Adults being diagnosed with Asperger?

[Guest guest]

Does anyone have any experience with diagnosis of an adult

with Asperger's? If so, what was the process or tests that was used to

obtain an Asperger's diagnosis. I think the gait in the walk is one of

the symptoms. Is there a formal set of tests used to diagnosis an

Adult? What are the qualifications needed of a professional to give an

adult a diagnosis? I also think there is a genetic component because a

child is diagnosed with Aspergers then it is possible that one or more

of the family members may also have Asperger's.

Thanks for your help!

[Guest guest]

I would guess for an adult that it's pretty much the same as for

children. For my son, I had lots of papers to fill out. He was in 8th

grade when I got him evaluated. The papers told about his " history "

from birth up to present and then a section or two where I just wrote

about him. And then someone spent some 1:1 time with him. And then an

interview with me to go over the paperwork and ask me things. So

pretty much they just looked at all the traits/characteristics he had

shown and was then showing.

We actually had a center nearby that works with those with autism. I

don't know who I would have taken him to for evaluation if we hadn't

had that.

>

> Does anyone have any experience with diagnosis of an adult

> with Asperger's? If so, what was the process or tests that was used to

> obtain an Asperger's diagnosis. I think the gait in the walk is one of

> the symptoms. Is there a formal set of tests used to diagnosis an

> Adult? What are the qualifications needed of a professional to give an

[Guest guest]

I was offically dx'd when I was 18. I had all the testing done and everything when I was a kid but they didn't want to dx'd me before I was 18 because they felt "it would hurt me in the long run!" WRONG it was have helped me!!!! But if you are dx'd as an adult it is hard to get any services becasue they are all for child. I guess when I turn 18 you are "normal"

From: <@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Adults being diagnosed with Asperger? Date: Friday, October 31, 2008, 8:35 AM

I would guess for an adult that it's pretty much the same as for children. For my son, I had lots of papers to fill out. He was in 8th grade when I got him evaluated. The papers told about his "history" from birth up to present and then a section or two where I just wrote about him. And then someone spent some 1:1 time with him. And then an interview with me to go over the paperwork and ask me things. So pretty much they just looked at all the traits/characterist ics he had shown and was then showing. We actually had a center nearby that works with those with autism. I don't know who I would have taken him to for evaluation if we hadn't had that. >> Does anyone have any experience with

diagnosis of an adult> with Asperger's? If so, what was the process or tests that was used to> obtain an Asperger's diagnosis. I think the gait in the walk is one of> the symptoms. Is there a formal set of tests used to diagnosis an> Adult? What are the qualifications needed of a professional to give an

[Guest guest]

>

> I was offically dx'd when I was 18. I had all the testing done and

everything when I was a kid but they didn't want to dx'd me before I

was 18 because they felt " it would hurt me in the long run! " WRONG it

was have helped me!!!! But if you are dx'd as an adult it is hard to

get any services becasue they are all for child. I guess when I turn

18 you are " normal "

I don't actually have experience with this myself, but I have talked

to people who have. Also, my son was not officially dx'd until he was

12 because I couldn't figure out what was wrong until about age 11,

and then I couldn't figure out where to go. It was very hard to find

treatment for a teenager--like 's experience, all the treatments

were for children. I finally found ONE social skills training group

for teenage boys and I got him some occupational therapy (he also has

moderate to severe developmental coordination disorder). These things

seem to help him quite a bit. I found a social group for young adults

that is over an hours drive away from us--so there are at least a few

out there. I know a few colleges also have Asperger groups. Also, if

you can find a therapist that knows enough about autism to be

helpful--I have heard cognitive behavioral therapy (a form of

psychotherapy) is supposed to be good for teenagers/adults with

Asperger/HFA. I finally found a therapist that specializes in AS/HFA

and my son (14yo now) will probably start that sometime in the next

year--don't have the budget right now. Theoretically he needs speech

for problem solving (executive dysfunction) and non-verbal

communication, but I could never find a speech therapist that knew

about working with either older kids or kids with higher IQs (they

would teach him things he could figure out for himself and not know

how to teach him the more subtle stuff that he couldn't figure out).

