Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Getting a Asperger's diagnosis, young adult, how?

26 replies

Fordian · 02/06/2023 08:57

Is this the right section?

I know others have asked so please redirect me if necessary!

DS2 is 22. I think he's on the Asperger's end of the autistic spectrum.
For the first time, yesterday, he told me he's wondering if his social interaction struggles are due to AS. He's at uni (tho home til Sept, now).

My questions are:

If he does have AS, will a diagnosis be useful to him, other than helping him understand why he struggles socially?

Is there any support for young adults with AS out there?

Your thoughts, please.

OP posts:
Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 09:01

As his parent, you know him very well, what do you think?

It would have to be a private assessment unless he’s happy to wait years

a diagnosis as an adult is often about explaining the why behind so much and learning strategies rather than a golden bullet

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 02/06/2023 09:07

It can really help if he's at university as he would get support from disability services and possibly disabled student allowance which can fund helpful software like mindmapping and also mentoring 1:1.

Some universities have funds for an Ed psych assessment but not many at the moment. It's worth asking though. He would go to student support in the first instance.

Original poster
Fordian · 02/06/2023 23:36

Thank you, that's worth exploring.

OP posts:
Littlefish · 02/06/2023 23:41

Aspergers is not now given as a diagnosis. The diagnosis would be autism.

A diagnosis can open doors to a greater degree of support, and a better understanding of self.

Foxesandsquirrels · 02/06/2023 23:42

There's no Asperger's diagnosis anymore

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/06/2023 23:50

It would help him understand himself and find his tribe- but tbh if he's already read in to it a lot and identifies with the diagnosis, having it formally comfirmed probably won't get him anything other than a feeling of validation - he could just start identifying with, reaching out to and reading about the autistic community now

Foxesandsquirrels · 02/06/2023 23:53

Also, as there is no longer an Asperger's diagnosis, it may not be that helpful if he's high on the spectrum. There's not that much support out there and an autism diagnosis can disqualify him from visas etc.

Jellycats4life · 02/06/2023 23:56

If he does have AS, will a diagnosis be useful to him, other than helping him understand why he struggles socially?

Even if the only thing he gets out of it is self-understanding, it would be worth it.

Bookendortwo · 03/06/2023 00:16

This was posted on another thread a few weeks ago. https://psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose-asd/ it may be of use to ds.
Could ds speak to the university, dc1 is doing a uni course and they are putting him in for a different assessment because they feel it will help. Dc has a diagnosis of asd and after showing uni the documentation it's been so much easier to get the support needed.

Right To Choose ASD – Psychiatry-UK

https://psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose-asd

Original poster
Fordian · 03/06/2023 00:19

I am actually aware that there is a move away from an 'Asperger's diagnosis'. But what in my understanding is what defined AS is what DS presents as.

I'm interested as to what 'visas' etc he could be disqualified from, with a diagnosis, though!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fordian · 03/06/2023 00:20

Bookendortwo · 03/06/2023 00:16

This was posted on another thread a few weeks ago. https://psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose-asd/ it may be of use to ds.
Could ds speak to the university, dc1 is doing a uni course and they are putting him in for a different assessment because they feel it will help. Dc has a diagnosis of asd and after showing uni the documentation it's been so much easier to get the support needed.

Thanks.

OP posts:
WhisperingAutistic · 03/06/2023 00:22

Fordian · 03/06/2023 00:19

I am actually aware that there is a move away from an 'Asperger's diagnosis'. But what in my understanding is what defined AS is what DS presents as.

I'm interested as to what 'visas' etc he could be disqualified from, with a diagnosis, though!

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/26/new-zealand-denies-entry-to-autistic-daughter-of-immigrant-couple

Foxesandsquirrels · 03/06/2023 06:17

Fordian · 03/06/2023 00:19

I am actually aware that there is a move away from an 'Asperger's diagnosis'. But what in my understanding is what defined AS is what DS presents as.

I'm interested as to what 'visas' etc he could be disqualified from, with a diagnosis, though!

Lots of countries unofficially. Canada, NZ and Australia are the most well known. Autism is seen as a severe disability and a burden on the free healthcare system. As there's no longer differentiation between autism and Asperger's, it's impossible to explain how high on the spectrum your child is to immigration authorities. It doesn't matter how your son presents, an Asperger's diagnosis is not possible to receive anymore.

RoobarbandCustud · 03/06/2023 06:36

Your son may need accommodations in a workplace which would be provided if he had a diagnosis. I wish him all the best, neurodiversity is one of humanities' assets. We need these minds!

AxolotlOnions · 03/06/2023 06:57

He needs to go to his GP and ask for a diagnosis. It can take a long time but it can be much shorter for adults, I was diagnosed 11 weeks after visiting my GP. He should also tell the university once he is on the waiting list as they should work on the assumption that he will get the diagnosis until they hear otherwise.

