I was wondering, what different ways people can get diagnosed as Adults?
I came across 'Aspergers' a couple of years ago, and it seemed to answer alot of questions about my character that I felt was slightly 'different', compared to others. I would like to get diagnosed, although I've been told that to do so, would involve my mother, who I think doesn't wish, or doesn't want to believe Aspergers may be a possability. I also don't want to make her upset, by questioning her skill as a mother, bringing me up as a child.
I'm also alittle scared as to the result of getting a diagnosis. If a yes, I'd say, what now?!!!
If a no, I would say, am I being neurotic. :shock:
Although, I still have nagging unanswered questions that I would like answered. :roll:
Thanks for reading
bluegreen
There are no blood tests, or brain scans, or medical examination type tests.
It is diagnosed through observing behaviour, and looking at communication skills and social skills as a child, and adult. It can also involve tests that look at theory of mind (usually done on children).
They often do want to talk to parents so that they can get questions answered on childood. Asperger's is a lifelong condition so there would be differences in behaviour from childhood.
Greetings.
With respect to gaining a diagnosis as an adult, it does seem to be the case that testimony from some older person with respect to your formative years tends to be de rigeur. This person need not be a parent, but it would need to be someone who knew you well when you were a child.
If that was the only way, I might never have been diagnosed at all...
However, I was - as they said then - "ascertained maladjusted" in the early 1970s (before Asperger's Syndrome had even been heard of in the former Allied Powers, and when it was probably still all but unknown in Germany). By means which I need not bore you with now, I came into possession of a copy of a psychological report on me, which was written at that time (in 1971); since this was the work of an Educational Psychologist, and contained the observations of trained schoolteachers, it - with other similar documents, school reports etc. - formed the independent testimony that I needed. This was fortunate, since my father is dead, and my mother suffering from the effects of dementia (so she would have been no good as a witness).
I recognise that it would be much more difficult for someone without that kind of data on themselves from some independent source, but I am sure that it would be possible. I bet others have managed it before now - but don't ask me how!
Hi Bluegreen
I'm not officially diagnosed, but believe that I'm on the PDD spectrum someplace. I've been accumulating observations from my mother and others that would "fit", but then again, it's easy to ignore the observations that don't fit. I think my favorite mother's memory so far is: "We'd watch you in your crib, alone in a room, and you'd be rocking against the side and just laughing away. None of the other kids did that." Anyway, for me, the contemplation of "Do I have Asperger's, NVLD, PPD-NOS?" has been an interesting experience of doing a life review AS IF it were true that I am somewhat autistic. It's leading me to have more compassion for myself and for others in my life who have inadvertently hurt me. Whatever the objective truth here is, the subjective reflections and reinterpretations of my life's experiences have been healing and led to forgiveness. I consider this to be a good thing.
Get an MRI. I know they are expensive but they show parts of the autistic brain which are differently active.
Isnt that only in studies where an autistic person is shown images of faces and the mri showed an active difference. A normal mri will just be done with the person lying in the machine with their eyes closed.
MRIs are still as of yet to be reliable in diagnosing on the autism spectrum as it's still being studied so suggesting getting an MRI to a person that is seeking a diagnosis on the autism spectrum is like sending them on a 'wild goose chase' as they call it... it'd get them at this point in time no closer to what they are seeking than if they just sat and waited for the professional to come to them to diagnose them. And yes the MRI study has been dealing a lot with showing them pictures of faces and such and studying facial recognition as far as expressions and such. An MRI even if it could diagnose a person on the autism spectrum wouldn't likely diagnose specifically Autism or Aspergers.
I've been told that to do so, would involve my mother, who I think doesn't wish, or doesn't want to believe Aspergers may be a possability. I also don't want to make her upset, by questioning her skill as a mother, bringing me up as a child.
Autism has nothing to do with parenting skills. It is genetic.
Parents are asked to participate in the diagnostic process so that they can answer questions about early childhood development.
I have been dx with autism spectrum disorder as an adult without a parent, confirming childhood stuff, i have hyperlexia read fluently at 2 but poor comprehension and severe problems with abstract concepts in language processing by american speech and language pathologist, I've also had the ADOS test autistic diagnostic observational schedule, which is the gold standard worldwide.
Also it can present quite differently in females than males according to both professor gillberg and tony attwood and I don't think this is recognised by simon baron cohen or digby tantam.
I think if you think you have asperger syndrome then you have every right to have a proper asessment for that.
I can give the name of another professional who may be able to help but don't want to name on this forum so please pm me if you would like this
Also in america neuropsychiatrists doing spect brain scans can detect the different constellations that can dx as an asd but it probably wuld not be recgnised in the uk, and would be quite costly