I joined today.

Post Reply New Topic

I joined the forum today. At 75, I am probably one of the older members. I hesitate to get a formal diagnosis.

Hello.

Welcome to WP

Welcome. There are at least a couple of other members I can think of in their seventies.

Why the hesitation?

Hello and welcome

As has been mentioned, there are members here in their 70s. I'm not personally (gen x-er here), but there are some, and there are even more who are not younger 20-30somethings. We run the spectrum here as far as age is concerned.

I don't much blame you for not being eager to get a formal dx. I did, but that was years ago and not only was the validation important to me at the time, but so was knowing what was going on so I could learn coping skills that would be relevant. These days, I wouldn't bother with it. I could just as easily look online and find help to try to learn coping skills and such. Validation is irrelevant to me now. I know some seek a dx for help with accommodations for work or school, but those things are also irrelevant to me now as well. For me now, it would be a huge hassle and zero benefit. I guess it just depends on how the cost v/s benefits play out for you. I can understand both sides and why people choose what they do. But who knows, those may not be your reasons to not pursue one. I'm also a bit curious as to why you are hesitant. If you care to fill us in more, please do. If not, I very much respect that.

Anyway, hope you enjoy your time here. I'm not the most active poster, but in my experience, the people here are a decent lot and I hope you can come to feel the same. Welcome again.

welcome right behind you at age 71, diagnosed at age 68, lots to sort. Glad you are with us!

Welcome to Wrong Planet. Plenty of us here in our 60s. I agree a formal diagnosis is not useful if you feel you have always belonged here. I am also self-diagnosed and have been since 1978 at age 20.

OK, I'm a youngster...

I was diagnosed shortly before my 65^th birthday and now I am a mere 68.

Having made it that far without a diagnosis I was not looking for any practical benefits from a diagnosis. I was looking to better understand myself. I had long felt like I was "different" but I had no idea what it was, or even if it was just my imagination. Then when I was 64 some minor thing motivated me to read about Autism and it fit! My bride and I both thought I fit the descriptions of Autism. The AQ test then persuaded me that we might be right.

But my symptoms are mild. I didn't know if I was almost Autistic or barely Autistic, and I wanted to know. So I got a formal Adult Autism Assessment. Result: now I can say with confidence that I am on the Autism Spectrum without adding "I think".

If my symptoms had been stronger I might not have felt the need for a formal assessment.

And it is a good thing I wasn't looking for practical benefits! So far, there is only one: When my bride bumps up against one of my Autism traits I get to say "I have a doctor's note for that!"
 ^{That amuses me more than it amuses her!}

Welcome to WP!

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Welcome to Wrong Planet. It is never to late to learn.

Now that I am retired and no longer in the work force, I do not NEED the diagnosis, but it might have been useful when I was working. It certainly would have come in handy during my college day, if only to get me accommodation when taking exams. Communicating with my teachers and professors was always a problem. We seemed to be using different languages. I always felt that they were teaching from a secret lesson book whose contents were visible to the other students but not to me.

Then it is purely a matter of personal choice.

I think, however, you might find frequenting WP to be a good choice...no matter what your diagnosis status is.