ScotchEgg

I agree with the comments above that it is difficult to generalise with languages, or for any subject as school for that matter. I have taught young people with AS who have really struggled with French, right through to a young man who excelled with A grades in all his papers at A Level. I think so much depends on the attitude of the teacher, his/her understanding of ASD and also the size/dynamics of the class. Also, so much revolves around appropriate differentiation. If a child has difficulty with perceived failure, then languages can be a challenge, due to learning of vocabulary and the frequent testing that tends to take place in languages. AFAIK, there is no reason why a pupil cannot be removed from a subject and this is at the discretion of the school in consultation with parents, although it should never be a decision to be taken lightly. Spanish may be better as it is more logical and phonetic, as is German. I hope it all works out for you.

Hi Patrick, I have just written something similar in a new thread (although mine is "War and Peace"). I understand what you are saying and I feel similar frustrations. Let's hope we both get some good advice and also some satisfaction in what we are seeking to discover.

Thank you for all the replies - I have done well to find such a supportive advice and am grateful for all the posts and also for the private messages. I've been having a look around some of the older posts too, and I agree that there there is some good information. It's good to know I am not alone, and it is amazing just how many people seem to be in a similar position to me, although everyone has their own unique experiences. I will keep on in my quest and keep you all posted on what happens. I've had niggles in the back of my mind for about three years now, but it seems to be getting more urgent since I've started to explore the relative prevalence of women with AS and how the signs can be more subtle - it's me all over, although I cope pretty well these days. Oh, I think that a private assessment can remain that, so long as it is stipulated from the outset. I hope so anyway! Thank again.

Thank you for your kind words - I have also received some PM for which I am also grateful. I would be very interested to see how I get on with a private assessment in the first instance, provided it is not too expensive, and they realise the difference between a child/adolescent and adult assessment. If anything significant were to come out of it then I might consider speaking to my GP. I am going to be at the milder end of any diagnosis, but this cannot ignore my significant difficulties as a very unhappy child and my efforts to mask it all as an adult. As I mentioned before, having an understanding other half has mattered more than anything else, but putting my life into some sort of contect would also help a lot. Thank you again

I've only introduced myself this evening on the site, but I think I need to cut to the chase and ask for the advice I really need right now I would like to have a private adult assessment for AS - I do not want this on my medical records at the moment, as I have no trust in the NHS due to previous misdiagnosis and the effect this could have on future employability. I have a pleasant GP, but I am unsure whether I can have an "off the record" chat with her prior to requesting an assessment. I think she would provide a sympathetic ear, but I can't be certain. I know now from extensive reading and self-administered tests that I tick pretty much all the diagnostic boxes for AS, especially given the difficulties I had in my childhood (I am now 44). While I manage everything reasonably well now and have learnt to survive in a confusing world, largely thanks to a tolerant and understanding spouse, recognition would give meaning to all the painful experiences of my earlier years - I would be able to understand my difficulties and maybe believe myself different, rather than as the emotional and social screw-up that I have often felt myself to be. If anyone can recommend a specialist who is can take self-referrals (including approximate price), please could you let me know via personal messaging (I realise you cannot display this information in the forums). I am in NW England but am willing to travel anywhere in the UK for the best service. Also, if anyone has any stories to tell re. the referral process, please let me know. I am pretty terrified about the process, but I cannot let it go as I have a real desire to understand and make sense of my experiences. Thank you!

Many thanks for the reply. I completely agree that undiagnosed and unrecognised AS/ASD can be a cause for misunderstanding, especially as I suspect most GPs and psychiatrists in the 80s and 90s would not have had any meaningful knowledge of the condition. I fought against a diagnosis of bipolar in the late 80s and won, with the admission that it was more likely depression and severe anxiety. My primary concern is of having any link to mental health services on my mental records, due to the effect it could have on any future career moves. It is a ridiculous situation, but having had to be *screened* for every job I have had in the light of an overturned diagnosis, albeit with no problems, I am very, very wary of adding anything unnecessarily to my medical records. I have a really nice and supportive GP but do genuinely wonder how she would react if I came in asking for a referral for an AS assessment. I also don't know whether there are adequate adult diagnostic services in my area. I *manage* myself well these days, but via academic research (in which I feel comfortable professionally for the first time in my career), I realise that I tick pretty much all the boxes for AS. It has been a scary but also meaningful realisation. I realise that a dx does not offer solutions, but as I said in my first message, it could potentially help me to make sense of a horribly confused and unhappy childhood. It's all there in school reports and early anecdotal evidence - a very early precocious talker, lack of proper friendships, social difficulties, obsessions, tics, special interests, hypersensitivity to certain sounds ... the list goes on. I think I'd better post in the diagnosis section Thanks for such a great site!

Hi, I recently found this site and hope that it may be able to assist on my odyssey. I am in my 40s, female, and coming to the conclusion that I *may* fulfil the criteria for AS. My dilemma is whether to pursue assessment, whether it would change anything, whether it would serve any purpose for me personally. I have an immovable mistrust of psychiatric services, having been mismanaged and misdiagnosed in my late teens and early twenties. This was obviously a long time ago, and I have learnt to manage and - to a certain extent - hide my social differences and difficulties. Nevertheless, at this point I cannot contemplate going to my GP, so a private assessment may be the way forward, although expensive. I am aware of AS and ASD through work and personal experience and have a good understanding of it. What is intriguing me at the moment, is that I do appear to fulfill the criteria for AS, albeit at the milder end. If this were to be the case, a lot of my many difficulties as a young person would be put into an explanatory context, and this would help me make sense of my life to date. I'm trying to write it all down now, piece together my past, ask questions of my father (unfortunately my mother has passed away, so I realise I need to be asking questions now). I dug out a primary school report today ... it went along the lines of shy, lacking in confidence, very able and articulate for age, perfectionist, works well on own, prefers fact to fiction, tolerated by peers but possessive over friends so on the outside of friendship groups (I was 7). Oh and I was obsessed with taking things to bits - no dolls for me! There is obviously a lot more to it than this, and none of the above on their own constitute a diagnosis, I know, but I am starting to feel the need to explore further. I guess I will be asking for advice on assessment in one of the other forums. Bye for now!