Getting a diagnosis

Austism Spectrum Conditions are not defined by repetitive behaviours and not everyone on the spectrum has them, so you shouldn't see your lack of them as a barrier to getting assessed if that's what you feel is right for you. 

If you start reading into the subject you'll hear a lot of talk of the "Triad of Impairments", such as this www.autismbedfordshire.net/.../

If you think you might be on the spectrum, I would go talk to your GP about getting referred for an assessment. The waiting list where I live is about 2 years, which will give you plenty of time to read up on what they might ask you if you're interested!

Also, you won't get referred if your GP doesn't agree that you have traits  and my expereince is that after that you won't get accepted onto the waiting list until you have at the very list answered some questionaires that show the assessmet team that you have traits.

It is commonly accepted that females tend to be underdiagnosed with ASC and may not present in the same way as men.

Good luck with it all.

Kelly... don't worry about repetitive behaviour, or any of the other traits... if you go for an assessment they are trained obeservers, they will see how you react to discussing your issues.  

Also, don't forget, ASD is a spectrum disorder... we each have our own set of issues, we aren't all exactly the same... the assessment and diagnosis looks at how YOU view life, and they won't expect to see every single little ASD trait in your behaviour.

It's much better to find out one way or another whether your difficulties are due to AS because then you can start figuring out how You think you should view things.

Hi, I was just diagnosed yesterday as having ASD level 1, formally known as Asperger's. The assessment was 2 hours long and the psychologist asked me about my past and present. I didn't really think there was that much chance I would be diagnosed as having ASD as I didn't think I had repetitive behaviours either, but apparently I am! I'm still trying to get my head round it, I'm in the phase of denile at the moment, I'm 43 and all my life didn't understand why I struggled so much with social things and work and relationships and friendships when it seemed to flow so easily for others, I thought I was just weird or different. I used to watch others to learn how I how to act and what was the best thing to say, but I didn't and still don't understand the unspoken social rules, including conversation and social interaction. I also get very tired easily from being out amongst other people, socially and at work. I really like the idea of socialising but the reality is usually too much and I get too tired and overwhelmed. I'm hoping the counselling that's being offered me will help, but for you I would advise just go for it, don't worry about how you might not fit the criteria, they know the questions and answers that diagnose, so just do it and see what the outcome is.

Hope that is of some help!

Hi Kelly...

I have just been through my initial assessment and my diagnosis appointments and I can tell you that for me the initial assessment was a look at my life history.  It covered aspects of socialising...  aargh, relationship.. er nope, anxiety and depression... yes to both.  The assessor also looked at my test results from my referring psychologist.

The diagnosis was a 2 hour ADOS interview where my thoughts and feelings on a number of tests relating to observation and patterns were performed.. along with discussing other aspects raised by both my referreing and the assessing psychologists.

As Rach91 says.. the process, especially if you suffer from anxiety is an emotional ride because as she says you need to discuss things you probably don't want to own up to.

Aspies are generally very poor on social skills... and I do mean very poor, to the point of panic attacks.  I hadn't realised that I used repetative behaviour until I sat down and analysed just how I sat and moved about in the diagnosis interview.

The best thing you can do is see your GP, or your counsellor and ask for an assessment.

However, three weeks after my diagnosis and my head is still fretting, worrying, denying... all sorts of emotions from being diagnosed as Aspie, and I'm 60 so you would think that I could cope with the diagnosis... sigh

Hi kelly i went through the same thing I was suffering with really bad depresion at the time and I had counciling through college and my counselor asked me if I had asperges  said no and nothing came of it till a few months later when my tutor rang my mum saying she was concened about my behavor my mum just said  had brain damage due to a childhood illness. My tutor who used to be a nurse didn't think I had brain damage then at work I got into serious trouble and my boss who was sweet as pie told my mum about me possibly having asperges and she wasn't even a nurse or anything she just worked at a musium  i did vountary work at. I was then refured to a pycatrist  the spelling sorry. the doc i seen refured me for an assessment that took 2 hours and was very emotional because they ask you some very personal questions. Sorry if this sounds rude but I'm not sure how old you are or if your still at school or college or uni etc you could try asking for advice there or just  to your GP and ask i'm sure someone can help you find the answers you need. When I was diagnosed it was a huge weight taken off my shoulders and to find out I didn't have brain damage as well was even better. Hope this helps