On Thursday, 20th April 2000 I got the breakthrough I had been seeking over the previous three months, when I received a letter telling me that I was to see Professor Tantam. The appointment was arranged for Wednesday. 31st May 2000 at 2pm at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.
Three weeks later, and twenty days before I was diagnosed, on Thursday, 11th May 2000, I was evaluated by a Clinical Psychologist named Stephen Kellett, in a two hour session. It took place at the Keresforth Centre. From what I can remember Kellett asked me all sorts of questions about my life, my childhood, my behaviour, my interaction with other people, hobbies and interests, and various other subjects.
The report, which Mr or Dr Kellett sent to the Consultant Psychiatrist I was under in May 2000, stated that, "He (Myself - K J Phillips) does not appear to be psychotic. He stated several times that he has never suffered from auditory hallucinations. I don't have full blown conversations with myself. I don't sit there and say to myself, "Weather's crap today isn't it?" or "Where are we going or what shall we do?" or say "Look, that's your favourite bun" or if I see an aeroplane, say "Look, we'll fly in one of those soon".
The report went on to say "He showed no signs of delusional symptoms and didn't show any signs of formal thought disorder". Kellet was right.. I have never, at any times in my life, complained of suffering from an illness such as Schizophrenia or Schizophrenic symptoms, such as hearing voices, seeing things that aren't there, and being detached from reality or having delusions of grandeur. I haven't wrote all the Blur, Oasis or Sterephonics songs. I didn't write the scripts to Shawhank redemption, Schlinder's List or Gladiator.
According to the report, my voice was "clear", but the tone of my voice was "Sometimes flat and often abrasive sounding". It also added that my voice had some "bounce" to it and was not monotone, as the Asperger stereotype always portrays it to be. If I ever find or obtain Kellet's report, I will print further extracts from it on my website.
On the night of Tuesday, 30th May, I filled in a long questionnaire sent by Professor Tantam. On the day of the diagnosis, Wednesday, 31st May, I went with my mother and my mother's older sister. I went in the morning and had my dinner in the canteen there.
When the diagnosis began, I showed Professor Tantam the report that I had written two months earlier, on the evening of Thursday, 30th March. My mother was asked questions first and then myself. I asked him his date of birth and told him what day of the week it fell on. I still remember that it was a Monday!
Professor Tantam was 52 years old when he diagnosed me with AS. I also remember that he screwed up a piece of paper, and for some reason, probably to test my motor skills, asked me to throw it overarm to him, which I did.
Not long after, he said that I "Clearly have got ASPERGER'S SYNDROME". Professor Tantam said my reflex reactions were 'lightning sharp' but a few of them are impaired, which is the standard for those with the condition. Professor Tantam remarked that I also have savant abilities typical of Autistic Spectrum Conditions. For the record I was diagnosed at just after 2.30pm on Wednesday 31st May 2000 and I was 23 years, 9 months and 11 days old.
And that was that. Now I had to deal with life in the post diagnosis world.
