Hello to all. Your advice is needed

My name is Ruth currently living in the Oxfordshire area.

I am a mother of a 16 years old girl whom we now suspect has Asperger's Syndrome. The more I research the symptoms, the more I am becoming convinced my daughter needs to see a specialist capable of confirming our suspicion....but where exactly to go? We are a family of low income - so we cannot afford thousands of pounds for a diagnosis. So, my question is, do any of you know where a family with low income can take their 16 years old daughter for a proper diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome?

I would HIGHLY appreciate any direction on this matter.

Many thanks

Ruth

Parents
  • With females, their Autistic Neuro-Wiring is not always apparent and many women end up undiagnosed for a wealth of reasons. Only 100 years ago most women weren't allowed further education, if any at all and most might have been much more naive. This might create a confusion of a lack of sublimation into maturity with autistic reasoning. We 'mature' a different way. Instead of collecting sub-text and social cues, we might study principles of good manners and a trove of philosophical and psychological principles. We might be overwhelmingly compassionate and frightened of these emotions only to appear stoic in confusion. We might stay more silent than our peers for reasons of safety, genuinely sensing we are a mismatch for society.

    While in some medical situations a lack of maturing with, I might call it 'telepathy' is a symptom, I would call it a difference. Jung called it a difference. We learn differently. We might have trouble identifying emotions and need to work out what the function is, the cause and effect, the rules of relationships, the roles and then work out how we should feel. A parent who is callous toward my sadness is warrants a different feeling from a stranger. In this, we just examine the world different. 

    As someone here has said, Asperger's Syndrome is not longer in use. But what I think you're saying is she's possibly intelligent and probably adopting behaviours. 

    Australia has set this up https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au specifically for females. This chap on Twitter is quite good https://twitter.com/commaficionado/status/1553732283189891072 

    The more you can understand the better, to be honest. Allow her more room than you can imagine to focus. To get into a flow-state. Remind her to always do one thing at a time and when emotional stop what she is doing and just regain herself. It is the degree of intensity of impact that makes us different. Sensory impact includes physical, emotional and psychological - though we may not always have the language to express what we sense. Help her find things she is intensely interested in & allow appropriate space for her intensities / passions. Some new science has suggested our hyper-connected wiring and gamma wave oscillations are what make us unique. The brain is picking up details and making connexions but at the expense of being hyper-focused in just the semiotic / language compartments. We are different design of human! And absolutely necessary. This piece gives a rough idea of that: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/autism-brain-symmetry_n_5841d0b1e4b0c68e0480b469/amp 

    While it appears we have a long way to go in making better communities, one thing which has helped me in building and maintaining friendships has been finding rules for engagement. The library is a great place to find materials to learn the art of investing into a friend. Learning how to build proper boundaries with others and what warning signals to look out for or how to trouble shoot a problem. While NeuroTypical individuals can send what seems like "secret codes" for these rules, we will make conscious efforts to express consideration. Now, a word of caution. Social engagements will take me out of my work entirely. I cannot socialise and relax around others and also do the things I am paid to do. It is a different part of the brain. I believe the design for NeuroTypicals allows them to do this. As mentioned earlier, always reinforce focus, one thing at a time.

    These are a few other online communities

    https://neuroclastic.com 

    https://autistic-village.com

Reply
  • With females, their Autistic Neuro-Wiring is not always apparent and many women end up undiagnosed for a wealth of reasons. Only 100 years ago most women weren't allowed further education, if any at all and most might have been much more naive. This might create a confusion of a lack of sublimation into maturity with autistic reasoning. We 'mature' a different way. Instead of collecting sub-text and social cues, we might study principles of good manners and a trove of philosophical and psychological principles. We might be overwhelmingly compassionate and frightened of these emotions only to appear stoic in confusion. We might stay more silent than our peers for reasons of safety, genuinely sensing we are a mismatch for society.

    While in some medical situations a lack of maturing with, I might call it 'telepathy' is a symptom, I would call it a difference. Jung called it a difference. We learn differently. We might have trouble identifying emotions and need to work out what the function is, the cause and effect, the rules of relationships, the roles and then work out how we should feel. A parent who is callous toward my sadness is warrants a different feeling from a stranger. In this, we just examine the world different. 

    As someone here has said, Asperger's Syndrome is not longer in use. But what I think you're saying is she's possibly intelligent and probably adopting behaviours. 

    Australia has set this up https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au specifically for females. This chap on Twitter is quite good https://twitter.com/commaficionado/status/1553732283189891072 

    The more you can understand the better, to be honest. Allow her more room than you can imagine to focus. To get into a flow-state. Remind her to always do one thing at a time and when emotional stop what she is doing and just regain herself. It is the degree of intensity of impact that makes us different. Sensory impact includes physical, emotional and psychological - though we may not always have the language to express what we sense. Help her find things she is intensely interested in & allow appropriate space for her intensities / passions. Some new science has suggested our hyper-connected wiring and gamma wave oscillations are what make us unique. The brain is picking up details and making connexions but at the expense of being hyper-focused in just the semiotic / language compartments. We are different design of human! And absolutely necessary. This piece gives a rough idea of that: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/autism-brain-symmetry_n_5841d0b1e4b0c68e0480b469/amp 

    While it appears we have a long way to go in making better communities, one thing which has helped me in building and maintaining friendships has been finding rules for engagement. The library is a great place to find materials to learn the art of investing into a friend. Learning how to build proper boundaries with others and what warning signals to look out for or how to trouble shoot a problem. While NeuroTypical individuals can send what seems like "secret codes" for these rules, we will make conscious efforts to express consideration. Now, a word of caution. Social engagements will take me out of my work entirely. I cannot socialise and relax around others and also do the things I am paid to do. It is a different part of the brain. I believe the design for NeuroTypicals allows them to do this. As mentioned earlier, always reinforce focus, one thing at a time.

    These are a few other online communities

    https://neuroclastic.com 

    https://autistic-village.com

Children
  • Juniper, I deeply resonate with what you shared! I love Jung's philosophy and points of views about psychology and human behaviour in general. I personally believe we have a long way to go before the medical system adknowledge how truly magnificent, mysterious and divine humans are! I appreciate the information