Asperger's - anybody been diagnosed later in life ?
Discussion
James TiT said:
AA lot of adults have it b have never been diagnosed with it.
My son has it along with mild dyslexia and dyspraxia (actual have no idea how to spell that one) and he has learning needs tailored for him at college. I always thought it was a bit odd that his maths homework would be correct but he'd write the numbers 9 and 6 and the letters b and d back to front. We got him tested young and I was shocked when they also mentioned the Asperger's. School tried but failed miserably on that front but he's really flourishing at college now. He's the most sociable kid I know. He has millions of friends, always making jokes and seems really comfortable in social situations so my limited understanding of Asperger's was that he would be a loner and not pick up on social cues. The more I looked into it, the more I realised that a work colleague (mid forties) demonstrates a lot more of the signs than my boy does but he's never been diagnosed. I've not said anything as I don't want to cause distress but I suspect if he took any sort of test, he'd be very much on the autistic scale. People think this guys behaviour is odd but nobody seems to have picked up why.
I've just scanned the thread and it seems to me a few people are getting confused between being an introvert and being autistic/having aspergers.
I think most if not all people diagnosed with autism will be introverts, but the reverse is certainly not true.
Being obsessed with things like cars and reading forums is quite an introvert trait IMO, so there will be a disproportionate number of us here! And that online test doesn't differentiate very well between introversion and Aspergers as far as I can see.
Final point - most people misunderstand what being an introvert means - it does not mean shy and not outgoing.
I think most if not all people diagnosed with autism will be introverts, but the reverse is certainly not true.
Being obsessed with things like cars and reading forums is quite an introvert trait IMO, so there will be a disproportionate number of us here! And that online test doesn't differentiate very well between introversion and Aspergers as far as I can see.
Final point - most people misunderstand what being an introvert means - it does not mean shy and not outgoing.
Jambo85 said:
I've just scanned the thread and it seems to me a few people are getting confused between being an introvert and being autistic/having aspergers.
I think most if not all people diagnosed with autism will be introverts, but the reverse is certainly not true.
Being obsessed with things like cars and reading forums is quite an introvert trait IMO, so there will be a disproportionate number of us here! And that online test doesn't differentiate very well between introversion and Aspergers as far as I can see.
Final point - most people misunderstand what being an introvert means - it does not mean shy and not outgoing.
From what experience or background to you speak from? I just wondered. I did investigate it a little some years ago, but never really followed it up and it got forgotten about, but it sums me up pretty well now I look at it again with older eyes.I think most if not all people diagnosed with autism will be introverts, but the reverse is certainly not true.
Being obsessed with things like cars and reading forums is quite an introvert trait IMO, so there will be a disproportionate number of us here! And that online test doesn't differentiate very well between introversion and Aspergers as far as I can see.
Final point - most people misunderstand what being an introvert means - it does not mean shy and not outgoing.
Jambo85 said:
And that online test doesn't differentiate very well between introversion and Aspergers as far as I can see.
Final point - most people misunderstand what being an introvert means - it does not mean shy and not outgoing.
The test is obviously flawed, and being an introvert can mean shy and not outgoing, as well as the opposite as you stated. There are massive shades of greys but it seems now a days you have to have some sort of label to feel you are here.Final point - most people misunderstand what being an introvert means - it does not mean shy and not outgoing.
if you think you are then seek out an specialist.
Edited by The Spruce goose on Tuesday 21st November 17:44
227bhp said:
From what experience or background to you speak from? I just wondered. I did investigate it a little some years ago, but never really followed it up and it got forgotten about, but it sums me up pretty well now I look at it again with older eyes.
Certainly not a psychology one if that's what you mean 
I'm an engineer, we did a course including some of this stuff at work a few years ago. The test we did was called MBTI (plenty on google) which puts you into one of 16 surprisingly accurate personality types. Prior to that I had no real understanding of what introvert vs extrovert really meant, but this helped me understand that it's OK that I would rather be in a shed by myself with an engine, or fannying around on a computer than in a bar talking b
ks with people I hardly know. I'm not completely antisocial, and I have a reasonable number of close friends, but it does drain me whereas extroverts feed off social interaction. I raised it because I don't think a lot of people really understand the above, and there seems to be a lot in the press these days about autism and Asperger's. I see a tendency now for people who are good at maths and aren't party animals to conclude that they must have Asperger's.
The Spruce goose said:
There are massive shades of greys but it seems now a days you have to have some sort of label to feel you are here.
if you think you are then seek out an specialist.
if you think you are then seek out an specialist.
Jambo85 said:
I raised it because I don't think a lot of people really understand the above, and there seems to be a lot in the press these days about autism and Asperger's. I see a tendency now for people who are good at maths and aren't party animals to conclude that they must have Asperger's.
