I'm self diagnosed, and cuz I may need extra support I am on the waiting list for an offical diagnosis. However, I didn't one day just wake up and think "I have AS", it was suggested to me by my mother, who's a district nurse and had read an article in a nursing magazine about AS. I looked it up on the internet and found it fitted me to a t. It was like finding a missing part to a jigsaw more than anything else. I mentioned this to my boyf, who confided in his mother, who teaches autistic and AS kids, and she told him that she had always suspected AS in me but hadn't wanted to say anything before. Now, my boyf is far more understanding of my various peculiarities, such as my wish to be alone sometimes, than before; and so are my parents. However, they don't want me to be left alone without support, which is why the offical diagnosis. I have nothing to prove to anyone; anyone who thinks I have can, as the saying goes, kiss my arse. XD
I was diagnosed with a personality disorder before; so I prefer my self diagnosis of AS, thanks very much. O_o
yes, exactly. I might as well have found the cure for cancer when I discovered that I had AS, everything fit together.
I was elated- until I started talking to others about it a little too much and got the "you're crazy" vibe. That was no fun! But shortly thereafter I found AFF, so, happy again.
He told me that if I was officially diagnosed, and I filled out life insurance forms, (for example) I would have to answer Yes to having been diagnosed with a condition.(1)
Have any of you had a problem of some sort where a diagnosis such as aspergers has resulted in paying more or being declined for something?(2)
(1)I think that it would depend on the wording of the question. If it said 'medical condition' you could legitimately answer "No".
(2)I cannot get travel insurance at the moment because I was diagnosed with two heart conditions in June this year. I had to have an angiogram, so I am excluded from heart-related claims (the only kind I'm likely to make 
) for a year. I wouldn't mind if I were at home, but I'm on the wrong side of the planet, and the thought of risking spending a few very expensive nights in a Singapore hospital is keeping me here....
I don't think that insurance would be a problem as far as Asperger's is concerned, but I would be worried about it being a factor in employment.
I live in the USA, and just watched Michael Moore's documentary SICKO and he lists autism as a "pre-existing condition" that will NOT be covered by insurance. My impression was that if you admit to being autistic, you will not be able to get health insurance, period. I hope I am wrong, but after watching this film, I think I am right. Americans are chumps, me included. National health care would solve this and so many other problems, but Noooooooooo, that would be communism. So f'ing stupid.
Agreed. Though I have spent TWO SOLID YEARS investigating and diagnosing myself , I felt that no one would accept this without a formal diagnosis. So I have shelled out the TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS required for an acceptably official diagnosis.
But at least I got what I paid for!!
HOORAY!!
I am now officially diagnosed!! I still can't quite believe it. I was expecting a fight, but apparently I did a good job presenting my case, and now it is finished. And this guy is a conservative diagnoser, trying every trick in the book to avoid the autism diagnosis. So I am both shocked and thrilled, not to mention, uh, can't think of the word, but it means charged up and ready to take on Goliath, invigorated, incensed, all of that stuff.
Interestingly, he mentioned how some elderly Aspies are misdiagnosed with frontal lobe dementia. It seems that is what happened to bridie's dad (a few posts back). Now I can investigate that option for my own dad!
Thanks grizeldatee. I'm still trying to digest the information. I was SO ready to argue with him and convince him that YES I really am an Aspie, that to have him just agree so readily is downright anti-climactic. I'm a bit deflated and confused at times.
The money is a big deal. I didn't have it for a year, and then my parents started handing out money in an effort to avoid taxes down the line when they pass on to that great Aspie stim-center in the sky. I decided to invest in the diagnosis for my entire family's sake, in the sense that if I could get an official diagnosis, then my siblings would have to acknowledge the possibility of their own autistic tendencies, not to mention accept mine. I am also very frustrated with my undiagnosed Dad's condition, which is making my mom's life a living hell, so I want to use my own diagnosis to argue with his doctor that something needs to be done. And last but not least, I had to verify my daughter's half-assed school district assessment. Though I did not want to subject her to the rigors of hours of testing, I felt that if I could get my own diagnosis, I would be more accepting of hers. And I am. So I really do feel that I got my money's worth, and then some.
