Hi I just want to ask a question about getting a diagnosis as an adult. I am considering applying to be assessed, but at the age of 50 I am not sure what value I will get from this. I can read all the A.S.D. self help books on how to be kind to myself and cope with the world better and gain a lot from that. But I wonder what the benefits of having a confirmed diagnosis would be. Can anyone enlighten me on their experience? 
I think I’ll be repeating a lot of what other people have already said, but I like lists 
1. It can help confirm your suspicions that you have ASD. It’s harder to deny it or feel as much imposter syndrome with an official diagnosis.
2. It can help confirm your ASD with others, such as family members. It took getting an official diagnosis to finally convince my wife that I have ASD.
3. You can potentially get workplace accommodations.
4. If it is found that you have a comorbidity (such as ADHD or anxiety), that can possibly be treated with medication. While Autism cannot be cured with a pill, some symptoms such as situational depression and social anxiety can be alleviated.
5. You can legally say you have a disability on job applications. While it’s probably better not to disclose your Autism to potential employers, some major companies have on their applications a checkbox that just asks if you have a disability without disclosing what that disability is. They do this because some companies have to hire a certain number of disabled workers (at least that’s the case here in the USA, not sure about UK).
6. Your GPs and therapists will have an easier time helping you correctly if they know for certain that you have ASD. Some practitioners with experience with ASD can give specialized help.
I hope that helps!
