AS is only diagnosed if the person causes problems.

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basically all research on diagnosis and treatment (of pretty much anything) is based on a clinically refered sample. As opposed to looking at the population as a whole to see the actual rate of prevalence. The typical medical model for prevalence rates (as explained by the lancet in how they got thier numbers on casulties in Iraq) is to take a sample (hopefully representative of the population as a whole) and see how many people have been dx'd (or potentially how many people know at least one family member who is, depending on what your info source is)

It is subjective. Schools tend to think subjectively. No pun intended.

@jackbus01 it is also a trend that not many adult psychs do autism. People think autism is only a kids disease. It might be harder for you as an adult, I assume you are, correct me if I'm wrong.

This is so true. Around here the only support groups are for autistic children and their families. Even the majority of government support sites are geared towards children only. Maybe I haven't tried hard enough to find adult support. But several counselors I was seeing years ago had trouble finding information too.

I had plenty of outward signs, they were just written-off as "cute" because I didn't have behavior problems.

I got DXed at 26 after I went to a psychologist with anxiety and depression. "Autism" wasn't even on my radar.

It is nearly impossible in America and we are the people who are craziest about the whole thing so I can imagine it would be impossible in Europe or anywhere else.

I wasn't noticed for I never caused ANY problems at school, on the opposite, I was normally like a wet dream of any teacher when it comes to my behavior. I was labeled as really really supersilent and gifted and those were the only labels they could put on me back in my kindergarten/school days. Back then no one heard about AS and even if by any miraculous chance anyone happened to hear, I wouldn't be labeled as one with AS for sure because then specialists (who weren't even present in Poland then) were able to recognize only the most obvious cases - well, I'm an obvious case speaking of being different, standing out, nevertheless I wasn't a stereotypical case of AS, as it's presented in textbooks.

I don't have a diagnosis, I've never even been seen by any professionals with regards to getting one. My parents have never regarded me as anything less than perfect and tell me that I've never given them an ounce of worry in my life (that's what happens when you keep it all inside). Even though I have anxiety and I'd go as far as to say I've had depression, I've never spoken to a doctor about it. Most people (I'll exclude my husband) would never suspect I was feeling down, never mind on the verge of a nervous breakdown or thinking of a way out.

It was only last year, when it came to light that my daughter may have Aspergers, that I finally realised this could be the reason for all the things I've struggled with too. Even the thing I thought was related to intelligence (reading at a freakily young age) has turned out to be probably hyperlexia and actually one of the causes of my inability to study, etc.

But, at this time in my life, I don't see a need to get a diagnosis. I'm a full-time mum and coping fine with that, better than I coped with work or education anyway. If and when I decide to get back into looking for work, I may speak with someone.

I was a very withdrawn child at school, but due to intelligence and compliance, I was always overlooked.

Had been to psychs for years getting differing diagnosis - anxiety, depression, social phobia etc. Got to the point this year where I felt so bad about not fitting in with the rest of the world, that I sought out a psych that specialised in ASD and would see adults.

Cost a fortune, but I have a diagnosis and feel so much better about myself.

I'm still very angry that all these "professionals" did nothing to help and my own parents were so caught up in their own lives that they never took any notice of me.

I think another aspect is that, for me, I learned to act like and mimic NT behavior in public so that I wouldn't be so noticeable as different. Many higher functioning Aspies get real good at mimicking NTs, so they are not found out. I also agree that if you are smart, odd behavior often gets overlooked. There's no one answer here.

I was one of those kids whose "problems" became obvious early on. Hyperactive and impulsive, with a near-nonexistant attention span, my parents routinely got calls from my teachers telling them that I was a constant disruption in class. I never turned in homework on time (if ever). So when sixth grade began I had to go to the nurses' office during lunch to take "concentrating pills". Around the end of sixth grade I stopped taking them. At the start of tenth grade, I was unable to control my hyperactivity and angry outbursts, let alone complete homework on time. So I had to go back on ADHD meds. Lucky for me, extended-release Ritalin had just come out, so I no longer needed to go to the nurses office during lunch for a second dose.

Last edited by SyphonFilter on 22 Oct 2011, 8:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yeah, the shrink I see says that she almost never diagnoses ASD's or ADHD, since she only sees teens and adults. She told me that for anyone who's autistic/ADHD (or any disorders of the like), she needs to retrieve official records from childhood (testing and/or diagnoses stating you actually have a disorder) before she'll write prescriptions for those disorders.