help needed for adult with suspected as please

[luckylady74]

hi all, i'm hoping to draw on your resources as i'm a bit stuck. my aunt's friend contacted me because she suspects her son is somewhere on the spectrum and has always displayed typical as behaviour from being a child. he is now in his twenties, depressed, dependent on his parents[in their 60s] and prone to angry outbursts. she feels both he and her need help, but has no idea where to get it and what form it might take.
imy first thought was is it actually asd - obsessive, no eye contact, lacks social skills and so on but i'm not a professional.

where would an adult go for a diagnosis? who would a gp refer him to and would going private help? what if he won't go - could any help still be accessed?i thought speaking to someone at the nas would be a good start. i have also heard of nas counselling through the nhs. would social services be able to help her? i've heard of adult support groups too - but i suppose a dx is the first step. any relevant books for her or him would be good as well.

any advice would be gratefully received and passed on - my experience of a 5 yrold with as hasn't really given me the tools to help.

GP but would he go?

NAS would prob be able to advise to start with though.Not sure how much the GP would respond at first (most adults don't benefit from being diagnosed apparantly)Though if its ASD rather than As there is more chance.

thanks mrs who - i just felt a bit helpless because i'm not sure if there is much help iyswim!

Its not really my area but I couldn't leave you abandoned!

Speak to NAS and GP and see what they say before you get stressed by it.

could the mum leave a book on AS/ASD hanging around? in the hope he will read it

Look on the NAS website, there is lots of info there. If you can bear it, also search MN archive as there are lots of threads about benefit of dx for adults, some being MNers themselves. If they are in London, also contact Autism London.

Simon Baron-Cohen at the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University runs a diagnosis service for adults. It is open to everyone in the UK but you do have to be referred by your GP. I know my Dh who is a GP has referred people there. HTH

thanks everyone - i've copied down the link saker and i will pass on the nas stuff -wish they had a computer!

Wired magazine published an article called The Geek Syndrome in 2001 which is not only quite fascinating but features a test (click on "Take the AQ test").

If you bring it to his attention, maybe he will read it and recognize the symptoms and even take the test himself? It should then be much easier to take him to GP for a proper diagnosis if necessary.

that looks really helpful - will pass it on.