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Hello and diagnosis panic

M

Mike Taylor

Member
Hi All,

I have my Asperger's next week and I am having a panic. Basically I have suspect I may be on the spectrum for 4 years and had a bit of a battle with different GPs to get a referal. I now have my assessment next week and I am finding the prospect a bit overwhelming.

I am in the England and will be attending on my own. I have worked with autistic children and always found them easier to get on with and straight forward wherewhereas others have been confused by their behaviour. I thrive in routine and I don't mind new people/situations as long as I have a scrip oor plan of what will happen.

Is anybody from the UK been diagnosed in England and can tell me what to expect? I have completed the online questionnaires and repeatedly score low for EQ and in the highly likely for ASD. Not sure what other tests they may do and how well they can diagnose me as I will be attending alone due to my family living quite far away and my partner not being granted time off from work.

Any forewarning people could give me will be greatly appreciated. Not sure what to do if they say I don't have Asperger's as most people around me are used to working with children / adults with ASD and now just apportion my behaviours to me having ASD. I am 226 by the way so will be tested as an adult with possible Asperger's.

Anyway I have gone on for longer than expected. Thank you in advance for anyone who may be able to help.

Mike
 
Hi, I have recently been diagnosed in England. I'm not sure if the methods used are always the same, but I guess the NHS has standardised methods, so your experience might be similar to mine.

Initially I was referred by my GP for a 'screening assessment' to establish if formal diagnosis was necessary. This involved completing a shortened AQ questionnaire and answering questions covering a range of "symptoms" covering social communication, social imagination etc, stimming, sensory issues, friendships, school, my mental health, as well as allowing me to explain why I thought I might have AS. It was very relaxed and only took about 20 minutes.

The "formal assessment" took 2 appointments with 2 different psychologists. The first appointment was basically a more in depth version of the screening assessment. The psychologist asked a wide variety of questions and we chatted about various issues. It was very informal.

The 2nd appointment was the ADOS test, involving both activities and questions in a far more structured manner, including: telling the story from a picture book, taking 5 items and making a story up using them, pretending to brush my teeth, describing how a variety of emotions feel and questions regarding relationships, social interaction,

As I was alone when being diagnosed they gave me a questionnaire to give to my mum to fill in about my behaviour as a young child.

I hope this is useful, if he have any specific questions don't hesitate to ask :)
 
Hi NothingToSeeHere,

Thank you for your reply. My nerves are still high but at least I feel a bit more at ease with the types of things they might ask. I know there has to be a wait time for appointments and things but now I've had six months of pent up anxiety I'm really anxious about going.

It's on Tuesday so not long of a wait. I'll either be more commonly in here or deleting my account depending on the decision. Is it common for people to find out their decision at the end of the appointment?

Mike
 
Hi Mike

You're welcome. I was lucky enough to have my diagnosis fast-tracked by my uni, and waiting was stressful enough then, no wonder you're anxious! I hope things go well for you on Tuesday.

I don't think people generally get the diagnosis on the day, as the psychologists have to write a report on their findings. They told me that it normally takes a couple of weeks. In my case it took 3 weeks before I received my report.

Good luck :spoutingwhale:
 
Hi Mike, welcome.

It's pretty normal to be anxious about it. Maybe try to set some time aside before and after because in my experience it can be quite intense and tiring.
I wasn't diagnosed in the UK, but for me too there was about 3 weeks between the final day of testing and receiving the decision.

I did have somewhat of the same journey, with a long lasting suspicion, taking the online tests for a few years, finding it hard to get a referral, etc... and by the time I did get the results, I already just knew I had Asperger's, apart from a sudden onslaught of gruelling doubt while I was waiting for the psychologist's previous appointment to finish, which took ages; by the time it was over, I had put all the magazines in alphabetical order just to keep calm. :rolleyes: The eventual DX felt more as a formality and a confirmation, and a big relief.

Anyway, it's not a test you can fail really. All you have to do is be yourself and it'll be ok. And if you can't be (who can?), tell whoever is taking the assessment and it'll be ok too.

Good luck.
 
Mike Taylor
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