Aspies For Freedom

Hi everyone.
I am after some advice. I went to CLASS in Cambridge on Friday for a diagnostic interview, and was told that he was "reasonably sure I don't have Asperger's Syndrome" I have something wrong but was left in Limbo not knowing what.

To be honest I was not very happy about the whole process. I was seen for half the length I was told it would take and was shown in over 10 minutes late. Both not conducive to a good interview. I then felt that it was nto an interview but I was being psychoanalysed. I am a school teacher and we are told not to use open questions with people that have ASDs. All I got was an hour of open questions. My wife was asked nothing even though she is the best source of information.

I can't help feeling that I was not treated fairly. I passed all of Simon Baron-Cohen's tests with really high scores. If it is possible to do this and still get a negative diagnosis, what use are they?

Sorry for being long and whinging, please any ideas, what do I do now?
Any help welcome!

I have no idea how correct an 'expert' can be when setting a diagnosis. Some people have earlier felt angry because they didn't get a dx, but the 'experts' are just human too.

As a 16yo who got diagnosed when he was 13 I can tell that the best support I've got for my AS related issues would the forums and chats, so I'm not really sure if there's any point in getting an official dx if you feel that the support given eg here is appropriate for you.

I wouldn't mind but I have two children both with a diagnosis and 1 who we suspect. When we took my youngest I spoke to the Consultant Psychiatrist and asked him if I should go for a diagnosis and he said "Why do you want someone to tell you what you already know?" now this guy says no. I think I will appeal and see if I can get an appointment with a more senior person. It is mainly for work where I am being pressured to conform like the drones who only feel good about them selves if they get the next promotion. I get looked at like a martian when I say I am happy just doing what i am and don't want to be promoted. Thanks for the support, though.

That's how I feel too!

I've been turning down promotions too. I'm curious to ask what your reasons specifically are that you don't want promotion, if you'd care to share.  Is it because you dont like change?

It is that I don't like change and I have a lot of these going on at the moment. I work as a Teacher and in my department we are having a lot of changes with staff retiring and new people coming in. This petrifies me. although I am not really sure what I am "scared" of if scared is the right word.

I also feel happy just doing the actual teaching. I think that the more you get promoted the fewer links you have with the classroom and then you lose touch with what is important.

Just remember, Baron-Cohen may be the expert but not everyone on his team is at the same level of diagnostic experience-- even B-C will no doubt make mistakes and miss some of us too. You have every right to a second opinion. I don't know if it'd be possible but to request another assessment from a DIFFERENT person on his team, maybe even B-C himself, and get that second opinion. Find out the info on the person who refused your dx (i.e., the amount of their experience, diagnostic experience), and then request someone with more experience.

If they ask why, state your dissatisfaction with the assessment and why, your results on the tests but still a refused dx, the fact no one consulted your wife, etc.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply I am still waiting at the moment for the report. When that arrives I will get in touch with them and ask for a second opinion. I was seen by Dr Marc Woodbury-Smith who apparently helped to develop the AAA computerized test. (Also Known as the AQ and EQ tests. All available form the ARC website). In the blurb B-C says that the control group for the AQ scored 16.4 and the known Autist scored 32 and higher. I scored 43. The research said the AAA is harder to pass than a diagnostic interview. Wrong I waltzed through the AAA and W-S still says no. Why bother with The AAA then if it is that unreliable?

Oops ranting again. Seriously though thanks for the support.

Yes, I agree. If they use it as a diagnostic tool and yet still are more than willing to ignore its results then why use it? Again, like I said, find out about that second opinion.

wow... that's kinda rude... I'm sure there are plenty of hycrochondriacs out there, but if the guy really thinks its a bad diagnosis I don't understand why that would be "shopping".

Hmm, where did the HappyNigra comment come from?  I don't see he/she in this thread.

HOLY CRAP!! What happened?? Did they delete that post? I swear it exsisted... I'm not quite crazy enough to write my own rude postings and them comment on them...

Do the moderators have the ability to delete all of a trolls posts? That'd be kinda wierd.

I know this is long out of everyone's interest and is really a cold thread now. But, i though a fitting end would be to bring the situation up to date.

With the kind and encouraging support of the members who did offer me advice I wrote back to CLASS and on Sept 24th went With my Daddy (I'm 38 how embarrassing is it to take your dad to the doctors with you) and I was seen by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen himself. He is an incredibly nice man who made us all feel very much at ease.

We spent nearly two hours talking with him and at the end of it all he was satisfied that i met all the criteria and has given me the AS diagnosis.

Woo-Hoo I am not mad, it is as I knew it would be. i am so pleased to be able to officially join the club.

Once again i would like to say a big thank you for all the support i received it really does make a difference, even if we don't always see the results.

Congratulations!

Thank you for up-dating us and well done for perservering against the odds!