Asperger's: the quest for answers

So I have done what I said I would do, and have begun looking for someone who can confirm or deny my self-diagnosis.

So I looked up what seems the most authoritative local organisation: Autism Victoria.

So I follow my nose. I am not a professional, or a parent of an Aspie, or wanting the media pack, or wanting to join the goddamn club, so I must fall under the category of Person with Autism. OK, fair enough, I suppose. And right there is

If you are an adult with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, or suspect that you may have Autism or Asperger Syndrome, you will want to know

* How to get a diagnosis

Wonderful! We're getting somewhere! Clicky.

Hmm: “Assessment for Adults”:

You may have read or seen something about Autism or Asperger Syndrome and said "That's me!" Or, you may be the parent, partner or friend of an adult whom you think may have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. You are not alone. Because of our improved knowledge, a number of adults are now being diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Some people in this position choose to see a professional for a diagnosis. Others prefer not to. Either option is okay. The important thing is to learn as much as you can about Autism Spectrum Disorders. This will help you understand that people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder have a different view of the world around them, and often find the 'people factor' very difficult.

Click here to read more

That looks promising. More clicky.

Hmm. It's a section further down the same page:

There are usually two scenarios where an adult will seek an Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment.

* The person may have been diagnosed with another disorder in childhood or adolescence such as intellectual disability or a mental illness. A carer or clinician may observe 'autistic like' characteristics in the adult and recommend an assessment for the possibility of an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
* The person may have struggled for many years with social situations and a sense of 'being different'. They, or someone close to them, may hear something about Autism or Asperger Syndrome and think 'that's me!'.

Well, that second one sure sounds like me. So, what does it say my options are?

There are currently no publicly funded adult Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment clinics in Victoria. If you (or a someone close to you) are an adult seeking an assessment the best option is to consult a psychologist who has some experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They will ask you a lot of questions about your childhood, your experiences at school and as an adult, and may do some psychological testing. This information will be used to help make a diagnosis.

Autism Victoria is able to assist you to locate an experienced psychologist.

OK, not the most optimistic sign. But at least they say they can help... clicky.

Oh. It's a boilerplate ‘contact us’ page. No automated form, which might be a nice psychological buffer. No indication, indeed, of where I should be asking. I figure “Info” is the most generic, and indeed, it is Info which I am seeking. So, bite the bullet and write an email; socially engage with a stranger. There's a phone number there, but that's even worse. As innocent as most people might think it, this is one of those things which gets an Autist's heart pounding, even a High-level Aspie. I wonder how many people get to this point, and can't call up the wherewithal to continue.

I got the reply this morning. It consisted basically of a long list of psychologists and “good luck”. No suggestions, no tips, nothing else. So now it's down to going through the list, and deciding whom to cold-call. And the heart pounds harder. But wait, that's not all. The job is made a little easier when many of those entries have notes like “child diagnosis only” or “school visits only” or “FEMALE adults only (no men)” or “$750” or “12 month waiting list”, or any other way of saying ‘adult male suspected Aspies without buckets of spare cash may as well just fuck off’.

So, I picked one, a neuropsychologist at the Austin, as most authoritative, and sent her an email for help, either directly or as recommendation. I hope she gets back to me. If not, there are a couple of others I can try.


But what does it say when the only way for an Aspie to find out if they are or not is by repeatedly running the gauntlet of that activity they find most stressful?