Is it worth being tested to confirm diagnosis?

[Freedom]

If you get a diagnosis, then you qualify for a 509 teaching program. It is some federal law; I don't know too much about it, but my friend's son has it. He gets some extra help at school; it has to be offered and paid for by the school system, it doesn't cost your folks a cent.

If you get a diagnosis, and if there are some medications which will help you, then yourhelth insurance will cover the meds and you just pay the co pay.

If you get a diagnosis, you will feel better knowing your situation.

Here is the link for GRASP, the nation group with deals specifically with Asperger's. You may want to find a chapter near you, and ask some questions.

http://www.grasp.org/

Best wishes to you!
Sandie

[Marigold2]

To thine own self be true. One thing human beings strive for is love, understanding and acceptance we all want and need these regardless of age.
If you can better understand yourself, your emotions, wants, needs, feelings, and desires you can explain them to others. For instance if you are speaking to someone you love and they don't understand your actions you can say "I have this condition it makes me act, say and behave this way" then these people will know and understand you and be better able to bring joy and acceptance into your life. First you have to understand yourself. To thine own self be true. Then you can explain it to others. This will make your life so much happier. We as humans strive our entire lives to better understand ourselves, it's part of growing up and becoming a better person. As is understanding, forgiving and accepting others. Good luck to you. This will only make life better.

[caseysmom]

My niece lived with me for 7 months and I suspected Aspergers, I sent her to a therapist, I don't think there is an actual test but her therapist diagnosed aspergers. The good thing is here where we live there are support groups for her.

[K9karen]

After watching Boston Legal..there's a lawyer with AS... I look back and diagnose my brother. Yes, I think he has a mild form of it. In 1940's when he was born, it was always a "craze" or "his personality".

I firmly believe my parents KNEW there was something amiss. Now it's OCD (definitely) and my concern that it's mildly AS. He fits into the some of the diagonsis you printed.

Please get tested. it will help so much in your socialization and treatment. It''s not a crime or punishment, but helpful TO YOU for your future and interaction. Mental differences are not longer a stigma. They are treated with the best therapists and meds, if needed. IMO..we all are "wired" differently. it's nature and not your fault. Believe me, I love my brother, but if you witnessed some of his actions, verbal and physical, you'd be shocked he wasn't treated earlier. He has a terrific job, people love him, but there is something not right and I know my folks saw it but didn't know how to react. Times have changed. Please, please seek help. There's nothing wrong in getting treatment or help.

[jackie]

It couldn't hurt to be tested, but to be honest it just sounds like you are a teenager. It pretty much describes me from ages 14-18...not looking people in the eyes, intentionally hurtful comments, feeling socially unaccepted, talking back...

[Catsnclay]

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I am a grown woman (in my 50's) who was just DNA tested and given a rather obvious results of a defect, but at least now it is confirmed and my doctors are all notifyed and will know how to handle a situation if it comes up.


We are very lucky today that we have the medical technology that we do, when I was born I was extremly tiny and was born with something called "coxa vera", never grew as a child and now through DNA testing they actually came up with a "genetic defect" that as far as I know, no one else has - wierd or lucky - you be the judge.

But I would go for the testing - can't hurt!!

[Cataholic]

It couldn't hurt to be tested, but to be honest it just sounds like you are a teenager. It pretty much describes me from ages 14-18...not looking people in the eyes, intentionally hurtful comments, feeling socially unaccepted, talking back...

I was thinking the *exact* same thing. I would hate to see you tested (are you sure there is a 'test' for AS?), and allow it to somehow label yourself. I know several people that have this tremendous cop out attitude about their behavior, "Oh, I have XYZ" (maybe they do, maybe they don't, I dunno), but, all I ever see is one excuse after another for refusing to conform to some modicum of acceptable behaviour.

I wonder if, per chance, you aren't in need of some counseling to address some underlying problem, that may or may not be a symptom of AS.

[Suki Wingy]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't think it's just my age because my mom says I've been that way since she can remember, the slapping her was when I was 5.
I'm going to talk to my mom and step-dad about possibly getting a medical diagnosis. I already have been tested for ADD, OCD, and some other things which I have. I've never been able to know the why other people react to certain things, and vise virsa.