Is it possible?

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Is it actually possible to have had Aspergers for 22 years without anyone but you noticing? I mean, since i read about it a few weeks ago and brought it up to my therapist ive had ups and downs. My therapist often told me that if i really had it, they should have noticed it in school or kindergarden or whatever. I dont understand how they were supposed to see though, i came off looking very bright and curious i guess. I had some friends, tho not many. I could communicate, although i often did things that most people wouldnt do. Like i remember a performance we had in second grade or whatever, and someone sang the wrong lyrics. Infront of the whole school i screamed: "thats not the way it is" and we had to start singing all over again while all the parents and children were laughing. Its small stuff like that. I was also very interested in many things, like i had passing obsessions. But none of which very really unnormal i guess.

So is it really possible to have had it for 22 years and not having anyone except myself really react to the fact that i was different and that i most of the time had a hard time fitting in?

Yes, because Asperger Syndrome has only really been recognised in the last decade or so, a few people I know got diagnosed in the 1960s or thereabouts by very good specialists, but mostly, it is still only just emerging in its own right.

Lots of us were just seen as a bit odd or had other labels attached to us.

Thanks, i just doubt myself sometimes. Im fairly certain i do have it, but im scared that maybe most of the really telltale signs are gone, making it really hard to notice. Im scared of going to my assesment incase i get misunderstood or something.

Makes me feel better there are others who have been in my situation as well.

Well, you may be misunderstood or you may not, you won't know until you go.

If there is any way you can afford a private consultation with an autism expert that would be best.

Thanks, ill be going to someone who knows what they are doing for sure. I guess i just wish that they would hurry up already, i just want answers.

Yes, the waiting is hard and even when you get a diagnosis, there is a period of adjustment, so take care.

Yeah i wonder if ill get used to it if it turns out i have it. What if they figure out im completely weird? That i should be locked up somewhere... I just... Im terrified to be honest

I read that 50% of children are still missed today (I have no idea how they got that statistic, but it was there). I made it 25 years. There's many people around here who found out well into adulthood (middle-aged and over).

Generally, adults are usually picked up for the simple reason that secondary anxiety and mood disorders show up when the individual hits a wall due to trying to fit in, trying to do all of the "normal" things that are hard for people with ASDs.

I was diagnosed at 32, despite a lifetime of 'odd' behaviour, social dysfunction and many other signs. My theory is that unless you come across someone who is looking for AS, or open to its possibility, no one will ever consider it.

No, most teachers don't have any information on AS so there was no way probably anyone could have known. My Mom is a kindergarden teacher and until I told her about AS she thought all autistic people are non-verbal and mentally challenged.

I'm eighteen and I'm just realizing I might have AS, and I only stopped having echolalic speech and talked on my own when I was four. If people don't know what to look for they just automatically assume it as a quirk. That's how my parents explained most of what I did until I was nine and I became self-aware.

NO, THEY NOTICED! What you describe sounds like AS!! !! ! That doesn't mean they are going to say "YOU HAVE AS"! They may say "That was impolite", think you are rude, think you are bright, precocious, etc...

With me, they DID send me to the psychiatrist in first grade. AS wasn't an available diagnosis, and they didn't know what to make of me. Interestingly, NOBODY brought it up since, though they DID say That was impolite", thought I was rude, considered me bright, precocious, etc...

BTW I am male, and they are more likely to do this with males for many reasons.

I was noticed in kindergarden and in school...but the label they put on me wasn't asperger's...it was "weird", "crazy", or whatever came to mind at the moment I guess. Alot was also blamed on the fact that I was an "only child", so I was "spoiled" and "lacked discipline".

Really I think most people have only started being educated about asperger's...and then even now ask 10 people off the street "what is asperger's?" and I bet over half of them don't know or have alot of misconceptions about it based on ignorance or second-hand knowledge.

10 years ago I think it was worse...20 years ago depending on your location I bet you'd be lucky to find anyone that had even heard of it.

She's probably basing this on the fact that there were no obvious learning disabilities or developmental delays when you were in school, thinking this is what they would have noticed. Some of us have learning disabilities or delays...some of us simply don't or they weren't something that was picked up on...it's not a neat little package, the ingredients vary depending on the individual.

I was late talking...but back in the late 60's not many mother's ran off to see why their child didn't talk at such and such a time like now...the view was "she'll/he'll talk when they want to"...and I did.

You are TWENTY TWO!! !! ! Unless you are like NON COMPOS MENTIS, they won't lock you up or even insist that you stay for observation. You seem fine to me, so I doubt they will figure you are "completely weird", etc.... You have no reason to be scared.

Thanks guys/girls. Youve calmed my mind a whole lot. Its nice to hear about similar situations. I just get so mad at my therapist for thinking i would have to be mentally ret*d to get a diagnosis. Ive never been ret*d, just... Weird i guess

I think what shes really trying to say is that since aspergers is on the autism spectrum, i should atleast have been viewed as someone with autism. Does that make sense?

samantca, I'm 48 years old. Self DX Feb. 2007. Officially diagnosed the 10th of this month as "on the spectrum, but too high functioning for Aspergers". So maybe PDD-NOS or Quien Sabe? You could very well be on the spectrum un DX. Let us know if you get a diagnosis. Some see no need for it, I feel better knowing I did not call it wrong. That's up to you. Welcome!

Thanks Velodog, ill of course notify everyone when i get a diagnosis. Id definetly feel better knowing if im on the spectrum or not. I dont really function as i should in every day life, and if there is a reason like me being on the spectrum thats causing this, id really like to know