Are friends or family members disbelieving about your ASD?

[icesyckel]

Hi icesyckel! Can I ask what kind of test did you have? My diagnose was given to me just by talking with a specialist like for two months. I was just wondering if there´s like a medical test or something.

I went through a battery of different tests and evaluations, actually. I don't recall the names, but it isn't so much that there is one test for AS/ASD. They administer multiples tests evaluating for a myriad of potential conditions, disorders, and personality types. They tested my IQ, attention, and interviewed my immediate family, which in my case was just my wife. There are a number of screening tools and quizzes online you can take, but I don't think those are often used to do official screenings. I was evaluated over a course of multiple sessions. The doctor made observations while I took various tests. I organized blocks, had a vocabulary test, and completed like a 500-question true or false questionnaire. There was another questionnaire that was like 350 questions. One test was almost like a really boring video game. It was fairly exhausting/stressful.

My doc doubted that there was anything wrong with me until he examined and scored all the data from the foregoing. He then agreed that AS/ASD (depending on the DSM used) was the Dx. I also had another, less specific Dx concerning anxiety.

 

[karla]

I went through a battery of different tests and evaluations, actually. I don't recall the names, but it isn't so much that there is one test for AS/ASD. They administer multiples tests evaluating for a myriad of potential conditions, disorders, and personality types. They tested my IQ, attention, and interviewed my immediate family, which in my case was just my wife. There are a number of screening tools and quizzes online you can take, but I don't think those are often used to do official screenings. I was evaluated over a course of multiple sessions. The doctor made observations while I took various tests. I organized blocks, had a vocabulary test, and completed like a 500-question true or false questionnaire. There was another questionnaire that was like 350 questions. One test was almost like a really boring video game. It was fairly exhausting/stressful.

My doc doubted that there was anything wrong with me until he examined and scored all the data from the foregoing. He then agreed that AS/ASD (depending on the DSM used) was the Dx. I also had another, less specific Dx concerning anxiety.

Thanks, that helped a lot. I didn´t know about those tests. My doctor analysed my personality over two months and also interviewed my mom before giving me the diagnose, but I didn´t do any writen tests. Thanks.

 

[icesyckel]

Thanks, that helped a lot. I didn´t know about those tests. My doctor analysed my personality over two months and also interviewed my mom before giving me the diagnose, but I didn´t do any writen tests. Thanks.

Glad to help as I am able.

 

[Stacey]

Nope. The first Dr I saw recognised AS traits within 15 minutes of talking to me. The mental health guy who filled out the referal form for an assessment thought I had AS too. My family weren't surprised. Whenever I've tried to be NT, people have assumed I've been drinking. Which used to seriously offend me.

 

[Raul]

So the threads title is ,, Are friends or family members disbelieving about your ASD ".
Here I can only tell things about my family members because not many of my friends know about my Aspergers Syndrome, to be honest I think only one female colleague knows about it. So, my mother does believe that I have some kind of syndrome related to AS due to my daily strange behavior and clumsiness sometimes. Instead my father totally doesn't agree with this idea. He believes tha its better for me to think that I am just as ,,normal " as the other ones. I kinda live in a very confusing environment where different opinions rule over me. I did accept my diagnostic that I have AS and with time I got used to it. This is why I joined this site to learn more about my present condition.

 

[TSS]

I do not have a real official diagnose but I have a psychologist that says I am an aspie. I trust her opinion, and I know she works with other people who have aspergers and are on the autism spectrum. I trust her opinion. Also, my family seemed to know before I did. My brother when I told him was glad, because his wife kept giving him material to read about aspergers and now maybe she would stop since it was out in the open.

 

[Beverly]

Last I spoke to my family, 7 years ago, my dad was still stuck on "Nothing is wrong with you, you're just a stupid girl who didn't listen when we told you how to keep a husband." my mom was still stuck on "You didn't get baptized, you have demons is all. Pray and get baptized, you'll be fine." One of my tww sisters agrees with our mom, the other gives me "Yeah so, who cares?"

So much for family, I tried time and time again to be a part of the family I was born into and, they made sure I failed. Fine by me, they don't want me but, I know a lot of people that do- I'll just stay where I'm wanted and never mind those four jerks that USED to be my family. I have a better family now, one that wants me and loves me as I am and, I don't care that we aren't related by blood, we're still family. Blood does not a family make.

 

[Gordy]

The problem I have is because I have very good verbal communication and fairly good eye contact (through training) it doesn;t appear like there is much "wrong" with me. However, very few people know what a struggle it is to keep all my plates spinning at the same time. Until they all come crashing down. Those who do know are always looking for a cure.

 

[AsheSkyler]

One of them keeps doing the air-quote thing at me (i.e., saying 'your "autism"' with the little finger gestures) because she believes autism is only for rocking in corners and never communicating, and I've half a mind to give her a list I've made and tell her she's not allowed to talk to me until she's memorized it. Granted, she has severe and undiagnosed ADD, so the odds of her ever remembering anything for more than three seconds is slim-to-none.

 

[cherryq]

So I'm not officially diagnosed, but a psychologist that I just started seeing seems to think I may definitely be on the Spectrum, whether AS or HFA I'm unsure. Anyway, I told my parents about the first meeting with the psych and how she says I could make a strong case towards being the Spectrum. I also told them about auditory processing deficits that the psychologist noticed and stimuli overload that I experience daily as well as social anxiety and confusion related to social situations. They seemed to take it all really well. Two of my friends also have taken it really well. Both my parents and friends say they see these traits in me. I'm scared to tell my other two friends though because we aren't as close, and especially my extended family. I have a cousin with autism who isn't as high functioning as I am and I am afraid that may be the only functional level of autism they can comprehend and therefore think that I am "making up" this stuff.

 

[watersprite]

A part of my family made a calculated guess as to what I have, what my diagnosis is, and I quickly changed the subject. I have no intention of disclosing to them. But I'm not a youngster, so the situation is more under my control.

 

[Bro'Freak]

My family thinks I might have AS. Though my friends are very diss-believing of where I am internaly. I've battled to
be a part of the life around me & have learned through introspection / observation & contemplation how to seem normal
to those around me. It was a chore then but isn't now. I'm kind of glad I wasn't diagnosed at an early age because
I feel I wouldn't have grown into who I am now & I certainly wouldn't have my life skills. I think the diagnosis might have
locked me into not being more than I was. I did find it hard at times but generaly I'm a quiet soul who strived to be accepted.

My mother has agreed to join me when I get things sorted to go to the doctors for an assessment query.
Just got to pluck up courage for that... lol.

'Mum please don't say that.. omg' will be my mental narative throughout all that meeting I think.