Aspies For Freedom

Full Version: Diagnosis Done - Positive Thing
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Well, as I have been sharing with you all about my hubby and his new discoveries regarding being an Aspie, I have to tell you now that the clinic appointment on Tuesday went really well.  Essentially, the clinician went over all of the paperwork, we discussed any questions he had and he gave a diagnosis of Asperger's.  We have a follow up with the psychiatrist to make sure that my husband does not feel like he has any issues that he needs assistance with, and whether or not he feels like he wants any meds to help with his anxiety and/or sensitivities.  We are both on the "no" boat on that one, but we want to do the follow up anyway.

The clinician is also following up on some genetic questions we had, and if nothing else, the answers should be interesting.  

The appointment was very positive and it allowed him to feel, I think, like he belonged.  Like his differences in the past now set him aside into a group of like people, rather than set him to the side, all alone.  Does that make sense?  It also allowed him to ask for some adjustments at work and to have a diagnosis to back the requests up.  He really wanted to have a couple of light bulbs removed above his desk, he has a very severe light/sun sensitivity, and this should make his work day better.  

All in all, I am very glad we had the appointment.  He is still having moments of denial, which are getting to the point of hysterical.  Not for him, but for me.  He kept saying, "That is normal, right?"  I finally said, "Honey, you cannot judge "normal" so stop trying.  IMO, normal to him is different than normal to me, and normal is a silly thought anyway.

So I would say for some people getting a diagnosis is really positive.
Cool!  I'm glad things went, and are going, so well for you and your husband! Smile
Congrats on the diagnosis.  Smile

Since you mentioned it was out of pocket, I am curious to ask what it cost to get one... though I don't know what country you live in.
Tell him "Welcome Home" :-)

silky Wrote:
Congrats on the diagnosis.  Smile

Since you mentioned it was out of pocket, I am curious to ask what it cost to get one... though I don't know what country you live in.


We are in the US.  This initial meeting was $400 and included the review of the 38 pages of documents and such.  The next meeting with the psychiatrist will be $700.  Any other appointments after will be at different somewhat lower rates.  However, from this point we will seek someone who is on our insurance plan.

Odd for me in the UK reading this (and other comments/ threads) because my Doctor refered me for free. I never knew AS existed until my Doctor told me about it.

Michael 1 Wrote:
Odd for me in the UK reading this (and other comments/ threads) because my Doctor refered me for free. I never knew AS existed until my Doctor told me about it.


Actually the clinician said that people in the UK were very much advanced on the whole AS thing in comparison to in the US.  

(Just a generalization, but we had a heck of a time finding anyone and we live in a BIG city.)

Congratulations for your husband! I'm very glad for him.
Your husband is welcome to come join this here crowd along with you.

Korrigan Wrote:

silky Wrote:
Congrats on the diagnosis.  Smile

Since you mentioned it was out of pocket, I am curious to ask what it cost to get one... though I don't know what country you live in.


We are in the US.  This initial meeting was $400 and included the review of the 38 pages of documents and such.  The next meeting with the psychiatrist will be $700.  Any other appointments after will be at different somewhat lower rates.  However, from this point we will seek someone who is on our insurance plan.


Thank you.  Actually that's not bad, considering I just got billed $550 for a blood test, after insurance paid its share.

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