Wylie Philip - Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

There is an increasing number of adults who have a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome in their mature years. This new book will help explain past experiences, provide self-understanding and give guidance as to the future. People who have recently achieved a diagnosis, family members and clinicians will find the descriptions and advice invaluable.

Tony Attwood, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Minds & Hearts Clinic, Australia, and author of The Complete Guide to Aspergers Syndrome

Philip Wylie has captured the true essence of living with Asperger syndrome. Many people spend the majority of their lives wondering why they are different and never fit in. Broken relationships, loss of jobs, and being preyed upon by those who see our vulnerability and lack of assertiveness are all part of the process. In turn, we develop low self-esteem and suffer many consequences. Getting diagnosed can help turn these negatives into positives. No matter how late in life you discover that you have Aspergers, there is still room for repair. Wylie points out that receiving a diagnosis can have either positive or negative effects, and what to be prepared for in either case. Self-acceptance is the key. You are then free to embark upon a new life. Within these pages is advice for what happens next after receiving your diagnosis. Wylie helps guide you through the process, to come out seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. That light will help guide you to a better life after learning you are on the autism spectrum!

Anita Lesko, Founder and Executive Director of the Flying High with Autism Foundation, editor of Been There. Done That. Try This! and author of Aspergers Syndrome: When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade

A timely accurate resource for discovering if you fit the bill for autism. How I wish this treasure of a resource had been available during my own journey! This important guide for adults cuts to the chase. It potentially opens all the right doors.

Wenn Lawson, Psychologist, Counsellor, Social Worker, author and autism advocate

VERY LATE DIAGNOSIS OF ASPERGER SYNDROME (AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER)

of related interest

The Complete Guide to Aspergers Syndrome

Tony Attwood

ISBN 978 1 84310 495 7 (hardback)

ISBN 978 1 84310 669 2 (paperback)

eISBN 978 1 84642 559 2

Coming Out Asperger

Diagnosis, Disclosure and Self-Confidence

Edited by Dinah Murray

ISBN 978 1 84310 240 3

eISBN 978 1 84642 450 2

Been There. Done That. Try This!

An Aspies Guide to Life on Earth

Edited by Tony Attwood, Craig R. Evans and Anita Lesko

ISBN 978 1 84905 964 0

eISBN 978 0 85700 871 8

Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety

A Guide to Successful Stress Management

Nick Dubin

Foreword by Valerie Gaus

ISBN 978 1 84310 895 5

eISBN 978 1 84642 922 4

The Autism Spectrum and Depression

Nick Dubin

Foreword by Tony Attwood

ISBN 978 1 84905 814 8

eISBN 978 0 85700 242 6

AutiPower!

Successful Living and Working with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Herman Jansen and Betty Rombout

ISBN 978 1 84905 437 9

eISBN 978 0 85700 869 5

VERY LATE DIAGNOSIS OF ASPERGER SYNDROME (AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER)

How Seeking a Diagnosis in Adulthood Can Change Your Life

PHILIP WYLIE

Forewords by Luke Beardon and Sara Heath

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia

The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) in the Appendix is reproduced from Baron-Cohen et al. 2001 with the kind permission of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge.

First published in 2014

by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

73 Collier Street

London N1 9BE, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.jkp.com

Copyright Philip Wylie 2014

Forewords copyright Luke Beardon, Sara Heath 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84905 433 1

eISBN 978 0 85700 778 0

To the well-being and independence of late-diagnosed autistic adults

DISCLAIMER

Asperger syndrome, which has been reclassified as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by the American Psychiatric Association in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5 ), is a highly diverse neurological condition that affects individuals in many different ways. The characteristics of ASD both gifts and impairments vary massively, so not all of the information in this guide will be applicable to everyone. This book applies to the late diagnosis of potentially hidden neurological conditions, including Asperger syndrome (ASD). The diagnosis, which follows self-identification, is potentially lethal without accompanying psychological, emotional and financial support; however, with adequate and appropriate support, a diagnosis can positively change your life.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Getting a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (AS) or autism can be a traumatic time for many people it can also be a joyful time, a time of relief, of sudden epiphany-esque understanding, the starting point of a bereavement process, or absolute mystification. It can even be a combination of all of these. However, what has been rarely investigated is what a diagnosis (or, as I prefer it, identification) of AS means to someone who has already lived most of their life, and has stumbled across their identity very late on in life.

An identification of AS can mean so many different things to so many people; indeed, it would seem sensible to suggest that the heterogeneity of the population is such that each person will react in his or her own, unique, manner. However, this does not detract from what Philip has set out to do in this book, which is to identify many of the common themes that are associated with a very late diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. While not all of these themes and not all of the content will be 100 per cent pertinent to every reader, there is an excellent chance that much of what has been written will be applicable to most especially those who themselves have had a very late diagnosis of AS.

Asperger syndrome is extraordinarily misunderstood. It is often very misunderstood by clinical professionals, and is often very misunderstood by the general public. This can cause immense distress to so many individuals who have AS, not least in their struggle to get a formal identification. Not all people who get a very late diagnosis will have gone through a struggle to actually get a confirmed diagnosis, but I suspect a lot will. This, in itself, is harmful for many people along with many of the diagnostic practices that can be patronizing, demeaning, medically based, and all about identifying weaknesses or impairments. The post-diagnostic support should be part of the diagnostic process itself. Anyone involved in the diagnostic pathway should be treating the individual with the respect they deserve, as opposed to as a patient who needs assessing. Ascertaining whether an individual has the fascinating cognitive style associated with AS should be a privilege and diagnosticians should take note of that fact. Sadly, this is not often the case, and individuals are made to feel somehow less of a human being. This has huge implications for how a diagnosis is subsequently dealt with by the individual. Indeed, for someone who has spent most of his or her life without a diagnosis, it could be argued that this identification process should be handled with even greater sensitivity than with anyone else. Again, sadly, this is not always the case.