Tenhands

Good luck with the job hunting. I went from science to IT with a bit of (very failed)people management inbetween. At least with diagnosis I could consolidate the fact that I was never going to be good at people management. They are just too random and don't follow perfectly adequate management theories Tenhands

Hi Tally, I don't know, I just hate the feel of shoes. Might be a sensory thing. I can't go barefoot altogether at work, I have to wear socks, which also irritate my feet. Right now my feet are fully liberated and displaying my partial syndactyly (webbed 2nd + 3rd toes) which does appear to be a common physical feature in Aspergers ! Mebbe my Aspie toes just want to show off !! Regards Tenhands

Hi, I was diagnosed when I was 43 after a lifetime of knowing I was different and actually having been referred to childrens health services in the 1960's for displaying the same characteristics of what now forms the basis of the Asperger Syndrome diagnostic criteria. I'm now 50. Diagnosis was initially a relief "hey, I am different after all !" but then sadness and anger at the "wasted time" and how things might have been different if the diagnosis could have been made earlier. It does makes sense of my pre-disposition to depression, compulsions, very limited range of interests ete etc. I have openly declared my diagnosis at work, partially to raise awareness of Autism, spectrum disorders etc. Did it help? Difficult to say. I don't need to wear shoes if I don't want to - that seems to be acceptable but I'm finding getting employers to take my other requirements seriously is a real nightmare. The phrase "reasonable adjustment" is no help at all when it comes to things like sensory issues or dyspraxia as they aren't as tangible as other disabilities eg wheelchair users (no disrespect to wheelchair users, just using as an example) I find that the "normal" people just can't understand how much it does affect people with AS etc. Tenhands

Hi Adam, Hope you can find what you are looking for. I'm an adult with diagnosed AS. I don't have much contact with other adults diagnosed with AS, so can't comment on how useful they might be to you as friends. It might be helpful for you to know that I learned how to make and maintain eye contact from two sources: Karate classes and when learning how to deliver a presentation to people. I hate presentations but can at lease now giove the illusion of making some eye contact. Can't interpret or judge what I see but it must make the neurotypicals feel more at ease. It seems that neurotypicals have some ability in that area, must be down to the different wiring. I had some really useful sessions on body language with a psychologist, who made loads of effort and produced some video so we could evaluate different scenarios. Mainly learned how to look as though I'm interested when listening to someone as some of the interpretation was just unfathomable to me (and more than a little amusing). I'd be keen to hear how other adults cope with sensory issues. Best Wishes Tenhands

Hello Sean Wot Mumble and Tally say sounds right to me ! Was referred to a psychologist to evaluate my OCD and the diagnosis came about after several sessions (Strictly, I suppose discussions, however reluctant, could be categorised as testing). From there, we continued with sessions to identify my relevant issues and how these could be supported at home and in the workplace. I continue to recieve support from Mental health services and see an Asperger Consultant Nurse Specialist on a regular basis, which helps a lot. It might help to read up about Asperger's ADHD but remember that we are all different and have different degrees and a different mix of characteristics. Try and build up a general understanding of it, make a list of questions you'd like answered and take them to your health professionals. Hopefully, you will find then as supportive as mine are. There is a lot of information out there now that wasn't around when I was diagnosed. Sometimes having a diagnosis is good as you finally have a reason to explain how things are but sometimes it's upsetting as it acts as a reminder of what you can't do (and so frustrating as it's things that seem to come naturally to the neurotypical people). nb, after POKE / HOKE therapy and the branding is done, you have to move on to JOKE therapy as "laughter is the best medicine" Remember - people with Asperger's have NO sense of humour at all. Good luck from tenhands

Hi, 48 years old with Aspergers and still can't tie shoelaces very well. If I can get it tied, I never loosen them and just slip shoes on / off. Tend to buy slip-on shoes but find it slightly easier to get velcro fastenings as I have quite small feet. Can't easily tell which is the correct shoe for each foot I still remember the humiliation at school in the infants class. They started one of those charts where you get a star for doing something. Instead of something useful like maths, they did one for tying shoelaces. Had to go and show teacher when you tied laces after P.E. class (we were 6-7 year olds). By the time I managed some attempt at a knot that stayed in long enough to get as far as teachers desk, the chart was behind the cupboard, on the floor and very scruffy. I was the only one not to do it and everyone had forgotten about it. She did give me a star and put the chart back for no-one to see. Even after 41 years I have a very distinct and bad memory about this. It will never go away. It is only since my formal diagnosis that I have become more accepting of the problems I have with day to day tasks that the outside world find so easy. I do hope that those of you with children who have recieved a diagnosis at an early age do not experience some of the problems I have had (and still have). Don't like shoes. try not to wear them, even at work (understanding workplace), psoriasis on soles of feet permitting. Can't knit either and buttons present their own challenge. Ride a a bike, I can just about manage but very slowly. Again, used to get ridiculed for riding so slow (didn't want to fall off, a car might go past...)or for trying to apply every rule of the highway code, albeit on a bike. Taking one hand off to signal, not good. All those kids who could ride withough holding on at all really used to bug me - bet they had well tied laces as well. Apolgies for the rant and verbosity. I have had my meds increased recently and that makes me more communicative.

I hope things improve for you, we have enough trouble coping and even managing to do a job. Well done for still going to work, despite all the problems. Best Wishes Tenhands

I have a good sense of smell. I like the smell of new pencils and wax crayons and play doh. Amongst other things, I can't stand the smell of food cooking (to the point of feeling sick) and butchers shops or the meat counter in supermarket. The place where I work is moving the kitchens near my office so they are looking for somewhere else for me to go. Don't like fragrances, such as perfume, fabric conditioner. I have an allergy to a natural substance used as a base component of many perfumed products. Continuing on the sensory theme, I don't like tags in clothes, the feel of some materials on my skin either.

Hi, I am adult with Aspergers and have hypermobile joints and spine (now stiffening through arthritis). There is some literature around that mentions problems with ligament development (they attach muscle to bone), so the range of movement is not held in check. A friend did some research on this for a area for a Masters degree and it does seem to be well documented. Despite the arthritis, I can still amaze the physiotherapists with my range of movement. After I had an accident, it was so difficult trying to tell the docs that my range of movement was very impaired. They thought because I was still showing a better than average range of movement, that I wasn't that badly injured. I don't have a large head though but perhaps my work colleagues would disagree with that

Hi All, Thank you for the kind welcomes.

I waited over 40 years

Hi, I'm adult with diagnosed Aspergers. Was referred to child health with all the usual characteristics in the 1960's but hey, Aspergers wasn't invented back then Anyhoo, struggled (and still struggle) with no support outside the family until I was formally diagnosed in my mid 40's. Don't really like communicating, even in this type of environment but might chip in from time to time.