This raises a very important point - not just for Aspergers, but for all mental and psychological conditions (OCD etc). There's an inclination now to quickly label either ourselves or others as having certain conditions, either because one trait is present, or - and more likely - due to a massive over-simplification and misunderstanding of the condition itself (a classic example here is how being neat sees people labelled as having OCD). This is damaging to the condition itself in terms of society's understanding, identification, and management of it, to individuals thus labelled as it could prevent them seeking the help they need, and to those who genuinely have these conditions and find themselves even further pushed to the outer due to the dismissal of it brought about by these generalisation and incorrect application.In short, if you think you have a condition, rather than applying a label, or allowing others to do so - seek out professional assistance for your own sake.
I'm probably on the spectrum, but haven't had a formal diagnosis.
I managed to get referred to a psychologist via the NHS a few years ago, and ended up at the Maudsley Hospital, which was the successor to Bedlam, on Halloween in 2012. (Yeah, that fact amused me.)
For a diagnosis of autism you have to exhibit characteristics in three areas. I think that they were social, imagination, and verbal. The scoring on my symptoms was over the line in one (social), borderline on another, and down the scale on the third.
The psychologist said that I didn't have Asperger's Syndrome, but picked up that I was suffering from depression, and sent me home.
In 2015 I emigrated to Australia. I'd picked a GP because she came up as a specialist in treating depression. I'd mentioned the Maudsley, and she referred me to a psychologist who deals with autism as a part of a mental health plan.
I started seeing the psychologist about two years ago. He picked up on a few things during our first meeting, including the fact that I faked eye contact. I was looking just past him, rather than at him, but in a slightly subtle manner.
The other thing was he gave me a sheet for a multiple choice test, and asked me what I saw. I stared at it for a few minutes, couldn't make out what he was looking for, and then noticed a faint "Do not..." printed on it. Turns out it was a "Do Not Copy" watermark, that shows up when photocopied. Most people can't see it, but the sensory issues that autism causes also grant a certain amount of visual acuity.
Yeah, I've got a superpower. But it's reading invisible watermarks. :P
Anyway, he thinks that I'm on the spectrum, but getting a diagnosis at this stage of my life is likely to be tricky, and not worth bothering with. A lot depends on the psychologist assessing you, and sometimes they won't declare an individual to be autistic unless very stereotypical behaviour is shown.
Incidentally, it does appear to run in families. My brother's daughter, who's six or seven now, was diagnosed last year.
I managed to get referred to a psychologist via the NHS a few years ago, and ended up at the Maudsley Hospital, which was the successor to Bedlam, on Halloween in 2012. (Yeah, that fact amused me.)
For a diagnosis of autism you have to exhibit characteristics in three areas. I think that they were social, imagination, and verbal. The scoring on my symptoms was over the line in one (social), borderline on another, and down the scale on the third.
The psychologist said that I didn't have Asperger's Syndrome, but picked up that I was suffering from depression, and sent me home.
In 2015 I emigrated to Australia. I'd picked a GP because she came up as a specialist in treating depression. I'd mentioned the Maudsley, and she referred me to a psychologist who deals with autism as a part of a mental health plan.
I started seeing the psychologist about two years ago. He picked up on a few things during our first meeting, including the fact that I faked eye contact. I was looking just past him, rather than at him, but in a slightly subtle manner.
The other thing was he gave me a sheet for a multiple choice test, and asked me what I saw. I stared at it for a few minutes, couldn't make out what he was looking for, and then noticed a faint "Do not..." printed on it. Turns out it was a "Do Not Copy" watermark, that shows up when photocopied. Most people can't see it, but the sensory issues that autism causes also grant a certain amount of visual acuity.
Yeah, I've got a superpower. But it's reading invisible watermarks. :P
Anyway, he thinks that I'm on the spectrum, but getting a diagnosis at this stage of my life is likely to be tricky, and not worth bothering with. A lot depends on the psychologist assessing you, and sometimes they won't declare an individual to be autistic unless very stereotypical behaviour is shown.
Incidentally, it does appear to run in families. My brother's daughter, who's six or seven now, was diagnosed last year.
My wife is a GP and is certain that I have it; and sure enough, on all the online tests that I've taken I score at least double the threshold for diagnosis across all categories (many even higher). I won't be getting a diagnosis though because I don't see the point. It has certainly helped explain why I have quite so many unusual traits, and it's reassuring to know that I'm not just terribly unlucky to have ten different things strange about me, rather I probably just have one thing that links everything. I'm happy with 'probably' though and see no reason to take up a psychologist's time changing that to 'certainly'. It's also just so obvious with me that it seems like a pointless task seeking a formal diagnosis, especially at the age of 40. It probably would have helped at the age of 10 though, I admit. School was hard, very hard (I attended three different secondary schools...), as was growing up in general.
