Getting diagnosed at 16?

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I'm sorry if this in the wrong section or sub-forum. I just thought this seems where it should be put, since it's a pretty general question/discussion relating to Asperger's Syndrome.

My parents had a pretty sheltered life/did not know much about anything having to do with autism. It wasn't until a year ago when my mom's close friend (someone we lived with for awhile) realized that I could have AS. She has known me since I was an infant, but she as well had never heard of AS or the Autism Spectrum until recently, as she had to put her children in a school for their severe dyslexia. There were apparently a few students there with AS so she researched that and realized it describes me almost perfectly. She showed my mom and she agreed.

I wish I would have known this earlier because I feel like it could have made things a lot easier for me growing up.
So now I am too be diagnosed in the future.
My question is how does that happen? How do they diagnose exactly? It worries me not knowing what is going to happen. So if anyone could help me out here, it would be appreciated. Once again, I am 16 years old, female.

Mainly they just ask you a bunch of questions and talk to you. Thats about it.

What about parents?

It's different for everyone. My mom took it rather well, but she was like: "Oh! Makayla has a fatal condition and needs treatment 24/7!"

My dad on the other hand, he said: "She doesn't have autism, she just has a bad attitude."



The rest of my family just embraced it. It's actually quite nice to feel loved by my family, since I know plenty of people on here have had the opposite affect.

If you ever need to rant, feel free to PM me. I'm a good reader/listener.

Well, when I was diagnosed (also at 16) the therapist just asked my parents questions about my childhood behavior. I later found out that they detected a marked difference between me and the other kids since a very young age, but never told me about it. They even suspected autism since age seven, and had me professionally evaluated then, but only to reach inconclusive results.

I wish I could offer support/insight but I haven't gone for official diagnosis yet. Have you thought about making a list of the reasons you suspect you have AS and bringing them to the appointment? I plan on doing this when I go. I tend to freeze up while talking to doctors and might not remember everything I want to say.

When my therapist first brought up the possibility of Asperger's, my parents didn't believe her. They, like many people, had misconceptions of what AS looks like (especially in females) and didn't believe that could be me. Then they did their research. We all did. Up until this point, none of us suspected autism. As a child I was always told that my awkwardness was in my head and that I was just a very shy introvert with slightly obscure interests (for a young teen anyways. I was the kid who brought psychology books and science textbooks to school to read for fun). They accept it now, though. We were talking the other day, and my dad told me about how he didn't believe my therapist until he started to consider all the little things - traits and quirks that couldn't be attributed to anything else. Whether or not I actually do have AS is still my biggest question. Even after reading about it and doing a lot of soul-searching (and taking a lot of online tests!), I still refuse to believe one way or the other before getting a second opinion. I guess I don't want to get used to believing something until I have as much reason to as possible. I literally need a straightforward, yes or no answer.

I hope this helps.

They just ask you and your parents questions, nothing difficult or upsetting. I was diagnosed at 15, so I know how you feel. I think it would have been a lot easier for me to accept had I known when I was younger. When I was growing up I knew I was different, but I didn't know why.

Expect to be nervous--but it's just nervousness; it's not like you're going to have surgery or something, right?

You're better off at sixteen than I was at twenty. But my life improved after diagnosis, having an actual name for why I was different--I'd guess yours will improve, too.

Well, I had my assessment yesterday (as said in signature), and they first took my developmental history; for this, the assessor asked my mother lots of questions about my life and personality, as well as asking me. They also usually do an ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale/Schedule); usually at your second appointment, although I was lucky because someone cancelled an appointment, so took it the same day as my first assessment. My ADOS was administered by a Psychologist with a Psychiatrist present, without my parents; I think they did this to see how I react in an unfamiliar setting, with unfamiliar people.

I was 23 when I was diagnosed. Answered some questions about my childhood, took some tests (remembering numbers, making up stories based on images, I think I did some math and some other stuff I don't remember). They also asked me about my relationship and asked my mother some questions. It didn't really mean much to me to be diagnosed then, I didn't think it would change anything, but I'm glad I know now.

I was diagnosed last week. They asked me questions for 3 hours. I took some notes about my symptoms. By the end of the appoinment, I was thinking they were not going to diagnose me because I answered 'I don't know' to so many questions, but they said they were sure that I had it, and I was diagnosed by the leading Asperger's expert in my country so I suppose he just knows what to look for. Just answer honestly and if you have it then they will pick up on it.

This is how I feel right now. I'm going in to junior year and I really wonder what difference it will make if I get diagnosed now. I wish that I had received treatment my entire life to mitigate some of the issues of Asperger Syndrome.