To think Asperger's syndrome is underdiagnosed in girls and women

[SomeoneDrankMySodaWater]

and that HCP are less likely to refer a woman for a diagnosis than they are a man?

I know that's not exactly newsworthy and I'm not posting anything revolutionary here but I have been wondering if it's really more common in boys at all and whether it's actually closer to a 50/50 split. Just that girls often get missed for diagnosis but their male counterparts don't.

I have suspected that I am on the spectrum for years but have never really been sure. Everything I've read about Asperger's sounded similar to me but there were things that just sounded "off" iyswim. It wasn't until about a year ago when I found out how women on the spectrum present differently to men that it all just clicked. The descriptions of women with Asperger's fit me perfectly.

I did bring it up with my GP and asked about getting an assesment but my concerns were shrugged off and I was told that it wouldn't be worth it anyway. He also told me that Aspergers is "rare in females" therefore he doubted very much I really have it.

On the other hand my brother who is also very likely on the spectrum asked for an assesment (same GP) and he didn't hesitate to refer him. Maybe I'm overthinking it but I can't help thinking that gender did play a part in this, especially considering what the GP said to me about it been rare in women.

Obviously Asperger's does present differently in females which is the first barrier but I can't help but think that maybe HCP would also be less likely to suspect it in females anyway and might think it's something else.

hmmm, yes, very chicken and egg isn't it!

However, I think we have to be careful about suggesting that poor diet can cause ASD.

Following

Sorry to keep butting in with my talk of DS, but it is interesting because his AS manifests itself much more in the female way i.e. no aggression or even disruption at school ever, very compliant and rule abiding, preferring to play alone, obsessive interests but very little compulsive learning of facts and figures. It would appear as though he is only very mildly affected, maybe a borderline case. However he was referred at the first time of asking aged 7 and diagnosed later that year, he wasn't borderline, he was way, way into Asperger's territory. If he was a girl I suspect I would never have got the referral, let alone the diagnosis.

I am following this thread with interest. I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago and the consultant is sure i have Aspergers too. I am hoping to get a diagnosis of AS. I also have Dyspraxia and my Wilf has all three too!

There are quite a lot of theories around the causes of autism, manic.

The only one I follow is that autistic people are born

I agree with some of the theories surrounding the way food affects us though, as I'm pretty intolerant to lots of things too.

I don't identify as autistic, I don't score highly on AQ tests - just got funny insides.

This is really interesting reading - my sister was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in her 40's, and only because her son was diagnosed as on the autistic spectrum and she was trying to find out why. Apparently she is a classic case, was diagnosed pretty much as as soon as she walked in. In hindsight, it seems obvious.

Interestingly, I suspect that I have a milder case of Asperger's too, and I suffered from anorexia and depression in my teens. I've never been diagnosed though and can cope with it, but I'm very aware that my social graces have been learnt over the years, and I often make mistakes.

I think with the anorexia comments it was more that it is possibly more prevalent in people with Asperger's than in the general population. I can see how that would be the case as aspie hyperfocus and obsessiveness could make it easier for a 'normal' I need to lose a few pounds diet to turn in to something more sinister.

I'm autistic, self diagnosed at 53 just this year after the CAMHS diagnosis of AS of my teenage daughter and son. Nobody knew anything about it in the 60s and 70s. Now I know about it I can see that my parents were too - rigid and obsessive attachment to religion, no social circle whatsoever, very uncomfortable with affection.. I eventually realised that if I wanted to be like everyone else I'd better act like them, so came to the social mimicry thing quite late. I self medicated with alcohol and cannabis. I passed as normal well enough, if a bit eccentric, married a bit late and have 3 kids. I wouldn't ask for an NHS diagnosis. Nobody has yet said to me You can't possibly have that!! I just tell people, if I need to. And it's wonderful to know that I don't have to force myself into social situations that I would have to drink way too much to cope with, and then deal with the cringing shame and embarrassment afterwards. Now I just say I'm not good in big gatherings.. But a lady above said that getting on with people is hard and I agree - people are nice, and cordial, but then somehow go off the boil and are cooler towards me although I do try to be cordial.

