Student son, Aspergers?

[Student son, Aspergers?]

I'm not an expert, but I think it's plausible. In my opinion, I don't think there's any harm in asking the question, and I would bring it up to him, but do it in a nonchalant way when you're relaxed, maybe sitting in front of the telly having a conversation, but not in the middle of a family argument for example. I would say something like 'I've heard of this Asperger's condition, does this sound like you...?'. In my own experience, I suspect I might have Asperger's, but the penny only dropped for me at the age of 39, and I am currently awaiting assessment. When I disclosed this to my family, it seemed like everybody knew except for me, but they hadn't told me and it looked like they never would, and I was quite annoyed about that because if I'd known earlier my life might have been easier! Get him to take the Asperger's AQ test, which is available online http://aspergerstest.net/aq-test/ , it's not a diagnostic test but it is a good indication of whether someone might have Asperger's or not. Hope this helps!

[Jury Service]

As yet I do not have a diagnosis, but I have a referral to see a psychologist and I am on a waiting list. I had been receiving counselling and medication for anxiety, but I am now off the medication and have been discharged. I have now been requested to do jury service, which I would love to do and I feel more than capable of doing. I live in N.Ireland, which is important because the rules are slightly different from the rest of the UK. My question is twofold - am I legally obliged to disclose a condition for which I do not have a diagnosis but for which I have been sent for a referral, and what is a mental disorder anyway, the N.Irish definition seems a bit ambiguous? Their definition '...includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning'. I have an IQ of 110, but I do, however have some trouble making friends, but in my interpretation this is not 'significant'. I notice the word 'and' in there, and perhaps I am answering my own question here, but surely I would have to satisfy both conditions to be considered mentally handicapped?

[Disclosure before diagnosis]

Hello,

I am a 40 year old male and I am almost certain I suffer from Aspergers/ASD although I haven't had an official diagnosis yet.

It has been almost a year since I went to my GP about this, who sent me to the local mental health team, but they don't have someone who can diagnose ASD so they have referred me to a psychologist. However, they told me the waiting list is very long and it could be a year before I get an appointment - that was 3 months ago.

Meanwhile, I keep encountering situations in which I feel that disclosure would benefit me, but I am afraid that if I don't get the diagnosis I expect I will be made to look a fool. So far I haven't told anybody other than medical professionals who need to know about my problems or that I am waiting for an ASD assessment.

My question is, is it advisable to disclose before I have a diagnosis or even that I am waiting for an assessment? Has anyone else done this and what was the outcome?