Expert: Paul Johnson - 7/2/2008

Question
hi my name is Christina im 17, and I have a few questions becasue I am concerned that I might have ASD. I think i have many of the symptoms and i am not sure if I should go to a doctor or not because ASD is (I heard) to diagnose. So here it goes,

-When I was little I did not talk or babble, and when i did it was not easy to understand. I had to take speech therapy until 5th grade. I didn't like to meet new people, also i didn't have many friends. I also was fixated on certain things. I was known for being "bad" and having tantrums"

- I still do not like to meet new people, I actually get very anxious when I do. I try to avoid meeting to people or going to social things as much as possible. Even using the phone, like calling and asking information on something, makes me anxious or nervous.


So I was wondering should I go to a doctor, and does this sound like ASD? Thanks-Christina

-When I do things they have to be a certain way or they must be done over again. Like a example is when I have dvds set up a certain way. If they are moved or not put back I freak out.

-I am still known for my tantrums and outbursts if something isn't right.

-People don't always understand what I am saying, or I dont understand them.


So I was wondering are any of those things like ASD? Should I got to a doctor and ask about it? Thanks-Christina

Answer
Hey Christina,

Thank you for your important question.

You are at an age where many, if not most diagnosis of ASD's are being diagnosed. You are correct, the diagnosis is difficult to make for many reasons I will not get into. Simply put when a diagnosis is being considered, we look for three things; repetitive behavior, language problems and social deficits. You mentioned struggling with all three. Asperger's Syndrome is often daignosed in adolescence because it is at this point where an individual struggles with expanding their social skills and quickly fall behind peers in keeping up with the expectations of the peers.

I do not know where you live but I would begin to investigate the clinicians in your area and how much to they practice with individuals with Autism. I would recommnend a pediatrician that works with Autism. A basic doctor may not have sufficient background with ASD's to make an accurate diagnosis, although I could be wrong about that.

For whatever it is worth, I recognize myself in you and the individuals in my Adults with Asperger's group.

Good luck to you.