To ask how older teens/adults present if they have Aspergers?

[therewillbetime]

Basically that really. I have an 18 year old son who I’m concerned about.

Thank you.

Aspergers is such a broad description it can be almost anything!
My youngest has Aspergers. At 18 he went off to University and just about managed! He had never travelled on a train on his own so that took some doing but he managed to feed himself, go to lectures. wash his clothes and usually look after himself. He still didn't know the names of the other students in his flat after a year with them though! He had no friends, never socialised, spent all his spare time on his own but was happy to do so. He found tutorials difficult but the work easy. Without me to remind him, he wasn't particularly hygenic and his room was a major disaster zone which took 2 hours to clean AFTER he had finished! He can however live independently, earn a living and manage his life!

Some people with Asperger's can seem to manage fine but struggle inwardly, some have more obvious external presentations. Some people go through their whole life just knowing they are "different"

Is he concerned about himself? Does he perceive himself as different? Does he need reasonable adjustments at school, college, Uni or at work to help him do what his peers do?
Does he have deficits in the Triad of Impairments and/or any sensory issues?

If so, then you can suggest he goes for a diagnosis, NHS waiting times vary, often up to 2 years isn't unusual.
He can go privately but often that also needs a GP referral so it's the same first steps and if he needs the dx for an EHCP or reasonable adjustments, it's more likely to be accepted if the team who would offer the dx were "accredited" by the NHS.

He needs to see his GP with a convincing set of details showing why he thinks he may be on the spectrum. The AQ online test could be an indicator, plus any reasons he has for wanting a dx. Also any reports done during childhood like OT, SLT, Ed Psych, Paed.

If he gets a referral, the second step is to be interviewed by a Gatekeeper who has to be satisfied that the person asking for the assessment is not in need of MH support.

It's a very popular question on here, have a look at this recent thread.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3428517--to-ask-how-you-go-about-getting-a-diagnosis-as-an-adult-with-Asperger?pg=1

Thank you for your posts and the link.

Blanktimes - yes he has started to perceive himself as different. He says he feels odd in social situations, even with good friends.

He has not been himself for a couple of months in particular, however, I have often wondered as he was growing up, whether he could be on the spectrum for a number of reasons (although appreciate that this is wide ranging).

He has been to the GP a couple of times lately as he seems really down and I noticed an Aspergers questionnaire that the doctor had obviously given him in his room. However he is really really closed about discussing anything specific with me and I have not yet said anything.

My feeling is actually that he is a bit down/depressed at the moment but he seems noticeably less able to cope with things such as organisation, punctuality, social situations etc. I am thinking there is something there although I know that Aspergers would not account for all of his 'symptoms' at the moment. It was just his comments specifically about feeling odd and his words were that he felt like an 'outcast'. On the surface he has a good group of friends and goes out with them fairly regularly.

Hi I'm an 18 year old with borderline aspergers.
I can easily make friends but struggle to keep them.
I obsess over things for years and nothing can be done to change my mind on how amazing this thing is.
I am amazing at "academic subjects" eg maths and English but rubbish at things like art and drama.
I constantly miss social cues and the only reason I can make good eye contact is because I read someone with my diagnosis would struggle with it so I made an extra effort to ensure I made enough - but I hate every second and often look away.
I was told because of my aspergers my anxiety and depression were expected because of the obsession of things.
I cannot stand many things touching me, for example if a foot touches me I can literally feel the sweat even if there isn't any, and I cannot stand the sound of people chewing drinking tapping whistling or singing (I manage this by walking away though because I've been taught I mustn't ever tell someone I'm struggling with the noise they're making).

It would have been easier to get a diagnosis when he was younger but someone I know got one when they were older - it did take a long time though. Go to your gp with you concerns and then you just have to wait I think.
Hope I've helped somewhat x

Thank you newfreshstarts for posting. I'm sorry to hear of the issues you have faced but it sounds as though you are doing really well.