Opinions about suggesting Asperger's to the doctor

[Apleba]

Hello,
I will soon go to be tested for AD(H)D. In order to do that, I will meet with a psychiatrist and a psychologist multiple times and do some tests. I prepared the whole text of my auto-anamnesis, which I plan to read to the doctor (I could not anyhow express myself on the spot). Naturally, that document includes an exemplification of plenty of Asperger's symptoms, which I have. I was wondering if I should just read everything and 'hope' that the doctor will at least suggest that I should be tested for Asperger's as well, or just say straight-forward that I think I have it and ask to be tested. I am just afraid that since I inscribed for an ADHD test, I will just be tested for it not taking into account my other symptoms... On the other hand, I don't want to be 'pushy' to claim that I have Asperger's. Maybe someone experienced a similar situation to share?

 

[tree]

I wasn't familiar with the term "auto-anamnesis" and
had to look it up.

anamnesis:

• the remembering of things from a supposed previous existence (often used with reference to Platonic philosophy).
  noun: anamnesis
• Medicine
  a patient's account of a medical history.

 

[Gritches]

I have dealt with this type of situation many times before. You don't want to say nothing and leave it up to chance that the doctor is familiar enough with AS to recognize it where they see it. But on the flip side, you don't want to just go ahead and assert that you have a disorder you read about on the internet - there's still this social stigma about the internet that somehow a vast collection of most of mankind's useful knowledge is somehow a totally invalid way to get information.

Bottom line, this is how I'd play it: there's ground in between saying nothing and saying something. With doctors, you want to make "suggestions", not demands. If you demand something, they'll usually deny you out of spite. If you make a "suggestion", you're leading them towards coming to the conclusion on their own; then they think it was their idea and they'll be all for it.

So the "suggestion" I would make is to say that a psychiatrist talked about AS when you were younger, but it was never followed up on. Ask if that's something they would consider, and if they'd give you a referral to see a specialist.

It makes no sense, but a nebulous claim that a psychiatrist said something one time long ago holds more credibility than years of meticulous internet research. Yes, it's lying. But that'll get you in, so yeah, there's a low-hanging fruit for you.

 

[Apleba]

Wow, thank you so much for the advice, I haven't thought about that. Indeed 'suggesting' indirectly is way milder than 'requesting'.

However, I still really hope that I won't need to suggest anything and it will just obvious, ha ha.

 

[Mr Alligator]

I went in prepared when I saw my doctor. Took a couple of questionnaires I’d done, plus a few notes on symptoms/experiences that led me to believe I might have Aspergers. Doubt it could have done it without the notes, would have probably just had a blank moment!

 

[Larsieanne]

On a side note, some of the internet's stigma is justly earned... my mom read on the internet that autistic people never feel sorry for another human being and then she believed it. She also believed a lot of other untrue stuff about us she read on the internet. The internet is bad for people who don't have the filter of common sense, though some people know how to use it properly.

 

[Judge]

Wow, thank you so much for the advice, I haven't thought about that. Indeed 'suggesting' indirectly is way milder than 'requesting'.

However, I still really hope that I won't need to suggest anything and it will just obvious, ha ha.

Best to always consider the exposure to a professional ego. Where being dictated to may not go over too well...even if you as the patient may be profoundly correct.