How are you tested?

Or evaluated for having Autsim? I have been told by my pdoc and a therapist that I might be autistic after all. More than likely, Asperger's, but I want to know how they typically diagnose this or evaluate you for it?

Thank you!

This is for the U.K., but maybe it will be useful:
http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autis...to-expect.aspx

And here is a blog entry about getting diagnosed:
Aspie Like Me: A Diagnosis Story | Stimeyland

The process varies a lot, and I think that it is often made to be a much bigger deal than necessary. Generally, you will be asked about what symptoms, traits, characteristics, etc. you have and how they affect you. You should also be asked about developmental history. Maybe a parent or someone else who knew you as a child will be consulted for their input. Sometimes written questionnaires that you take home and bring back might be used. And there are various tests and inventories that help to narrow it down also.

My diagnosis was not that formal. I had seen this particular psychologist several times and others before had dismissed my reports about autistic spectrum symptoms, but he actually listened and since he already knew me, he agreed that I have Asperger's. I went back to him again about a year later and he did more testing and still diagnosed Asperger's.

Thank you very much for your help! I appreciate it! I was thinking it might be something like that, but I wasn't sure. The pdoc I've been seeing for over ten years thinks it's possible, so I'll be seeing an autism specialist soon, hopefully.

Any past testing can be helpful- as generally a diagnosis is made [should be made] on symptoms present throughout childhood to present and their impact.

..I was an interesting child. Looking at some of the testing I did even as young as six, it is pretty typical neuropsych profile for high functioning autism.... but that wasn't very common a notion so they kept testing about everything when things came up.

I had a couple neuropsych tests done and a personal history and input from my mother and then the neuropsych testing and school stuff [as well as developmental milestones] that all played a part in the diagnosis. It went from r/o asperger's to PDDNOS and then HFA- which has been the case with the last few providers or whoever feels like evalutating me for whatever reason.

If you have records or something relating to functioning as a child, that may be helpful. All providers do things differently but it is often helpful with diagnosis of ASDs.

Oh, yes, definitely! They had me diagnosed as autistic when I was little, I fit the bill for it, but I don't know why (my parents aren't sure either) they changed me to Bipolar. My pdoc even admitted he isn't entirely sure that makes sense now. So we'll have to see!

I was diagnosed when I was very young so I don't even remember how I was tested for it.

Usually a diagnostic interview-- that's what I was told when I inquired about testing for myself, anyway. And history from your childhood from you and/or your parents. I am also receiving a psych-ed assessment, but I think that's more to just get services for school.