Diagnosis and Treatment
I am an adult and I think I have Asperger Syndrome. How do I get a diagnosis?
I think my child may have Asperger Syndrome. How do I get a diagnosis?
Who are some of the clinicians who work with clients who have Asperger Syndrome in Manitoba?
What are other potential diagnoses that may occur along with Asperger Syndrome?
What is the treatment for Asperger Syndrome?
I am an adult and I think I have Asperger Syndrome. How do I get a diagnosis?
To be diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome you will need a psychological assessment administered by a qualified clinician – either a psychologist or a psychiatrist. You can be referred to either one by your family doctor, or, if you live within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, you can contact adult Mental Health Centralized Intake at (204) 940-2655. You may ask for a particular psychiatrist, but it is not guaranteed that you will get services by that psychiatrist. You may be referred to a psychiatrist who is unfamiliar with Asperger Syndrome. However you can ask the psychiatrist you have been referred to for a further referral (if he/she has not worked with AS) to someone who does. Alternatively, you can call a psychologist directly but will have to pay for the psychological assessment if you choose to pursue the private route. Some health insurance policies do cover either a portion or all of the assessment costs and you will have to discuss this with your provider.
Psychological Services Centre (PSC) at the University of Manitoba can provide a comprehensive assessment at no cost, using student clinicians under the supervision of qualified staff and they can also facilitate a referral, if necessary, for additional services. The PSC generally accepts referrals in September, and they are processed through the ensuing months of the school term. This service is available to the public and you can contact it by phoning (204) 474-9222 or emailing psc@umanitoba.ca.
I think my child may have Asperger Syndrome. How do I get a diagnosis?
To be diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome you child will need a psychological assessment administered by a qualified clinician – either a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Your family doctor or your child’s paediatrician can make a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment. Within the Winnipeg Region, you can contact Centralized Intake for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services directly at (204) 958-9660, or you can ask your child’s paediatrician to make the referral on your behalf. The intake worker will ask for some information regarding the child and the situation to make a better assessment of the situation and make a referral to the appropriate services. There are often wait lists associated with these services. This is not an emergency service and if you are worried about your child or adolescent’s safety contact the Youth Mobile Crisis Team at (204) 949-4777 or call 911.
You may also wish to receive a private assessment with a psychologist or psychiatrist, and this will have a cost associated with it. It may be covered by some health plans and you will need to explore this with your provider.
Who are some of the clinicians who work with clients who have Asperger Syndrome in Manitoba?
(This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement by AMI of any one clinician or service over another)
For Adults:
Dr. Giovanna Levin – Psych Health Centre PX362-771 Bannatyne Avenue
Dr. Debra Lander – PsycHealth Centre PZ202-771 Bannatyne Ave
Dr. Randolph Goossen – PsycHealth Centre PZ239-771 Bannatyne Ave
Dr. Stewart Wakeman – Private practice (204) 943-3741
Dr. Jitender Sareen – Health Sciences Centre PZ430-771 Bannatyne Ave
For Children:
St. Boniface Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program and the Tourette Syndrome Service – (204) 237-2690 or (204) 237-2694. This is a multi-disciplinary practice that allows for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and other related disorders (including Asperger Syndrome) for children and adolescents. A referral can be made by a physician or through centralized intake for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (204) 958-9600. These programs are run provincially and are not confined to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
M.A.T.C. Neurodevelopmental Services – Access to this service is through centralized intake for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (204) 958-9600. This program works with several community agencies to provide a multi-disciplinary approach for children with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. Psychiatrists, psychologists and occupational therapists are available for assistance.
For Both:
Practicing Psychologists in Manitoba may be found at: mps.ca/Referal_Display.aspx
Red Ladder Optimized Learning www.redladder.ca phone: (204) 885-3276
College of Physicians and Surgeons lists the psychiatrists in the province: http://physiciansearch.cpsm.mb.ca/
What are other potential diagnoses that may occur along with Asperger Syndrome?
The potential for coexisting conditions when you have a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome can include, but are not limited to: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety, depression, Tourette Syndrome, and Sensory Processing Disorder. A psychiatrist is usually best able to diagnose these conditions as well as Asperger Syndrome.
What is the treatment for Asperger Syndrome?
While there is no treatment for AS, there are programs available to enhance the lives of individuals with AS.
• Social Skills Training – People with AS often have difficulty understanding social cues or social skills problems that affect their ability to function within their environment. It is important for individuals with AS that skills training is learned within a safe environment and then later applied within more generalized settings. Social Skills are often best learned in small groups, with similar peers and with opportunities for the practice in and out of the group experience.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) -This therapy is used to teach stress management related to anxiety, anger, depression, etc It is based upon the belief that how we think, feel and act are all intertwined and that our thoughts (in many cases, negative thoughts) determine the way we will act and feel when faced with a stress response. CBT can teach individuals with AS positive coping skills and how to think and react differently to situations that may cause stress.
• Medication – There is no specific medication used for AS. Medication may be used to treat specific symptoms or coexisting conditions such as anxiety, depression, OCD, Tourette Syndrome, etc.
• Occupational Therapy (OT) – OT is meant to assist with the functioning of a person within their environment (school, work, home, community, etc.). It can be excellent in dealing with fine or gross motor delays that may exist for those who have AS. In addition, if there are heightened or lowered sensory responses to different things in their environment (for example reaction to touch, strong odours, bright lights etc) an OT can work to find strategies to aid in the coping with these challenges. To find an occupational therapist in Manitoba visit: www.msot.mb.ca/find_an_occupational_therapist.aspx
• Speech and Language Therapy– Speech and Language Pathologists can assist people with AS in understanding the subtle nuances of speech, including speaking rate, how they perceive other people’s speech and how they respond to it. A full list of Speech and Language Pathologists in Manitoba can be found at www.msha.ca.
• Parental Role – Parents, especially of children with AS, play an important role in assisting their child to be knowledgeable of the world around them and in practicing the skills that their children are learning to master through any of the therapeutic interventions that they may be involved with. Parents must also learn to recognize if their child’s behaviour in any given situation is the result of challenges that are associated with AS and any coexisting disorders or typical behaviour of their same aged peers (e.g. is she being wilfully disobedient or making errors based on misreading social cues?) Spending time debriefing, using principles of behaviour modification, organizing playdates and taking on a case management role are just some of the many things that parents of children with AS (or any other disability) may be called upon to assume at any given time.
• Compensatory Therapy – works with an individual with AS as well as their family to make changes in their environment that allows them to use their strengths to compensate for their deficits (e.g. using their strong rote memory of how a social situation should proceed to compensate for the misreading of social cues).
