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Late diagnosis

animalrant

I've noticed a pattern recently for autistic people that seems to consist of -

no diagnosis in childhood - leading to mental health problems starting around 11 years old (depression, anxiety, eating disorders, ocd) - lack of hygiene such as not washing etc - feeling isolated, alone, different - sensory issues getting worse - then receiving ASD diagnosis between 16-19 possibly earlier if lucky. 

is it possible this pattern is because of massive changes at 11 years old such as starting secondary school, puberty, etc? which if you're undiagnosed you won't get the right support to cope with these changes therefore leading to mental health issues? 

I know this was the pattern for me, i stopped eating at the end of year 6, become very anxious, depressed, developed ocd. i had always had additional support at school since age 4 but never picked up i was autistic and ADHD, maybe because it was only seen as a boys condition? i also never spoke at all at school or to family outside my house, i was very shy. 

Just quite an interesting pattern that I would like to look more in to

Parents

  • Hi, 

    what you’re describing is what seems to be happening with my daughter who incidentally just turned 11! There has always been difficulties as she’s been growing up but overall she seemed ok and we muddled through. But aged  10 everything just turned upside down. Anxiety came from nowhere, she stopped eating most foods, has intrusive thoughts and basically just should down. She was unable to cope with anything including washing etc. 
    I had always suspected she was on the spectrum but I didn’t push it as she seemed to be managing ok. Then this happened and school wouldn’t listen. Then she stopped going to school altogether. After a year of me demanding they finally agreed to assess for asd and adhd. Lockdown slowed things down a lot and we are only part way through the process. 
    she is now attempting to start secondary school. It’s been a rough few weeks but fingers crossed. They are using asd strategies so we will see how things go. 

Reply

  • Hi, 

    what you’re describing is what seems to be happening with my daughter who incidentally just turned 11! There has always been difficulties as she’s been growing up but overall she seemed ok and we muddled through. But aged  10 everything just turned upside down. Anxiety came from nowhere, she stopped eating most foods, has intrusive thoughts and basically just should down. She was unable to cope with anything including washing etc. 
    I had always suspected she was on the spectrum but I didn’t push it as she seemed to be managing ok. Then this happened and school wouldn’t listen. Then she stopped going to school altogether. After a year of me demanding they finally agreed to assess for asd and adhd. Lockdown slowed things down a lot and we are only part way through the process. 
    she is now attempting to start secondary school. It’s been a rough few weeks but fingers crossed. They are using asd strategies so we will see how things go. 

Children
  • in reply to Mindreadingmum

    Sounds exactly like my experience! i'm glad your daughter is being assessed a lot younger, i was only diagnosed last week (im 19), although ASD and ADHD was picked up by my college i started when i was 16. it took two hospital admissions and everything before my ASD assessment was luckily fast tracked. I was in and out of school constantly since age of 11 and dropped out completely at 15 but went to college at 16 and my college are now putting in for an EHCP although it was declined first time. i hope now your daughter will cope a lot better that ASD strategies are put in place, i know it would have definitely helped me!