Thirteen years later...

[Justice4Jordan]

Hello, my son is 15 and was just diagnosed with Aspergers. Although I am happy to have a diagnosis....I am angry that it has taken 13 years to diagnose. I am looking for any and all information I can get my hands on.

 

[Tarragon]

Hello, welcome to AC

15 isn't too bad, there are people here who don't find out about it until much, much later. At least he will be aware of this before he starts going through major life events such as A-level choices, uni, Job interviews etc.

 

[Judge]

Hello, my son is 15 and was just diagnosed with Aspergers. Although I am happy to have a diagnosis....I am angry that it has taken 13 years to diagnose. I am looking for any and all information I can get my hands on.

Feel fortunate rather than angry that your son has the rest of his life to effectively and positively navigate his own autism. I only stumbled onto my own ASD last year...and I'm approaching 60.

I'm just grateful to have learned what my life was all about and realize I'm simply neurologically "different" from a vast majority. But in my case it's really too late to effectively improve my life in ways that your son has the opportunity to accomplish. For me at this stage of my life it's mostly attempting to avert "going off as cliff".

 

[Atay]

I have the same knee-jerk response. I just found out last year at 35, and I would've likely had a much happier and better guided youth if I would've known at 15. However, that's just my jealousy talking, so take it with a grain if salt.

We really need a better process for diagnosis. 13 years without anyone accurately diagnosing the problem is ridiculous. If you would've known sooner, there are lots of things that would have been easier for your son, and I'm sorry to hear it. I also have a son, so I can appreciate how much your want to support him, and that is a beautiful thing.

As I'm sure you know, there are lots if wonderful things about being an aspie once you know a little more about how to navigate it.

 

[Ereth]

Found out in my twenties. Apparently I was good enough at "staying under the radar," so to speak, that I remained without a diagnosis until halfway through college.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I'm sorry it took so long

You've come to a good forum to find out more about Aspergers.

 

[Vanilla]

Welcome

Like a few have already mentioned, many people on the spectrum can be diagnosed quite late in life. AS is rather complicated to diagnose, and it can present differently in different people, and unfortunately not all professionals are trained to recognise it properly.

Feel free to add to our discussions, and ask many questions. I recommend taking a look at our recommended resources section as well; Tony Attwood is a go place to start, as he is quite knowledgable, and specialises with young people on the spectrum: Resources | AspiesCentral.com

 

[Salmongirl17]

Sorry it took super long... Mine was both fast and early...

 

[Justice4Jordan]

Thanks for the support...I just want the best for him. There is so much being thrown at us all at once. I'm trying to fully understand all the aspects of his conditions. Is it common for a child to be diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD, & Bi-Polar?? And as far aa medications are concerned....is there a typical route that is taken or is it different for each individual?

 

[Judge]

Is it common for a child to be diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD, & Bi-Polar??

Perhaps it would be easier to just research "comorbidity" and ASD.

You'll find a number of conditions which can potentially be associated with ASD. In my own case it's chronic clinical depression and OCD. Things diagnosed long before I ever suspected I was mildly autistic.