Expert: Paul Johnson - 4/1/2008

Question
I am 17 years old, have researched autism on the net, and have dicovered that I have many of the related symptoms, most prominently, difficulty in dealing with social situations, however, I have learned over time what to do. Due to my research I have believed for some time that I may have Aspergers Syndrome or similar, however, I was tested for autism as a child and not diagnosed with it. Would it be worth being tested now?

Answer
Hey Levon,

Thank you for your important question. I smile as I read your question because as a diagnostician I recognize in your question all aspects of the diagnosis.

In order to answer the question we will have to examine the Autism Spectrum of Disorders and decipher the details between the Asperger's Syndrome and "full blown Autism".

You were born approximately in the year 1990. This is four years prior to the official classification of Asperger's Syndrome as a
psychological disorder. So when you were tested as a child you were likely tested for "Full blown Autism" . Young children are typically diagnosed with Autism while teenagers are typically diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. THis is so because the development delays in Autism are apparent fairly quickly while the higher functioning form of Autism called Asperger's Syndrome is first seen in Teenagers because teenagers begin to socialize in serious ways and those who have problems will begin to stand out.

This is where you come in. You are beginning to recognize your Asperger's symptoms and question if you are on the spectrum. Many signs of AS go undetected until adulthood. Most of the members of my adults with Asperger's group have been diagnosed as adults. I was not diagnosed until I was 46 and there is one member who was not diagnsoed until she was 61 years old. Could you imagine?

You can see AS takes a while to be diagnosed. You are at a age where your AS will now begin to stand out. So the answer is very much yes.
It would be worthwhile to be tested now and know where you stand.
Many people know before the clinicians that they belong to the community of Autism.