?

Post Reply New Topic

I think I have AS. Everything fits. I learned about it in science this year and realized it sounded just like me. The thing I don't understand and am hoping someone can answer is if I did have this is it uncommon to be diagnosed with it so late (I am 14 going on 15 in a week)? I have also moved a lot. Basically a new school every year until 5th grade. So teacher's might not have noticed it. But my mom is also a nurse. So I would have thought she might have realized.

Stimming. What exactly does that mean?

Then one last thing I am wondering. Is it worth being diagnosed? It seems like the only benifit is for people like teachers to understand you better. But I have already made it to high school with out being diagnosed. So I dont know if it would change. If I was diagnosed though it might be nice. I basically failed the speaking portion of my french exam. Not because I did not know the answers because I did. Instead it was because of things like I did not make eye contact, could not sit still and kept tapping my finger, and I did not use the correct tone when I was suppose to be asking a question or was suppose to answer excited. To summerize this question is basically the pros and cons of being diagnosed. Does it cause more trouble (especially later in life like college and working) then it solves?

Stimming, literally 'self-stimulation' is a rocking or otherwise repetitive motion of some type that relaxes the person doing it. It is par for the course in classic autism and many Aspies get it to some degree.

It is definitely worth getting diagnosed, if not for the peace of mind of knowing you ruled out any personality disorders or some other childhood trauma. It may also unlock some doors for you with regards to government assistance.

I have never been diagnosed with AS, though I'm sure I am an aspie, but I feel that being diagnosed would give me some peace of mind. Reading horror stories about trying to find somebody who knows what they're talking about has turned me off to the idea though. Not to mention that it would be harder to diagnose at my age anyways. Have you talked to your parents about it? Do you feel you may need some sort of government assistance in the future? In certain cases being diagnosed can help, but in others it may not make a big difference.

I'm 52 and just diagnosed. 14 or 15 is still very young. Perhaps it would have been better to know sooner, but you've got many years ahead of you to sort it out.

It won't necessarily help at school. There aren't always systems in place at different schools for this kind of thing. Individual teachers don't necessarily know what being aspergers means, let alone know what to do to help. Obviously some schools will be better than others with this information.

If you want a diagnosis, I think you should do it to help understand yourself a little better -- and there's a lot of value in that kind of self-knowledge. Don't do it because you think things might get better at school -- that's a big if.

Getting diagnosed is a good idea b/c you could benefit from assistance in school if you have a diagnosis.

As already said "Stimming, literally 'self-stimulation' is a rocking or otherwise repetitive motion of some type that relaxes the person doing it." my understanding of it that it can include things such as rubbing hands together, tapping on tables, bobbing knees, not just the more typical repetitive motions like rocking.

I think it's worth being diagnosed, thus why I'm in the process.

You can tell people like teachers that you suspect you have asperger's without having the diagnosis - a diagnosis also isn't going to be enough for them to understand you - but having a diagnosis means you're protected. For example I'm unemployed, the job centre give me a hard time and keep trying to force me off benefits because due to asperger's I struggle using a phone which effects my ability to find work. I can tell the job centre I have asperger's but they still don't understand what this means or how it effects me (not even the disability adviser there seems to understand) and they can still throw me off benefits as right now they only have my word that I have asperger's to go on. Having a diagnosis means the job centre can't throw me off benefits, and future employers can't fire me for my disability, there is a responsibility on their part to make reasonable adjustments and not show prejudice.

If you have particular problems being able to say why, what to do to improve things, what you are capable of doing, etc helps, diagnosis may also mean opening up support available to you such as behavioural therapy to help make it easier for you to socialise or do certain activities you find challenging, support in school if you have learning difficulties, etc. Your mention of your French exam is a good example. I didn't do my French examination at all, the school made me do an assessment but as no one knew what was 'wrong' this was pointless, they still let me go without that part of my exam (despite also not being able to do another French exam I still got a C - go me!) - not all schools would go for that, it's a reasonable adjustment you would be entitled to and diagnosis makes sure you get that if you need it.

I'm 27 and have gone this long without diagnosis.
As a child I did not speak, I had meltdowns all the time where I would cry uncontrollably, I was unable to do certain things as a child/teen/young adult that others could do, I struggle with socialising, I was always bottom of the social ladder, people always disliked me without ever knowing me, I was bullied, people took advantage of me, I was treated like I was simple, etc. - all this adds to self-esteem issues, makes me feel pathetic, question what it is about me that people dislike, why can't I be 'normal' like everyone else. Having a diagnosis explains why I am the way I am, it can put things into perspective, help me deal with the self-esteem issues because I will then know this wasn't my fault and it's nothing I've been doing wrong.

After all these years of knowing that there was something 'wrong' it wasn't something I could have helped, knowing for sure what was 'wrong' would be a great relief, it would also open-up a community for me where I can mix with others like me to better understand why I am the way I am and accept that.

As a con people knowing you have a 'disability' can go against you, people are prejudice so may look down on you as a result, I also think there is a risk of it restricting your progress - I have no doubt in my case if I had known I had asperger's as a child I'd not have achieved all I have in my life, I worry now that I may unintentionally use the label of asperger's as an excuse - the thing is if you already know/suspect you have asperger's I think this may be the case whether you have a diagnosis or not.

Thanks. This has helped a lot so far. I agree with most of what has been said a lot.

Stimming. Yes. Deffintally do that.

No I have not talked to my parents yet. That is the next step. I just want to be sure that I understand this enough and make sure I want to know this before I tell. And I am trying to find the right time.

Not sure much about the government and the future. That still seems like a long way off.

Even if I do get diagnosed I am not sure if I would tell everyone. But it would be nice to at least have the option to tell a teacher. Which is hard to do unless you are actually diagnosed if you want them to take it seriously.

I like what has been said about doing just to have peace of mind. I have always felt I was different when socializing with my peers. My last special interest was mysteries (and dectectives, codes, all stuff like that). I used to anylize everything. Like how others could just jump right into a conversation and I still could never figure that stuff out. What I was doing that was so different. Now that I think I have AS its like wow! It's not my fault. It would deffintally be peace at mind.

I stim a fair bit, by tapping my right foot to the beat of the music. I also drum with my hands on various surfaces when my hands aren't busy. I like to keep my hands busy to keep that to a minimum. That's why I'm constantly on WP durring my waking minutes and hours, to keep my hands busy. That explains my high post count.