Is it worth seeking screening for Aspergers as an adult?

Question

My sister suggested that I get checked for Aspergers Syndrome.  I have always had a hard time reading facial expression, relating to other people in real life situations, and telling people apart from one another (even people I know well).   A big change in hairstyle can make me have trouble identifying someone I have known casually for years.  As a child, I liked to be in small tight spaces (only alone, never with others) and used to bash my head on the wall or rock to relieve stress or boredom.  I did not look at people's faces until I was twelve.  Over the years, I have become more comfortable with being touched (sitting beside someone on a bus and not being able to escape any touch is no longer an extremely stressful event) and have gotten to the point where I can talk comfortably on the phone most days.  I am told that these things coupled with my high IQ might suggest Aspergers.  But, even if I do have it, what good will a diagnosis at this point (age 20) really do?  I was wondering if an adult diagnosis of Aspergers would really make much difference in my life at this point.

undir · Accepted Answer

If you get diagnosed then you can ask for reasonable accommodations at work/school if you need some. You will be legally protected against discrimination as a person with disabilities. If you are unable to work then you could apply for disability.

There is not a lot of treatment options out there for adults, but if you're lucky you might be able to get into some kind of therapy. There also exists medication for certain symptoms, so if you need them you'd be able to get them (far from all people with Asperger's syndrome need medication though).

So whether or not it's worth getting diagnosed depends entirely on your needs. If you are happy with things the way they are and don't need any kind of help, then getting a diagnosis will not change much at all, except that you will know whether you have it and might understand some things about yourself better.

wtptoo · Answer

Sure I say go ahead and get diagnosed. You never know when it might help having a diagnosis. I was older and working when I got diagnosed with it. Then I got laid off and couldn't keep new jobs because I kept screwing up at the new employers the way us Aspies tend to do (no matter how hard I tried). Plus I already had physical disabilites making it a challenge to work and can't do menial, physical labor like most Aspies get forced by Voc Rehab to do. So between the Aspergers, ADD and physical disabilities I was granted SSDI after I couldn't hold employment later in life. So I say get the diagnosis now because you never know if you might need it for SSDI or simply accomodations at work or school sometime in the future.

fodaddy19 · Answer

I guess you could get an official diagnosis for peace of mind. But I don't know if there's any practical reason for it. I'm kind of in the same boat. I had three separate Psychologists suggest that I likely have Aspergers, though I was never actually tested for it. I don't plan on getting screened for it though. For me, whether I have it or not, it's unimportant to me and wouldn't have any tangible benefit. Your case may be different. 

People seem to think that Aspergers is some debilitating disease. It's not. You're not going to die from it. And most people who do have it live normal lives. It also seems that many, many people self-diagnose themselves with it in an attempt to justify their quirky behavior (I'm not saying that the OP is) . For proof of this look no further than YouTube. Literally 95% of YouTube uses claim to has Aspergers. One has to wonder if Aspergers didn't have the connotation of Aspies being exceptionally intelligent, would so many people claim to have it?

Special T · Answer

it's worth the time  and if its something else you can get some therapies to help you cope with interacting with other people more comfortably or you may want to take a speech course while in school. from there i think you can evaluate your weak points and strength and work from there

froufrou · Answer

it will
it means you can now befgn tounderstand who you are and why you are
we all have to know that about ourselves,not just peopel with disabilites , and not just autistics
it is very benefitical to learn the truth about who you are, your strengths, and weaknesses

you dont have to have a doctors or offical diagnosis, if you dont feel you need to , you can just acept, by yourself, and with your family, that you have it, learn all you can about it,and about you,and work from there

onewomanarmy · Answer

its 100% worth getting diagnosed, and as a matter of fact, a lot of people get diagnosed when they are a bit older, because not a lot is known about aspergers at this time.
After diagnosis (if you do have aspergers) then you can learn all sorts of tools that may help you and you may learn to be more patient with yourself then.

foxworth · Answer

Yes it's valued at it and u would improvement from the analysis. it could reply the questions that u always ask your self: "why cant i recognize the points of a courting" "why cant i spend time head to head with my boyfriend"

Mike M. · Answer

It's indeed quite possible, and I think if you feel like you need to see about getting it done, then you really should do it. I hope things go well for you. Good Luck.

Anonymous · Answer

Sure, if you want to get treatment, disability .. such as social security, or are seeking accommodations for your disability.

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Is it worth seeking screening for Aspergers as an adult?

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