As far as dx goes--I think the same people that dx kids can dx adults.

I think places you could consider looking for are those providing

therapy for adults with brain-damage or elderly people with conditions

causing executive dysfunction. From what I understand Asperger

symptoms are mainly caused by dysfunction/damage to the frontal lobes.

These symptoms are also found in the groups of people mentioned, so

those therapists might be able to help you--depends how flexible they are.

Hope this helps.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

Ruth,

What a great post...interesting and informative...I am going to save it...as my son was not dx until 12. I am fighting for Speech at school...don't think I'll get it...S.T. said basically...my son was not an Aspie ...LOL ...who made her a psychiatrist....and why did she say this....because my son who she met ONCE looked her in the eyes ...OMG

but speech is what they need. I am going to keep your post and refer back to it.

thanks

Janice Rushen

"I will try to be open to all avenues of wisdom and hope"

From: r_woman2 <me2ruth@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Adults being diagnosed with Asperger? Date: Saturday, November 1, 2008, 7:52 AM

>> I was offically dx'd when I was 18. I had all the testing done andeverything when I was a kid but they didn't want to dx'd me before Iwas 18 because they felt "it would hurt me in the long run!" WRONG itwas have helped me!!!! But if you are dx'd as an adult it is hard toget any services becasue they are all for child. I guess when I turn18 you are "normal"I don't actually have experience with this myself, but I have talkedto people who have. Also, my son was not officially dx'd until he was12 because I couldn't figure out what was wrong until about age 11,and then I couldn't figure out where to go. It was very hard to findtreatment for a teenager--like 's experience, all the treatmentswere for children.

I finally found ONE social skills training groupfor teenage boys and I got him some occupational therapy (he also hasmoderate to severe developmental coordination disorder). These thingsseem to help him quite a bit. I found a social group for young adultsthat is over an hours drive away from us--so there are at least a fewout there. I know a few colleges also have Asperger groups. Also, ifyou can find a therapist that knows enough about autism to behelpful--I have heard cognitive behavioral therapy (a form ofpsychotherapy) is supposed to be good for teenagers/adults withAsperger/HFA. I finally found a therapist that specializes in AS/HFAand my son (14yo now) will probably start that sometime in the nextyear--don't have the budget right now. Theoretically he needs speechfor problem solving (executive dysfunction) and non-verbalcommunication, but I could never find a speech therapist that knewabout

working with either older kids or kids with higher IQs (theywould teach him things he could figure out for himself and not knowhow to teach him the more subtle stuff that he couldn't figure out). As far as dx goes--I think the same people that dx kids can dx adults.I think places you could consider looking for are those providingtherapy for adults with brain-damage or elderly people with conditionscausing executive dysfunction. From what I understand Aspergersymptoms are mainly caused by dysfunction/ damage to the frontal lobes.These symptoms are also found in the groups of people mentioned, sothose therapists might be able to help you--depends how flexible they are.Hope this helps.Ruth

[Guest guest]

> What a great post...interesting and informative...I am going to save

it...as my son was not dx until 12. I am fighting for Speech at

school...don't think I'll get it...S.T. said basically...my son was

not an Aspie ...LOL ...who made her a psychiatrist....and why did she

say this....because my son who she met ONCE looked her in the eyes ...OMG

> but speech is what they need. I am going to keep your post and refer

back to it.

Thanks, Jan. The following is a website that might help the school dx

your son's speech problems better if they will listen to it. Although

I have to say that, when I used it for an SLP who said she couldn't

tell there was anything wrong with my son's speech, it made her take

him as a client, but she still didn't know how to treat him. Anyway,

when you go to this webpage, you have to click on the link called " How

to assess for pragmatic language deficits in children with Asperger's

Syndrome (see important info in red) " .

http://www.aspieinfo.com/for_speech_paths.htm

Hope this helps.

Ruth