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How to find out if I am Aspergers

NAS51448

Hi everyone - I am a 25 year old was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 12. During a re-assessment aged 19 for university I was advised to have an Aspergers assessment due to a few of my test results. At the time I laughed this off as rubbish but over the past few years It has been drawn more to my attention that it might be something worth considering. Another adult who was diagnosed has spoken to me about it before know that I was advised to get tested earlier in my life.

I am wondering how the best way to sort a diagnosis would be. I am no longer at University so that route is closed to me and it isn't something I feel my work would be particularly helpful with. Any help r pointers would be appreciated. 

Many thanks

  • It might depend what you would do with the information... I'm in the process of looking at diagnosis and am doing this by self-funding sessions with a clinical psychologist 'cos:

     - NHS referral was going to take 'at least 20 months'

     - National Autistic Society assessment was going to cost £2-3k

     - psychologist is £90/h and although her assessment might not be accepted by benefits agencies etc. she's more focussed on 'functional utility' i.e. how can I cope better and have better interactions...

    Personally I'm more interested in understanding myself and why I do so many things 'wrong' and how I can improve relationships with the people in my life than I am about having an official label, so privately funding a psychologist feels like the right way to go

  • You can find out how to be assessed here: https://www.autism.org.uk/about/diagnosis/adults.aspx

    Most students in my university go through the GP route because the disability centre can only do screening and not a full assessment.

  • Were the tests you mentioned doing specifically for Asperger's syndrome? If not, you could find some online (there's one on this website) and see what results you get. If they indicate you might well be on the spectrum, you can take the results and any other supporting evidence you might have (for example, indications of how you behaved as a child, or any problems you're having in daily life which could be autism related), to your GP and request a referral, assuming you feel it necessary. There are many people who identify as autistic and are content with self-diagnosis.

    Depending on how knowledgeable your GP is about autism, you might have to see him or her more than once- mine had to have it pointed out that there was an Asperger's testing clinic in the same county, and wasn't going to refer me anywhere at first. Be prepared for a long wait if you go via the NHS route, because depending on where you live it can taker a couple of years from referral to diagnostic assessment. (Of course, you could get a private assessment if you can afford it.)

    Sorry if that all sounds a bit negative, but I thought it best to give the whole story. I'm still waiting for diagnosis myself, but very certain I want to find out the answer, no matter what. If you feel the same way, go for it and good luck, I hope it goes well. Slight smile