And as others have said, there is no 'end' of the spectrum, I assume you mean he has low support needs. Asperger was a Nazi eugenicist and I really hope there isn't a part of the autism spectrum for that!

SouthCountryGirl · 03/06/2023 07:03

There might be uni related support but as an adult, there's zero support out there. I've been told that I can't get support as an adult because "it can't be that bad if I've just been diagnosed" and I "should have adapted by now".

h3ll0o · 03/06/2023 07:09

I am medically diagnosed as autistic. If your child was my daughter I'd advise against Pershing a diagnosis.

A diagnosis would entitle your son to 1:1 mentoring via DSA but the quality of these sessions can be dire. The requirements to obtain one of these posts are low and most mentors are only paid slightly more than minimum wage for accepting a zero hours contract that comes with very little CPD.

My personal experience has highlighted that being open about being autistic comes with a lot of stigma and closes far more doors than it opens.

Instead of seeking a diagnosis, I'd support him to work on the challenges he faces, such as encouraging him to read self help books.

tackling · 03/06/2023 07:27

SouthCountryGirl · 03/06/2023 07:03

There might be uni related support but as an adult, there's zero support out there. I've been told that I can't get support as an adult because "it can't be that bad if I've just been diagnosed" and I "should have adapted by now".

I agree that there isn't really a support system ready to help, but there are a couple of things that a diagnosis can help you with - for example, I've used access to work in the past to help at work, and have been able to get workplace accommodations in place due to a formal disability diagnosis. This has revolutionised my life.

Plus just the self-understanding it gives you and the way you can advocate for yourself more - for example, in a busy doctor's surgery before now, instead of just getting shakier and shakier and sobbing by the time I see the doctor (which has happened in the past), I've been able to say to the receptionist "sorry, I'm autistic and it's too loud and busy in here, is there somewhere quiet I can stand instead?" and been moved somewhere quieter.

Gtsr443 · 03/06/2023 07:37

I have to echo what some pp have said.
He should only pursue it if he thinks the diagnosis will improve his life.
There is little support. Even for ASD people who are the other end of the spectrum to your son get very little help. Society seems to think ASD children grow up and magically disappear.

ArdeteiMasazxu · 03/06/2023 08:06

The Autistic Spectrum isn't a linear scale with "aspergers" at one end and "rain man" at the other end. It's more like a colour wheel where there's lots of different factors that will be more or less challenging for each individual, and the amount by which it's "obvious" to an observer that someone is having issues is not a good measure of how much they are struggling.

Many services for people with autism are open to people who don't have a formal diagnosis because it is recognised that getting a diagnosis can be difficult and is not always desirable. I found getting a diagnosis as an adult to be very helpful and it has enabled me to make reasonable adjustments at work to help me balance everything.

Foxesandsquirrels · 03/06/2023 10:15

RoobarbandCustud · 03/06/2023 06:36

Your son may need accommodations in a workplace which would be provided if he had a diagnosis. I wish him all the best, neurodiversity is one of humanities' assets. We need these minds!

Workplace accomodations are needs based, not diagnosis based. He can get those with or without a diagnosis.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 03/06/2023 10:19

I have autism (probably what would have previously been diagnosed as Asperger's) and a diagnosis changed my life.

I'm incredibly glad I pursued it even though I don't get any official support. It's given me the ability to understand my life and my place in the world and I've felt a lot more free and happy since.

tackling · 03/06/2023 11:09

@Foxesandsquirrels for nice kind employers who are happy to make accommodations anyway, sure, but for others, being diagnosed makes a world of difference for legally requiring accommodations.

A diagnosis can also help you with things like sick days if you're absent due to things related to your disability (although of course like anything it doesn't mean you can't be fired.)

I went from being performance managed to quite literally promoted three times and becoming an known expert in my field, because of the new accommodations and increased understanding both from myself and those around me.

Foxesandsquirrels · 03/06/2023 11:12

tackling · 03/06/2023 11:09

@Foxesandsquirrels for nice kind employers who are happy to make accommodations anyway, sure, but for others, being diagnosed makes a world of difference for legally requiring accommodations.

A diagnosis can also help you with things like sick days if you're absent due to things related to your disability (although of course like anything it doesn't mean you can't be fired.)

I went from being performance managed to quite literally promoted three times and becoming an known expert in my field, because of the new accommodations and increased understanding both from myself and those around me.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. This is the law though, it's not just up to a nice employer. There was a thread on it a couple of weeks ago. A horrible employer will make your life miserable, diagnosis or not.

ArdeteiMasazxu · 03/06/2023 14:14

Fordian · 03/06/2023 00:19

I am actually aware that there is a move away from an 'Asperger's diagnosis'. But what in my understanding is what defined AS is what DS presents as.

I'm interested as to what 'visas' etc he could be disqualified from, with a diagnosis, though!

I think you can't emigrate to New Zealand or something like that?