To Get An Assessment or Not

[artifex_eximius]

Hi all,

I'm new.

I found out today that the specialist I found here in Montreal would charge me $800 for an assessment to see if I'm autistic, and I can't decide if I want to do it or not. I have the money, but do I really want to spend it?

My father had Asperger's/ASD and since this summer I've suspected I do as well. I have pretty much all the symptoms, although they're very mild, though they used to be much stronger when I was younger and didn't know how to make myself appear normal. I scored a 143 on the RAADS-R.

Having a diagnosis would be validating and would also help shut up all the people who tell me I'm making it up when I say I'm autistic. But I'm afraid the doctor will say I don't have Asperger's/ASD, in which case I'll feel stupid for thinking I did and may even not believe her and will write it off the way I've written off every other non-specialist who has told me I'm just anxious.

But if I do get a diagnosis, then it would help inform my treatment for my psychiatric diagnoses. I am currently diagnosed bipolar, generalized anxiety disorder, and excoriation disorder, but I really don't think I'm bipolar. I'm definitely depressed and need medication, but the emotional episodes I have that have been attributed to bipolar disorder seem to be aspie meltdowns.

As for symptoms, I've always had intense interests, I'm very sensitive to stimuli, social interactions are hard for me and I feel like I'm acting, I'm constantly moving/stimming, intense meltdowns where I can barely talk, strongly disliking change, getting little phrases and words stuck in my head. It's all very mild, except for the meltdowns and the sensory overload stuff.

I guess I really want the validation of a diagnosis but am afraid of wasting my money and being told I don't have it. My cousin is also autistic and has more severe symptoms than me and still had trouble getting diagnosed. So is it worth $800?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Jaywalker]

Will a diagnosis provide access to useful services? If so, use of those services might ultimately result in the diagnosis paying for the cost of assessment.

For me, all but one of four or five online assessments indicated AS, and the one that didn't indicated a ~45% chance of Aspergers. Knowing what I do about statistics (whenever possible, I opted for statistics classes for my math degree), I knew that the chance of a professional assessment not resulting in an ASD diagnosis was slim, given the results of multiple online assessments.

Still, I worried about "wasting" my limited funds on an assessment. It wasn't that I wanted to be diagnosed with ASD so much as ASD being a single diagnosis that explained all of my issues (at least all that weren't explained by my previous ADHD diagnosis). Occam's razor suggested ASD; if a pro said it wasn't, I was back at square one trying to understand myself.

Incidentally, I was diagnosed with ASD.

 

[Sully]

Hello. I wish I could give you advice, but I'm in the same situation and have the same reservations as you. I've been looking at the website of the place I can go to get an assessment for two years. I haven't worked up the courage to go for it yet.

 

[Datura]

I am in a similar state of questioning weather or not to get an assessment. I was tested a lot as a kid for learning disabilities, with wildly varying results, some of which I have been kept from me. I also had a general assessment done several years ago, which revealed I had depression and low self esteem (already knew that) and that I demonstrated symptoms of ADD. There was no mention of being on the spectrum.

However, in doing some work related research into Asperger's I couldn't help but identify very strongly with some of the symptoms and life experiences I saw described. So here we are, at the same impasse.

 

[Häxan]

I chose to get one at 38 years old, my children have autism so my psychiatrist said she felt that I was also autistic. I think it was worth it for me, I have severe sensory issues so it helps me in regards to that. I have chronic migraines and chronic cluster headaches and my diagnose helped me with understanding why I am so sensitive to my surroundings.

Women are often harder to diagnose so if you choose to go ahead and get the assessment please keep that in mind, it is best to find someone with a good understanding of women and autism. This is very important for you to be able to get a fair assessment.

Personally I wanted to get my diagnose because I wanted answers. It was importation for me to have that sense of security and to have proof for all those who didn't believe I had it because there were many, even with my diagnose I still have people telling me that they believe I was misdiagnosed or that I am far too clever to have autism, which is just close-minded and ridiculous. People just have their own stereotyped ideas of what autism is and that is mostly due to the lack of knowledge they have about autism.

In my case the assessment was totally worth it. If you want some reassurance it may be for you as well.

 

[Julia 27]

I chose to get one at 38 years old, my children have autism so my psychiatrist said she felt that I was also autistic. I think it was worth it for me, I have severe sensory issues so it helps me in regards to that. I have chronic migraines and chronic cluster headaches and my diagnose helped me with understanding why I am so sensitive to my surroundings.

Women are often harder to diagnose so if you choose to go ahead and get the assessment please keep that in mind, it is best to find someone with a good understanding of women and autism. This is very important for you to be able to get a fair assessment.

Personally I wanted to get my diagnose because I wanted answers. It was importation for me to have that sense of security and to have proof for all those who didn't believe I had it because there were many, even with my diagnose I still have people telling me that they believe I was misdiagnosed or that I am far too clever to have autism, which is just close-minded and ridiculous. People just have their own stereotyped ideas of what autism is and that is mostly due to the lack of knowledge they have about autism.

In my case the assessment was totally worth it. If you want some reassurance it may be for you as well.

 

[Julia 27]

For me it was worth it so that I could

• gain understanding and acceptance from others that I care about that I have genuine difficulties coping with experiences that they find easy and enjoyable.

• create a positive change in other’s expectations and acceptance of me

• lessen the criticism I sometimes feel with regard to social competence.

• let others know the confusion and exhaustion social situations cause me so that I may from now on refuse your party invitations please without offending you as now you know what is going on.

• no longer feel I am letting people down, am defective or unfriendly. If I had a broken leg you they would forgive me not going for a walk with them. Maybe now they can see this in the same light socially.