Early intervention makes such a HUGE difference, so much of the treatment takes place in the preschool classroom.
Janet, I would really like to know why you think early intervention makes such a huge difference. Can you please refer me to
LONG-TERM OUTCOME STUDIES
that prove this beyond question???
Sorry to be a hardass on this point, but I AM an Aspie.
You sound like me, Batman55, but I did not recieve any intervention or help until I learned how to help myself. I still have many difficulties with social-pragmatic interactions, and other learning disabilities, but persistence and continued maturity (I am 54) do much to help.
Would you stop digging at me with these "subtle" statements? Are you suggesting I'm not working hard enough on myself, or something?
Let's keep the subtlety to a minimum, as I won't be able to read it (or if I do, I'll read it to think you're insulting me.)
That seems kinda off topic, but if you must know feel free to start another thread.
Don't feed the troll. Explanation for the trolling:
TheZach is interested in feeling superior to those undiagnosed because of his official diagnosis.
Do not support this behavior--this goes for everyone.
I personally don't think a parent should force anything "optional" on children. Sell, sure. Be a little pushy at times - maybe. But force, no.
You have me a little worried about if I should be trying to follow my son's OT's rec that he always be involved in some sort of sport. So far, he has played soccer every season and he tells me that he really likes it (even though it is obvious to everyone, including him, that he is the weakest player on the team). It hasn't been without stress however, because he likes the games but hates practice. We have asked him to think up something else he would be willing to enroll in for in-between, and for when soccer gets too competitive for him (we thought that would be this year, but he wanted to give it a go, and so far it's been OK). He has expressed some interest in gymnastics, because he is very flexible, and it's an individual sport, and I do think he might enjoy it non-competitively.
It does get tough as a parent to know when to push a little, because you truly believe the child will get something positive from the activity that he just can't see right now, and when to listen to your child, because he is trying to tell you something real and important.
My son tried snow skiing for the first time this winter, and had a great time. It was his decision to try, and my husband was very patient, allowing our son to go up and down a little mini hill instead of going up on the chair lift (exhausting for my husband, lol, all that trecking!), but it is so very important to allow a child to experience this sort of thing at his own pace. I was really proud of my son. All physical sports are difficult for him, but he was so proud of himself for doing this, and actually managing to succeed! I hope that he never limits on the things he wants to do, assuming he WANTS to do them.
In your above paragraph, I hadn't done any of that. I hope it's not poor parenting.
However, things were further complicated for me because of severe asthma until the age of 14. My asthma was both seasonal and exercise induced, and I had to be taken to the hospital multiple times, so it was obvious that I should steer clear of sports. Not to mention, I was awful (weak, uncoordinated, inflexible, inattentive) to begin with, and I often felt embarrassed in gym class--no matter what grade it was. Gym class was embarrassing from 1st to 8th grade.
The other thing recommended, instead of sports, was learning to play an instrument. However, it was clear that I had no musical talent to begin with, and I had no interest in pursuing it either. So, I didn't do that either.
The question is, how much "stronger" would my brain be now, if I had gone through with either of these activities and succeeded? Is it possible to speculate..?
As for calling me a troll, grow up. Just because I disagree with you does that mean I'm a troll?
No, but this kind of "self-DXers have no credibility" attitude is commonly considered trollish behavior, at least on AFF. That's the perspective I'm coming from, here.
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I a major player in this "bad trend" on AFF that Bardwolf/Ando first brought to light?
Batman55, you ARE a major player - but only in the BEST of ways 
!
After the email I received, it would be me.
If the admin doesn't want me here all they need to do is ask. I will go gently.
I don't care for elitism anyway (but I think they already know that)
They do not need to threaten all of the selfers with shunning to get rid of one bad apple.
???
Can you explain what's going on here? What "email" did you receive...?
What are you talking about?
I am very confused...
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