Newly Diagnosed Age 62

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On July 2, I received my diagnosis of ASD Level 1. I will be 62-years-old on July 30. I have feelings of relief mixed with feelings of being incredibly overwhelmed. It puts many things from my past into perspective and makes so many things make sense as well.

Are there any other people on here that received their diagnosis very late in life? I am hoping to receive some support and therapy mainly to help with some of my communication issues.

I’d love to hear from some of you regarding how you moved forward after receiving your diagnosis and how receiving it altered your perspective.

it's complicated. was dx'ed in early childhood with being schizoid, in younger adulthood with ADHD inattentive subtype [previously known as ADD] and in early middle age [40s] with AS. as naturalplastic here on WP said, it was like a belated proverbial splash of paint on the invisible monster that had plagued me all my life under different styles [schizoid, ADD/ADHD, and finally AS]. finally i could point a finger at the monster.

I was diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 (Mild) with a note that I also satisfied the criteria previously associated with Asperger's Syndrome when I was 64—in 2019. By the way, I've been completely retired since 2011.

As you indicated, it was wonderful to finally understand so much of my past. But I haven't found much practical use for the knowledge. I've tried to get my medical practitioners to adjust to it but, so far, very little success.

Besides the wonderful feeling of understanding it brought, offhand I can think of two positive things to come from getting the diagnosis:

1. I'm on Wrong Planet!

2. When my bride bumps up against one of my autism traits I get to say:

I have a doctor's note for that!

I am 75 years old and soon I will be 76. I figured out that I had Asperger's Syndrome around 5 years ago. It helps to explain a lot. One thing to try and understand is that you not only have problem areas but you also have uncommon strengths. You have some skills that others do not possess. So believe in yourself and you unique abilities.

Many years ago, I lived in Dallas, Texas for around 4 years growing up as a teenager. It was for me a very good place to grow up in.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

welcome, I suspected my autism diagnosis in my mid 60s and got it confirmed with "official diagnosis" at age 68, 4 years ago. Glad you found us! Diagnosis for me finally explained so much of my past and many of my struggles of present. It was a huge relief and I can report things have got better as I have begun to make self accommodations and do better self care "now I know". Glad you found us!

I was diagnosed in my late 20s, which feels early compared to being diagnosed in your 60s or even 70s.

Also diagnosed in my 60s. I've focused on "wow, that really explains nearly everything" but there are moments I have that sinking feeling of "geez, how different would life have been if I knew when I was growing up and could have gotten support?" Both are true. You'll find a lot of us here, so keep posting and replying. You've found your people.

Welcome to WP. I have suspected that I am on the ASD spectrum since 1997 but have not gotten a diagnosis. I've tried twice and both times it came back inconclusive: neither a yes nor a no. It's been rather frustrating because I can't imagine what else could be causing my issues, and nothing else was suggested by the evaluators. So for myself I still feel like I'm kind of in an unknown, though I believe I am on the spectrum.

I was diagnosed with ASD level 1 and ADHD last year at 56. I never had the slightest suspicion that these were the real underlying conditions beneath a lifetime of struggles. It was an enormous relief to be able to let go of the constant self-accusation of somehow lacking in the "moral stamina" that seemed so natural to everyone else. In my case, medication for ADHD has been tremendously beneficial, but as many before me have noted, it does tend to let the autistic traits become more noticeable.

Either way, the validation that comes from actually knowing what is really going on has been a huge positive for me. Life still has its ups and downs and support for us slightly more "mature" people is essentially nonexistent. But just knowing has helped me, at least.

Best of luck!

Harald, welcome to WP to you, also!

I was 55. A lot of things made sense to me also. Yes, there are times where I ask "Why me?" But like you, it made a lot of my problems growing up make sense. It's given me a sense of inner peace and has lifted a cloud from over my head.

I posted yesterday about being diagnosed with ASD recently …I’ll be 50 next month.

I started investigating Asperger syndrome back in 2008 so it’s taken me this long to figure out the system and decide to get a diagnosis.

Congratulations!

I am 49 and strongly feel I have autism. I am going to get tested in the very near future so I'll find out then. Im glad you have found a specific reason for any problems you may have. Welcome to WP!

Greetings from UK across the pond.

I am 64 years old and about to under go assessment for Asperger's and autism so I know ware you are coming from.

I have always found social events arcrud and sometimes say the wrong things (led to me ending a date just a few weeks ago with an older woman who had come running after me for my phone numbers just a few months before, she must have been desperate and is a fellow church member, so everyone knows about it!!) tend not to have many friends but so what?, at our age many of us in our situation are alone having mostly not married and everyone else gone.

I tend to keep friends for longer via the internet, my online friends are not autistic, a special friend who I met on a dating site(we have actually met and it went well) told me of a book 'Authentic, how to be yourself and why it matters' by Stephen Joseph, I commend that book, it is probably more important we can be ourselves for are general well being and happiness then anything else.