Expert: Paul Johnson - 7/29/2009

Question
My son's therapist (he is bi-polar) told me today that my husband looks to be high functioning autistic.  If I apply what I know about children with Asbergers, the diagnosis is right on.  It answers so much about the non existance of an imtimate relationship between my husband and I or one between him and his boys.  What are the best sites or the newest books that deal with adult autism?  everything I see deals with children.  My husband is almost 50 years old and has led the most isolated life...happily I think.  He is a good man...he just doesn't seem to get...life as it really is.  This has been the most difficult 17 years of marriage and finally understanding him would be a blessing to all four of us.  Whatever you can provide to me would be a great blessing.
Thank you.

Answer
Hey Donna,

Thank you for the important question. It illustrates the plight of the adult with ASD. You use the term High Functioning Autism (HFA), I tend to use the term Asperger's Syndrome. They are interchangeable. I find it interesting that most Aspies/HFA in the world don't know they have it.
I was diagnosed when I was 46 years old and I am now 50.

Knowledge is power so knowing this it is likely that his life can and will only get better. There are many informative sites for people on the spectrum. I will start with autismhangout because I am friends with the owner. I blog for the site under the name Morpheus. I take an adult perspective with ASD. I also reccomend wrong planet. This site is by adult Aspies for Aspies. An excellent site to get basic information when you are trying to get good information is OASIS.

I like the Essential Difference by Baron Cohen. The book takes a profoundly male slant but I honestly think he is onto something. This was my first book and it really inspired me to seek more information. And yes it fits me well. Any of Nick Dubin's books are good, he too is a friend of mind. I like the latest book by Tony Atwood as he is an excellent source for Autism.

Let me know if you need more information.