Do those who are diagnosed as children, do better...

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I went through most of my schooling in the 80s, it wasn't too bad. Corporal punishment was mostly gone and kids with learning disabilities were helped. Bullying wasn't tolerated, but inevitably happened.

I wonder how I would have turned out with an intervention? I did Ok enough academically in school, could have done a lot better, but then it could have been worse. Asside from organisational problems and atrocious handwriting, in the classroom wasn't a problem (a few severe bullying incidents Asside). It was outside the classroom I had the most difficulties.

Jason

I wold have to disagree with this statement. I was diagnosed when I was 10, but I've been treated like an NT all my life, so I was pushed by my teachers, therepists, and family to master the basic life skills that I lacked to beyond my potential, no matter how uncomfortable I was about it. By the time I as diagnosed, I behaved and appeared as an NT child. I feel like if I was diagnosed earlier in life, then I wouldn't be where I am now and I'd probbly be 'babied' too.

I'm 46 so couldn't have been diagnosed as a child.
I feel that very early diagnosis (another posted said about a child diagnosed at 2 who was later found to be NT) is just silly as children that age are still learning social skills and imagination. Some quicker in one field than another.
Also, I know teenagers who were diagnosed at school (5-8years ago) and I'm positive that a few of them are NOT aspies. Who diagnoses at schools( in the UK)? Psychiatrist?
School nurse??
I think that a (real) Aspie child diagnosed fairly (but not very) young would do better if they are given guidance and help(including study-wise) that was never available to me. HOWEVER... I certainly wouldn't want to have been put into a "special" class or school to be babied!! !

I don't know. The school might have viewed and treated me differently had I been diagnosed as defective non-communicative autistic child incapable of learning instead of weird gifted kid in need of special education plan due to communication problems.

I have this feeling, too. The fact that a lot was expected from me because of my high level of intelligence and assumed normalcy is what pushed me to my limits and beyond. I don't have a lot of self-motivation outside of my special interest, so without others' high expectations of me growing up, I probably wouldn't have done as well in school.

In direct response to the OP, I think it depends, because if someone made it to adulthood without being diagnosed, specifically those who were still kids in the 1990s, it's likely that they were already higher-functioning without the assistance.

Last edited by fragileclover on 13 Apr 2012, 4:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.

There is either an error in this comment or an error in the argument.
Either "particularly" should read "specifically", or you are suggesting that people who were not kids in the 1990s were not diagnosed because they were already high functioning.
No, the primary reason they were not diagnosed was because THE DIAGNOSIS DID NOT EXIST

I wish Asperger's Syndrome was more common when I was a child, especially for girls. If it were back then, maybe I would of been diagnosed with it when I was a child and I didn't have to go through the trouble I am now to get diagnosed. I think my life would have been a bit easier as I'd know what it is and could take certain strategies to help me as a child.

Yes, I should have said 'specifically.'

I amended my original post.

That was largely my experience, the social aspect (plus the terrible way they teach science courses, and the goofy ways they want you to write a phoney paper in English and history classes)

To me, other kids just weren't interested in serious, substantial issues. Even in talking football, they aren't interested in talking it in a serious, substantial way.

If I were growing up now, the Internet would give me some outlet for serious conversation. They maybe local politics for live interaction, local because you then get some interplay going between theory and practice.

And then maybe develop low-key leadership skills for fun neighborhood activities (so much easier than the vague skills of followship!).

Well, Tony Attwood believes being diagnosed in early childhood increases the chance of leading a more "successful" life. So long as the diagnosis is accepted by the parents and other people of importance to the child. The problem with late diagnosis - as I'm going through - is the chance other things like depression and anxiety, caused by not being able to cope and understand the NT world, can take hold. Not only do those secondary disorders make it much harder to cope, but they can also "hide" the Asperger's symptoms making it harder to get diagnosed. Until recently any time I mentioned Asperger's to a GP or shrink, it was swept under the carpet and I was told my problem was long-term depression and was probably caused by some repressed childhood traumatic event. They're now starting to take notice. But where has the past 15-20 years of my life gone? I can't remember "living" it. Was too busy fighting to be "normal" when I should've been fighting to stay the real me.

Thankyou.
I think I'm a BIT techy on that issue.
I didn't mean to jump on you. Sorry

I was diagnosed at age 6. It was only then as I entered first grade.
I agree that those who are diagnosed early can benefit greatly.

The special ed class taught me more than just reading, speaking and writing. They taught me how to learn and teach.

When my children were little I used the teaching with them. They were always the top in their class.

Most children would benefit from special ed type learning though out grade school.

Last edited by AnOldHFA on 13 Apr 2012, 9:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yes, being perceived as "gifted" because of my advanced reading skills/vocabulary & interest in earth sciences as a very small child ACTUALLY hurt me more than helped. The teachers did not understand how difficult some things were for me..
I had problems with bullies inside & outside of school. So it was not just school that was harsh. Homelife was WORSE at times, if that was possible. I know NOW that my parents were desperately trying to avoid having me institutionalized (they were for themselves, anyway. family honor and other such garbage..) back then. But some things skate VERY, VERY close to abusive. Aside from school difficulties, most of this was because I stimmed very heavily at home. That at least I did not do in the classroom. I just had my mind wander off there, into my inner world(s).
I believe that more understanding/guidance, even if some see it as a bit patronizing, would not be a bad thing at all.
Frankly, I do not really take pride in my differences, many of which hurt me. I will no longer put the blame wholely on the NT population, a favorite thought pattern when I was a teenager.

Sincerely,
Matthew

I tend to think that's because half the battle is fought inside our own minds. External help can only take us so far.

Certainly, being diagnosed early enables one to receive more external help. Internally, though, I think it depends on the individual, how we respond to it.

I was 10 years old when DSM-IV came out in 1994, so it did exist when I was a child, I was just never test for it. I was tested for ADHD and that was negative.

I agree, I can't possibly see how a child aged 2 can be diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, the vast majority of children would be socially immature - my opinion is that this child probably never had it to begin with.