But the question is it harder to diagnose in girls - now I know a lot of teenagers, I'd say once you know whwt to look for there's a lot of it about, I'd say still more prevalent in boys but plenty of Aspergirls too.

YANBU. It was only once I read about the very different presentation of AS in females that I realised why I've spent my entire life feeling inadequate, and I understand more about why my AS problems led to depression and anxiety.

I am also starting to quietly suspect my DD might be on the spectrum too (possibly HFA rather than AS). When she was a toddler I 'knew' she didn't have any problems like that... because I was of course going on the stereotypical male presentation, IYSWIM. But I think she might be more like me than I want to admit :(

fuzzpig, it's debatable with the changes in diagnosis how much of a difference there is between HFA and AS - it's very hard to draw the line and some diagnostic criteria have done away with AS altogether now. My own (recent) diagnosis is officially high functioning ASD, but was also described as "Asperger's" by the psych.

Yes, I'm a bit confused about the distinction and how it's changed TBH. This was going on the difference in speech development and that sort of thing, but I can see how it's a grey area.

I'm chasing up doctors for help with her anxiety and will see what happens from there if she sees a psychologist. I need to chase up my own too but physical health has got in the way lately. I have been told I have OCD too, and I could easily believe both of us are dyspraxic as well. One diagnosis wouldn't really cover everything IYSWIM.

It is difficult - the DSM V which is the american standard has done away with the distinction probably because it was so fuzzy and probably hard when it came to diagnosing adults too. I think last time I checked the UK standard officially still has it, but my doc hedged his bets!

Aspergers does nt really exist, it's just a name for a collection of behaviours, or personality traits.

The danger is that once people diagnose themselves as having aspergers the cease to take responsibility for their behaviour.

AGnu Give her time. She's still young. Yes, she's hurting now but she's got many years to heal, accept herself as she is & move on. thank you for those words I can't tell you how comforting that is.

Northernparent68 what a load of crap! What do you base that little piece of wisdom on?

Sorry, yes, you're right, momentarily caught out!

The main changes in the DSM V are

The diagnostic triad of impairments has been reduced to two criteria: i) social communication difficulty, and ii) restricted, repetitive activities and interests.

Diagnostic sub-types (Asperger syndrome etc.) have been replaced by a single continuum with individual differences defined by severity scores and specifiers.

Northernparent68, to come on this this thread and tell a collection of people who either know or suspect that they or a family member have Asperger's, that it "doesn't really exist" is utterly offensive. There are changes in the American diagnostic criteria which mean it is now part of ASD but that does not mean that it doesn't exist.

As it's a 'syndrome' northern parent is technically correct, it's a term for a collection of symptoms (in this case, behaviours).

However, AS is as real as other syndromes like hyper mobility syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. Would you go on a thread of IBS sufferers and tell them there's no such thing as IBS and they just need to stop going to the toilet so much?

ok, i'll bite

Northern, most adults seek diagnosis so they can become more responsible for their behaviour, not less.

Once you find a reason, it's far easier to accept and understand why you feel as you do, and with time, learn how to minimise triggers and unwanted stimulous.

Push for your diagnosis - I did and was diagnosed last week. But was misdiagnosed for years before that.

Effing doctors, shrinks, etc - no one believed me. I knew it, so eventually went for private assessment. Diagnosed after 20 mins of 3 hour appt.

Felt for ages like I had a broken leg but no one would acknowledge it. Every symptom I described, someone would say that's not so strange I do/feel/ have that. Grrrr.

I read something brilliant, which said if you think you have ASD then you probably have. And good medical evidence says that most people can self- diagnose (90% accuracy).

Good luck, and go aspie girls!!

Evening folks. Just wanted to explain the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of Northerparent68's post.

Basically, 'twas reported to HQ, where we got a bit trigger happy and zapped it - it is unsupportive and therefore not in the spirit of MN. However, as many of you have since referenced that comment, and rebutted it vigorously, we have undeleted it - as none of your subsequent comments make sense without it.

Just thought an explanation was due - twas our fingers, not your eyes, that were having a silly moment .

As you were ...

Yes, a syndrome is a collection of symptoms - but to say it doesn't exist is offensive to most people with that syndrome IYSWIM. I somehow don't think Northern was aiming for technically correct