What next?

[NobbyNobbs]

i was wondering if anyone can give me any advice on what the next step is towards having a complete diagnosis. i have a working diagnosis from a psychologist, and i had an Educational Psychologist assessment last week, but i think i might have missed a step in the middle and there's something else i'm meant to do to get a complete diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome?

[cmuir]

Hi

 

I'm confused.

 

In my son's case several health care 'professionals' were involved in a combination of obstructing and contributing towards my son eventually being diagnosed. The whole process took around 2 years during that time we were passed from pillar to post ? my son saw two Paeds, a SALT, a Psy, etc on a number of occasions. They should get the ball rolling automatically to the next step.

 

... hence the confusion ? my understanding was that it's usual for a number of people to report which would ultimately lead to a diagnosis (or not) eg EP, SALT, Psy, etc.

 

Is it possible that you could ask the Psy what happens next and if they've given a formal diagnosis?

 

Best wishes.

 

Caroline.

Edited May 11, 2008 by cmuir

[NobbyNobbs]

i've had a some-what sped up but similar experience. i have seen 5 GP's and a psychiatric nurse who's sole contribution to my diagnosis was 'yeah there's probably something going on but i dont know'. so i went to my unis disability office and the woman there was fantastic. they got me funding through the uni to see a psychiatrist who specialises in developmental and learning issues, and she has given me the working diagnosis of aspergers and a report that says 'working diagnosis', based on one long interview. i then was sent to see an educational psychologist who it was initially thought would give me the proper diagnosis, but instead turned out to just be assessing the difficulties the AS gives me, (and informed me i'm dyslexic as well!). so now i dont know if i have enough of a diagnosis or not...

[baddad]

Hi nobby nobbs -

 

I'm assuming this is an adult dx for yourself, not for one of your children?

Getting a dx as an adult can be a long and difficult process (postcode lotteries and all that), and often local professionals are reluctant to bite the bullet with a formal dx...

Presumably, the uni psych who gave you the 'working' dx will have either made appointments for more formal interviews with him/herself to complete the process, or referred you to external agencies if the formal dx isn't withing their capabilities... if the ed-psych is assessing the difficulties you have, and has 'added' a comorbid of dyslexia that sounds far more concrete than a 'working theory'... ask them to put it in writing, or confirm the next stages of the dx process and their own roles in it... Might also be worth contacting your GP - if he/she considers this to constitute a 'formal' dx and that goes on your medical file then that should be good enough for anyone else. If your GP doesn't, then he/she will also be able to advise you on what should be the next steps.

 

Hope that helps

 

[NobbyNobbs]

thanks a lot, that's really helped me understand it a bit more.

the diagnosis is for me (22), but i'm in my final year at uni so they're trying to get everything done in the next 3 weeks, and it seems they keep forgetting to tell me whats going on. i just get a list of appointments to show up to! i know the psychiatrist has written a report to send to both my uni GP and my home one, so i'll go bother a doctor tomorrow and see what they say. i've also now managed to locate an NHS adult diagnosis centre reasonably close to home so if i do need any more testing i can ask for them to refer me there. this is all made harder because i'm away from home and completely useless at functioning well enough to live on my own. anyway, thanks again for the advice