Published on 12, July, 2020
I posted before about a doctor who, while agreeing to refer me, was very dismissive and didn't think I was autistic. It was clear through what he said that he is very uneducated on autism in adults and particularly in women and girls (kept insisting that my teachers would have noticed and got me diagnosed as a child).
He referred me anyway, and I was sent a Screening Tool Checklist to return, of which I ticked 9/10 choices (only one I left was sensory issues as they are rare for me). and I elaborated where I could in the tiny spaces it left me.
However, I've received my letter from my county's Adult Asperger Service (I don't know why they have a specific one, or why I was referred there when I asked for a general autism assessment referral) and they have said that they can Only assess for ASC where symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning. And based off of the information they received about me from my GP (who to add on to his lack of knowledge has met me twice in my life and all since September this year) they don't think I fit the criteria and won't offer me an assessment. They also stated how they only offer assessments to those with the most difficulties because of how many referrals they've gotten so I don't understand why my doctor referred me straight to there.
I'm just incredibly frustrated that they've based my need for assessment purely on the words of an uneducated doctor, and have made no attempt at an initial appointment with me to see for themselves whether I need assessing.
Is it worth going back to my doctors to see someone else and ask for a referral and to a different service? (I will see a woman this time as I don't like my previous doctor after how he spoke to me when I asked for the referral).
Asperger's isn't Autism that's why dude. Sure it's flagged more or less the same by people who don't understand how the duffer but ASD and Asperger's are pretty different from one another. When they asses you there usually pretty accurate. When I went for mine I got 6 out of 10 still came out with ASD and ADHD. I'm dispraxic as well but that got assesed earlier on my ASD and ADHD was assessed when I was 28 this year. They assess you based on what your anwsers are for the question they look for consanistanty and repution. If they don't detect this chances are your not Autistic but Just have Asperger's. Still though there aren't any perks to being Autistic and Asperger's is pretty well known today and classed as a disability as far as I'm aware. I wouldn't worry just be greatful your not Autistic.
Asperger's is no longer given as an official diagnosis, because information came out that Hans Asperger warranted the death of many kids with learning disabilities. What used to be called Asperger's is now called High Functioning Autism or Autism Spectrum Condition or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Low functioning 'classic' autism and Asperger's are due to similar differences in development, but (what used to be called) Asperger's is when the differences are less severe and the person doesn't also have learning disabilities, so they are much more likely to be able to live independently and learn to 'blend in' with non-autistic people.
Having said that, I still prefer to use the term Asperger's with some people because they might only know about 'low functioning' autism and therefore get confused if I say I'm autistic.
BassFace said:Asperger's is no longer given as an official diagnosis, because information came out that Hans Asperger warranted the death of many kids with learning disabilities.
Asperger Syndrome is no longer given as an official diagnosis where Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is or has been increasingly since the 5th edition of the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5) was published in 2013 and thereafter adopted, but until the 11th edition of International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11) universally replaces the 1994 10th edition after the 1st of January 2022 ~ Asperger Syndrome may still be given as a diagnosis until then accordingly.