Hi everyone,
I'm Ash, I'm in my early 30s and I'm new here. I'm looking for a little advice with regards to getting a diagnosis from anyone who has been in a similar position.
Following a series of events, it came to my realisation that I likely have Aspergers syndrome. I got a referral from my GP last year and finally had a screening assessment with an Aspergbers & ADHD specialist last week. This screening session confirmed that it is in fact likely that I have Aspergers but also possibly ADHD, which would also explain A LOT. Anyway, at the end of the session I was left with 3 options.
1) Seek a ful diagnosis, which has a 1 year waiting list, after which I wouldn't get support as it is already apparently that I am 'functional'.
2) Seek an 'extended diagnosis' which could be done in the next few months.
3) Go private.
I'm trying to determine which option is best for me and I will soon be asking the clinical psychologist for advice on how best to proceed. My situation is complicated by the fact that both my parents are dead and I never grew up around any other family so I have no one who can supply childhood development history which apparently is necessary for a full diagnosis. This confuses me because I've been given the option of a 'full' diagnosis without childhood history - do I still end up with a diagnosis?
Having received confirmation of my options in writing, this 'extended diagnosis' was referred to as an 'extended screening', which doesn't require input from family but now makes me uncertain if it is in fact a diagnosis and indeed if there is any way at all for me to attain a 'real' diagnosis.
I just wondered if any of you had any similar struggles or any thoughts on how you'd proceed. Again, I will be seeking clarification on some of this stuff from the source, but I just thought it would be nice to see if there were any tips or tricks from people who'd been in a similar boat or knew more about this stuff than I do.
Thanks!
