Should I get an Eval?

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Here's my situation: I am a 65 y.o. male who has known since my earliest days that I was different than other people. I knew there was something "wrong" with me but I could never figure out just what it was. Now I'm convinced that I have always been somewhere on the autism Spectrum. I have only taken the Baron-Cohen test and scored 44/50.

I have two people in my family who are mental health professionals, a Clinical Social Worker and a Psychologist. They both know me very well and both of them have said that they are certain that I am Autistic, probably Asperger's. It is, of course, unethical for either of them to assess me so I am wondering if, at this late stage of life, it is worthwhile to get the assessment of an independent Clinical Psychologist. It will be very expensive though I will be able to save enough to do it this year.

I am wondering if any others have been in this situation. I won't get anything from this as I am well out of school and am retired from work. Is it worth it to be evaluated at my age?

Thanks for any responses.

If you want an assessment and its likely diagnosis (or lack thereof), and you can afford it (over some time), I say do it!

After all, confirming personal awareness is one of my favorite reasons for seeking a diagnosis.

^This. I don't think age is all that relevant when deciding whether or not to pursue a diagnosis. As long as you find someone who knows how to assess adults as opposed to children, you should be fine. For all you know, you could live to be a hundred, and have close to forty years knowing about your diagnosis, which is definitely worth something. If it's important to you, I see no reason why age should stop you. There are other WP members who have been diagnosed at an equally late stage in life. Zykydz is 55 according to his profile, and was just diagnosed last month.

Thank You, AspieUtah and StarTrekker, for your replies. I am going to go forward with this. I need to find the right clinician, though.

Indeed. In your search for an able diagnostician, ask specifically about the diagnostician's experience in diagnosing adults as well as which diagnostic test(s) he or she uses. Too many diagnosticians without experience in diagnosing adults know very little about how certain characteristics change over a lifetime.

Good luck, and feel free to continue asking how to best accomplish your assessment and diagnosis.

I think it is not worth the money for evaluation if you don't need diagnosis for supports in school, work, or disability income.

Could be helpful for grandchildren if these issues come up. Do it .

If supports are not available it could be worthwhile if you are the type of person who needs professional validation from an unbiased source. Personally even if my diagnosis provided no other benefit, the fact that I will know who I really am when I die makes the diagnosis worth it to me.