Autism

[Zoono]

Currently waiting for an assessment at the age of 31 but out of curiosity for anyone who was diagnosed, as a teenager or adult when did you first realise you might be autistic?

A couple of years after my eldest was born. I read a post on Mumsnet about "intelligent and high achieving" women being diagnosed as adults as having autism. A lot of what was said made sense to me, even though at the time I would not have classed myself as either.

I was diagnosed as an adult. It was always a running ‘joke’ with my friends as a student so it’s been something I’d thought about for years before official diagnoses. I guess it was fairly obvious to those who knew me.

Assessment last December, first realised I had ASD in 2000 when I did national autistic society training to be a befriender, it was a lightbulb moment for me.

I'd never heard of Asperger's syndrome until I heard an item on the radio about twenty or so years ago. It was like a revelation to me that there was an explanation for my problems interacting with people and not being able to cope with social situations.
I'm now in my early 70s and attending a Clinical Psychologist.A few months ago she did tests with me and gave me an unofficial diagnosis that I'm Autistic. She's referred me to an online course for people diagnosed Autistic in later life.