Not just children suffer

AnneMargaret said:

I understand i may offend a few people with what i say but i assure you it is not intended. I just want to say it is not only children that have Autism. If they are diagnosed as a child then they appear to have much more help and support. EG specialist schools. Some people are not diagnosed until they are way into their adult life. They have had to struggle with their feelings all their life with no one knowing what's wrong and blaming them for the way they act. I wish there was more support and awareness for adults with problems too.

Sorry if i upset anyone.

Autism was originally diagnosed in children and it was some time before it was recognized that people in adult life were also on the spectrum.  I think it's for this reason  that most of the help available is still aimed at children and their parents. 

There's also the question of the perception of adult autism.  Since many of those coming forward for diagnosis have worked - often at demanding jobs - and some fortunate ones have managed to achieve relationships, then there is a strong feeling that they don't need support in any form.  My GP was quite frank about this.  When I first raised the question of diagnosis she said there was no provision in my local Health Authority for adult diagnosis since all  their funding was directed towards children and young adults and I suspect most parents would agree 100% with this viewpoint.   I managed to get a diagnosis after making the point that since I am retired I'm not likely to claim financial support. 

Also, there are  those who believe that adults receiving diagnosis are not truly on the spectrum and that the banding has been wrongly widened to include them.   I don't know how many people inside the profession believe  this but it has come up quite frequently on another board.

AnneMargaret said:

I understand i may offend a few people with what i say but i assure you it is not intended. I just want to say it is not only children that have Autism. If they are diagnosed as a child then they appear to have much more help and support. EG specialist schools. Some people are not diagnosed until they are way into their adult life. They have had to struggle with their feelings all their life with no one knowing what's wrong and blaming them for the way they act. I wish there was more support and awareness for adults with problems too.

Sorry if i upset anyone.

Autism was originally diagnosed in children and it was some time before it was recognized that people in adult life were also on the spectrum.  I think it's for this reason  that most of the help available is still aimed at children and their parents. 

There's also the question of the perception of adult autism.  Since many of those coming forward for diagnosis have worked - often at demanding jobs - and some fortunate ones have managed to achieve relationships, then there is a strong feeling that they don't need support in any form.  My GP was quite frank about this.  When I first raised the question of diagnosis she said there was no provision in my local Health Authority for adult diagnosis since all  their funding was directed towards children and young adults and I suspect most parents would agree 100% with this viewpoint.   I managed to get a diagnosis after making the point that since I am retired I'm not likely to claim financial support. 

Also, there are  those who believe that adults receiving diagnosis are not truly on the spectrum and that the banding has been wrongly widened to include them.   I don't know how many people inside the profession believe  this but it has come up quite frequently on another board.