Beyond that though, I just am who I am and nothing's going to change that. I'm happily married, I have a decent job, a very nice house, and loads of fulfilling hobbies and interests, and I'm content with all of that. I'd go a stage further and say that I don't think I would have many of those things if it wasn't for my aspergers. The only reason that I have a nice house is because we bought an affordable wreck and I've spent four years obsessionally working on it (another two or three yet to go!). To do that whilst running my own racing car, learning a language and partaking in four other time-demanding sports on a weekly basis does appear to be pretty unusual and the preserve of someone a bit obsessional and over-focused. Most people probably think it's weird, but it's just normal to me, and that's all that matters.
Beyond all that, I think it's important to know that if you have it then it's likely your kids will have it too. That doesn't actually worry me though, because provided they have the right support from my wife and me, I see no reason why they can't also have a fulfilling life.
Beyond that though, I just am who I am and nothing's going to change that. I'm happily married, I have a decent job, a very nice house, and loads of fulfilling hobbies and interests, and I'm content with all of that. I'd go a stage further and say that I don't think I would have many of those things if it wasn't for my aspergers. The only reason that I have a nice house is because we bought an affordable wreck and I've spent four years obsessionally working on it (another two or three yet to go!). To do that whilst running my own racing car, learning a language and partaking in four other time-demanding sports on a weekly basis does appear to be pretty unusual and the preserve of someone a bit obsessional and over-focused. Most people probably think it's weird, but it's just normal to me, and that's all that matters.
Beyond all that, I think it's important to know that if you have it then it's likely your kids will have it too. That doesn't actually worry me though, because provided they have the right support from my wife and me, I see no reason why they can't also have a fulfilling life.
going to rat ste here. daughter has Aspergers as posted but also and eating disorder has manifested itself badly over the alast few months. Now at critical weight with organ failings and just slipping over to life threating weight. daughter is losing the plot and walked out of house I think she is going to be sectioned this week.
watching her waste away and die. fek. and there is very little we can do.
te here. daughter has Aspergers as posted but also and eating disorder has manifested itself badly over the alast few months. Now at critical weight with organ failings and just slipping over to life threating weight. daughter is losing the plot and walked out of house I think she is going to be sectioned this week.watching her waste away and die. fek. and there is very little we can do.
superlightr said:
going to rat ste here. daughter has Aspergers as posted but also and eating disorder has manifested itself badly over the alast few months. Now at critical weight with organ failings and just slipping over to life threating weight. daughter is losing the plot and walked out of house I think she is going to be sectioned this week.
watching her waste away and die. fek. and there is very little we can do.
is being sectioned better at least she can be monitored, Do you have money to send her to a specialist clinic, I mean there are experts who must see this sort of thing all the time and can help, never think it is over there is always something that can be done.te here. daughter has Aspergers as posted but also and eating disorder has manifested itself badly over the alast few months. Now at critical weight with organ failings and just slipping over to life threating weight. daughter is losing the plot and walked out of house I think she is going to be sectioned this week.watching her waste away and die. fek. and there is very little we can do.
superlightr said:
29.3kg for 1.57m 13yr old. going to have to be forced feed via a tube I think - just trying to get inpatients clinic . She is looking like my dad did when he died. feking awful.
Anorexia is unfortunately very common in girls with Aspies. The link has been fairly well documented and the Maudsley hospital seems to have done fairly recent research around this. Hunger causes ghrelin production which has an antidepressant effect. So basically your daughter is trying to keep herself stable by not eating. The horrible effect of her starving herself isn’t why she is doing it. She’s trying to keep herself going
Jambo85 said:
227bhp said:
From what experience or background to you speak from? I just wondered. I did investigate it a little some years ago, but never really followed it up and it got forgotten about, but it sums me up pretty well now I look at it again with older eyes.
Certainly not a psychology one if that's what you mean I'm an engineer, we did a course including some of this stuff at work a few years ago. The test we did was called MBTI (plenty on google) which puts you into one of 16 surprisingly accurate personality types. Prior to that I had no real understanding of what introvert vs extrovert really meant, but this helped me understand that it's OK that I would rather be in a shed by myself with an engine, or fannying around on a computer than in a bar talking bks with people I hardly know. I'm not completely antisocial, and I have a reasonable number of close friends, but it does drain me whereas extroverts feed off social interaction. I raised it because I don't think a lot of people really understand the above, and there seems to be a lot in the press these days about autism and Asperger's. I see a tendency now for people who are good at maths and aren't party animals to conclude that they must have Asperger's.
If it weren’t for the internet, I’d never have given the Aspergers thing any time at all. Too much readily available information on health issues has had serious consequences for a hell of a lot of people.
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