

1- I think you can go for a diagnosis without relatives/friends only if you're not underage.
2- This is your choise. But psychiatrists tend to think that if you think you are weird or if you think you have a condition, you probably don't have it. This is why my diagnoses were not complicated to do: I've never realized I could have a condition or that I was acting "weird" before my mother told me about the diagnosis.

That may be the most difficult part. There is not much autism awareness in Brazil, although I do not know if that only applies to the general population. The only solution I can think of is directly asking the professional if he/she has experience with adults on the autism spectrum.

Report cards in Brazil only show your grades, and my grades were always very high (although my performance was terrible during high school, when I truly began to feel alienated. Damn, I hated high school). But I can list my difficulties.

- Employment and school were never a problem for me (although I only got my first job when I was 18 because my mother forced me to apply for it and, as I said before, I was pretty bad during high school);
- I never had the social skills expected from a guy with my age and intelligence;
- I have no problem with sleeping, unless "being nearly impossible to wake up even with an alarm clock" counts as a sleeping disorder. And I may have racing thoughts; I always spend a few hours thinking about many things before I sleep;
- Apathy is my default state, with occasional moments of depression due to comparisons with "normal" people and, when I am occupied doing something I like, very intense (but usually short-lived) happiness. I do not think I am bipolar, though, because there is always an explanation behind my changes of mood;
- I do not think about suicide;
- I avoid people when I am not in the mood to talk with them. Sometimes (most of the time) I want to be left alone;
- I am very ticklish and I dislike being touched. But I am also resistant to pain. And I do not eat or drink anything that tastes bitter; it is the reason why I do not drink alcoholic beverages. I am not sure if any of those things count as sensory issues;
- I have some friends, but I do not keep in touch with them. I have nothing of interest to say and vice-versa;
- I think I am weird because I am weird. I do not like the same things other people do and I suspect we do not see the world in the same way. besides, I got called names when I was younger, which made me realize I am weird. It does not bother me nowadays; I usually joke about it with other people;
- I like to do whatever it is that keeps me entertained. It changes a lot, but usually comes down to films, cartoons (I am currently watching Batman: The Animated Series), video games, comic books and sports like parkour and swimming;
- my concentration depends on how interested I am in what I am trying to concentrate. My organization is almost nonexistant. My retention is way above average;
- I have trouble articulating. Even if I know a lot about something, my explanations usually leave more doubts than answers. At school, everybody asked me for answers, but they knew better than to ask for explanation on how I got to those answers;
- yes, I need time to respond;
- I try to ignore stress. It affects me, but I never show it (at least not until I begin to punch walls and headbutt wardrobes, which rarely happens). Things that make me stressed include loud noises (my grandmother's television and the damn motorcycle that just passed on my street, for example), having to stop something to do another thing (happens frequently where I work, but I really like my job regardless), thinking about my shortcomings (by shortcomings, I mean things that even a 12-years-old can do better than me, like talking to other people) and wanting to do things that are very unlikely to happen (like being rich enough to have an airship and use it as a flying base to travel around the world in search of places to hike; yes, I am delusional).


That will not be a problem; I am 22.

And how old were you when your mother told you about your diagnosis? I only began to realize I was different when I was around 11-12 years old and I only began to feel really bad about it when I was around 14-15 years old.

I was 13. Now I am 15, and I still don't understand why people consider me so weird. I see what I do as normal.

If I am honest with you, I still do not understand either. Actually, I think I do, but I do not know why it is considered such a terrible thing. I am not bothering anybody. And I am capable of getting a job and taking care of myself; in fact, nearly everybody who knows me says I am considerably smarter than average.

People make no sense.