Did you tell family about your Aspergers/ASD?

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Hi all. I've just received my diagnosis of ASD (Asperger's), and I was wondering if any of you had concerns about telling your close family when you received yours (if you found out as an adult)? My mum has been very dismissive when I previously told her I was going through the assessment and she hasn't mentioned it again, but I'm more concerned about my brother and his kids who are preschool age, as he is already very protective of them and already has a lot of health anxiety related to them. I've heard there is a genetic link with ASD, but as I've only just found out I have it, I don't know enough about that part yet.

As I've made it to my 30s without a diagnosis, is there any benefit to telling them that they have someone in the family with it, or would I just create further (possibly unnecessary) worry for the future? If his kids did have it, would it be likely to be picked up on at school anyway if I didn't say anything? If I can't tell him then I can't tell my parents either, as there is no way they could keep it to themselves.

I didn't tell my parents for a year after diagnosis because my mum doesn't do labels (and my dad, who is probably also on the spectrum, doesn't take notice of anything outside his interests so wouldn't give a toss - and hasn't commented on my diagnosis since!). But as yours know you were going through the process I'd tell them, or your brother at least. There's a reasonable chance of you not being the only one in the family with it so better that he's aware.

Thanks for the reply! I had a think about it overnight and think you're right, I should really let them know and then what they do with that information isn't really my issue I guess?!

Exactly! It may be that it'll make your brother more aware and prove useful to his kids. Better they know if they have it too.

I did and they were astoundingly supportive, in that they didn't really care or make a fuss, they nodded and said that made sense, they assumed they were too a bit. Lots of talking about Sheldon Cooper and how similar I am to him which was a bit but hard to quarrel against given the unexpected positive reaction.

Take some time and mull it over, there's no big rush!

I'm still awaiting a diagnosis (12 month waiting list in my area). I tried talking telling my parents my suspicions ages ago, but my dad interrupted and acted as if we were having a debate instead of listening to me (my dp says I'm just like my dad and if I have got autism I'm pretty sure that I've inherited it from him) so I haven't mentioned that I've seen my gp and that I've had a referral.

If I do get the diagnosis that I'm hoping for then I'll tell my parents and my sister. I think that it'll help them to understand my behaviour and explain some situations where it's probably seemed that I've been rude or awkward, but it's been things like inability to cope with change, sensory overload etc.

What I'm really curious about is how my teenage dd will react because it's not something that I've ever mentioned to her.