Is there any point at 41 getting a diagnosis?

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Yes, manipulation happens, they want reasons, they'll create one even if it doesn't exist. Sad but true. You have to watch your back and that adds extra stress.

If their knives are out, they'll wait until you turn your back.

Especially if you are better at your job than they are. A lot of NTs are very threatened by that.

Add to that being both naive and Aspie and not having a clue you are either. I just assumed hard work and more skills = better pay and anyone unemployed CHOSE to be due to their laziness. While there is some truth to that boy did I have a lot to learn to how the world really works! Even my current employer is like that: I have NO chance of a promotion not because I am bad but because I am good and will highlight what a s**&ty job my superiors are really doing. They are in full damage control and I know if I am not careful they will try to project the blame on me.

My father warned me at one job if I didn't leave they might frame me or accuse me of something like child abuse or drug dealing (due to my eccentric personality). I told him he was crazy. Sadly he is not. Although that never happened if the opportunity came up, I realize some higher ups would not hesitate to do it. I remember one railroaded coworker saying "they are insane! (Management) is f**king insane! I can't believe they can say that with a straight face! He was the hardest, friendliest worker I ever saw and he left a month later. I also realize why so many managers are outright psychopaths: even most NTs can't be so heartless and cruel.

I was once in a science lab and what a breath of fresh air it was. A job without the backstabbing politics just hardworking professionals doing their jobs and encouraging each other while maintain sky high standards. I had no idea such a place existed anymore!

But you are not clueless now! You are smart aspie guy!!

You know better, you do better.

I had been around other autistics before and didn't understand the frequent bitterness and sense of victimization until more recently and it's hit my like a ton of bricks. There was trouble before I even saw it coming and could try to defend myself, etc.

My husband had neuropsychological testing down also. His IQ score was the mid 120s. When the psychologist adjusted for how poor he did on parts of the test, it pulled it down to 110.

He did poorly on the face recognition (is this person happy etc...) , memory and executive functioning.

My husband literally has no clue on how to judge facial emotions. That surprised me. He just guesses.

My “Processing” scores, based upon WAIS-IV, WMS-IV and WCST, told a very interesting story. I scored > 80% in Verbal, Visual, Visual-motor Speed and Attention Processing. The Visual is apparently my strength (where I scored 94%).

However, I scored < 20% in Nonverbal Reasoning and Memory.

What's really bizarre about this is that, before I took the test, I didn't realize how poor I was in Nonverbal Reasoning and Memory.

My wife likes to show anger or disapproval by putting on what she calls a vex face,which I can never recognize and I end up asking her are you mad or what?

She even said we've been married almost ten years and you still can't recognize when I am angry and have an angry face,and I was like NO!

I hope you find what you need, but you are right, you may have a long wait ahead. I hope not, but it depends on your postcode! Even if you don't post, it can be useful to keep coming on here and reading the different threads. Good luck Adam. Paul.

I posted this in the workplace thread, (sorry for the cross thread post) and whilst it is UK specific, it may be of interest to people?

http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/d ... -workplace

It is a Trade Union document regarding Autism in the workplace. I disclosed my diagnosis to my employer after I returned from a period of sickness brought on by a bullying boss which led to a burnout. I said to him, "I bet you try and get shut of me within a year!". He didn't, he waited for one year and four days to recommend my small department be dis-established. Legislation is useful, but it can be circumvented and often times it takes too long to get to that point. I was threatened with being moved into a large open plan office with 70 people. I would have lasted about 2 days maximum before I was hiding under the desk, stimming like mad, with my earphones in and Eels blasting out! The process of complaint or grievance takes time and in all honesty I would have been unable to cope and probably left of my own accord; job done for them. Luckily, my Trade Union representatives have taken up my case and are challenging it, but I still think that eventually I will be pushed out of the door. Businesses, authorities etc don't want individuals any more, and often we are just that - indeed that is what makes us special - they are afraid of that.

Bottom line, DON'T DISCLOSE unless there is no other alternative.

I was tested when I was a teen or so and had an above average IQ around 114. I was tested again about 4 years ago (about 30 years between tests) and I scored one point below above average and the doctor said that I had poor memory otherwise the score would have been higher. I think the poor memory may be due at least in part to anxiety which I feel has gotten worse over the last few years.

You are welcome and good luck.

Make sure you are assessed by a professional with experience with Autism in adults.