Anyone not diagnosed until in their 40's?

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First heard of AS in june, and I said "Holy F***, that's me!" Found a psycologist specializing in AS, was Dx'ed in July, at 48.495 years old or so.

I was about 35. Didn't really accept the diagnosis at first, denied it...it wasn't until two years later that I started really looking into it. Not only did I find "me"...but I found my parents too. It explained a whole lot.

My husband (ex now) never did really accept it...I don't think he ever has.

I had been seen by several psychologists and psychiatrists for over 10 years and all they were interested in was treating anxiety and depression. I would ask about sensory issues and got no response. This was in Arizona. I moved briefly to Tennessee and took my daughter to a psychiatrist for ADHD meds. He watched how we interacted and asked me to get a book on Asperger's and see what I thought. It explained my entire life and it was clear my daughter was Asperger also. I was 40, my daughter was 7. That was 4 years ago.

I find the psychiatric and psychological community is clueless unless they have actual experience with autism spectrum disorders. I got the most help from reading books on the subject, particularly Tony Attwood books. Another book that is supposed to be excellent is "The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome" by Patricia Romanowski Bashe and Barbara L. Kirby. These women also have a website. As for services, Asperger doesn't fit into the legal autistic category. For my daughter, I get extra help for her in school under a category that is referred to as "Other Health Impaired."

I was... 43 I think. I have a very hard time keeping track of numbers/numerals and dates, but I think I was 43 when I was diagnosed, that would be about 4 1/2 years ago. I can remember the doctor's name, but not the date...

I was 46 when I received an inkling that I might have it, from the Social Worker I was seeing. She couldn't diagnose me, but arranged for me to have an eval from a psychiatrist. Worse waste of time I've ever endured. She proceeded to tell me that I was too smart to have AS! I then proceeded to tell her what I thought of her wasting four hours of my valuable time, having me tested by her student, and then her going by what the student said. The worst of it, was they seemed to think that I was trying to get disability for it. Two years later, I found a psychologist that was familiar with AS. She saw me for a few sessions, and then diagnosed me. She said that it was so clear to her, just interacting with me, that I have AS.

Last edited by hartzofspace on 28 Dec 2007, 6:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I was just diagnosed in August at age 45. So, now I understand why I don't understand.

They didn't used to test much, and no one ever heard of AS.

In 1963, I was diagnosed with childhood schizophrenia, which was the standard diagnosis for children on the spectrum under the DSM-I (and the DSM-II, which came out in 1968). For years, I wondered what was "wrong" with me, since I obviously am not schizophrenic.

In April of 2007, I went to see a psychiatrist for insomnia. He diagnosed me with Asperger's.

I was not told I had childhood autism until I was in my middle 40s. But everybody else in my family and my relatives knew this.

About 10 years ago I had a pretty serious car crash and had some temporary brain damage as a result. I had to get sme evaluation from a Psychologist, and at the time she said to me that she was pretty sure I had Aspergers and offered to refer me to a Psychiatrist for formal diagnosis. I refused as I simply don't trust much of the Medical profession (though I belong to it!).

So now at 40, I know that I have it. I did a pot of reading on my own and it explained a hell of a lot. I still believe that I am the best person to manage it, and as far as i am concerned I'm doing just fine.

Diagnosed last year at age 45. Had suspected I had AS for maybe 4 years before. Had spent most of my life till then wondering exactly what was different about me.

Since being diagnosed, haven't changed much. Still procrastinating on exactly what to do. Not beating myself up so badly is a clear improvement. Doesn't seem to be much support available for adults, there's very little in the public domain about adults with AS.

That is gradually changing. Myself, I will be 52 next month. However, my father, an 88-year-old aspie, is only being drugged up to manage his eccentric behavior. My sister and I are trying to fix that situation. He is paying a fortune to be in his assisted living facility. At the very least, he should be treated appropriately and respectfully.

Good luck. Every person who is in such a facility should be treated with respect and in an appropriate manner, and not judgementally. I ended up having to pull my dad out of a similar facility (supposedly--I hope the people in your facility are more open to suggestion) because of the way he was treated. Care plans weren't executed, or ignored, and excuses given.

Much good luck. He should be valued and listened to and cared for by the staff well. No excuses.

Metta and karuna.

Thank you. I am hoping that the problem will be resolved after we have a long discussion with his physician. He is the one who placed him on all the neuroleptics and antidepressants. The concern was that he was behaving inappropriatedly. That is nothing new. He has always behaved inappropriatedly. However, my mother is dead, and people simply do not want to put up with him.

I'm 47 now, and was diagnosed at 40-41. My youngest son was being diagnosed by a psychiatrist. She did a workup on each member of the family, and when she was done, she just kind of blinked and looked at us. By that time I'd had a chance to read up on Asperger's. I nodded at her and said, "Yep, all 4 of us, right?" and she agreed. Since then the boys have seen 3 other child psychiatrists (aren't HMO's and their revolving specialist rosters wonderful?) and all of them have done the same basic thing.

The talk with the doc is a good idea. With my mother, and then my dad, we would go into the doc and discuss all of the meds and see if perhaps we could get rid of some, or replace some meds that wouldn't have the side effects that would also require meds. It was fairly easy to do, as both of my parents visited the docs every three months or so, and we'd approach the issue every eighteen months or so.

You speak of inappropriate behavior by your dad...what was he doing? My dad had "inappropriate" behavior, eating fast, and hyperfocused on tv to the point he wouldn't respond to nursing staff...I thought it was normal, and it was for my dad. I was able to communicate with the staff and assure them he wasn't being disrespectful or dangerous, and I also made a point of being there every day, but this isn't possible for most people. Getting to know the staff myself also got me information that helped when I spoke to Dad's doctors, and also gave me a chance to let the staff know what was a better way of dealing with my dad, especially when he decided he'd take off and go to the store on his own (he was in a wheelchair) which could be dangerous. I finally got him to wait for me, and the staff, once they knew I was coming in at a certain time, could tell my dad to wait for me, and I'd go with him...he thought that was great, because I could carry his goodies. I'm not sure if that is possible because I did have the time to do that. I hope the staff are responsive to you and your family in your dad's case.

Metta, Rjaye

We are going to suggest that my father is taken off the neuroleptics, kept on the Remeron and be placed on an SSRI, preferably Lexapro.



He was making obscene sexual advances on female residents in the facility. He was also hitting and punching staff when they would attempt to help him.



Thank you. I hope so. Actually, my sister is supposed to be chatting with his physician today. I talked with him last week.