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The only thing i can personally say is that i do not have obsessions and my eye contact is fine.However apart from the poor short term memory box i tick every other box as someone with aspergers.i think it is possible from what i have read to get a diagnosis of A.S> even if your eye contact is ok and you don't have obsessions, especially if you are ticking the other boxes. Welcome to the forum, hopefully you will be able to get help support and advice that you need on here.

The doctor who told me i was neurotic looks very embarrassed when he sees me in the supermarket and avoids my gaze.I usually glare at him.I've even got my daughter before now to say rather loudly is that the doctor who said there was nothing wrong with me and I ended up in gt ormond street mum Surprise surprise he is no longer our doctor. The health visitor who said there was nothing wrong with my daughter and she would in her own time refer herto a paediatrician(we phoned the paediatrician direct in the end had an appointment within days) when a couple of years after the event I would take my son to the clinic to be weighed would rapidly disappear into another room with a rather embarrassed look on her face.Mind you it didn't help that if i needed to see a health visitor i would say I'll see anyone but X'

My mother's old next door neighbour had a grandaughter who was extremely shy and anxious at school.It used to take her hours and hours to do anything always late for school.She was constantly washing her hands etc.At thirteen she was diagnosed with o.c.d.Finally a few years later she was diagnosed with A.S.I am very familiar with A.S. but I would never had said she has A.S. but she has and has a diagnosis and i have no doubt that that is correct. She is another example of a girl with A.S. who has hidden aspergers or pretends to be normal.I think many girls at the h.functioning end of the spectrum remain undiagnosed.They just seem to be better at masking it than boys and often don't come across for want of a better word odd, different or wierd.

Sue I agree with much of your posting.Girls learn to fit in and don't stand out so much like boys do therefore they can go undetected for much longer.It doesn't actually mean they are less effected than boys just they are often better at pretending to be normal. I went all the way through school without anyone detecting anything.It could be argued that when i went to school a.s. was not known about but i think it was more the case of I just fitted in.Yet my husband's friend who has suspected a.s. is much more obviously different.

Clarkie I dont have any children on the spectrum so I don't feel i am in any position to offer advice, apart from keep fighting to get what your child needs.Just sending some of these <'> <'> <'> <'>

Many people with aspergers have no interest in fashion whatsoever. I do though I like spending hubbys money

I don't actually consider boys are more badly affected than girls.i just think it can seem that way sometimes.their aspergers is more noticable lesshidden e.g. they show up as being odd or different more.Girls tends to be more hidden but not necessarily less severe.hope this makes sense.

I think from what i have read thT Mybe they present differently. I think that girls(this is based on me)often come across as bit shy and no so obviously odd and it can go unnoticed for much longer and they get a much later diagnosis.my husband has often referred to my aspergers as hidden aspergers.In other words i don't come across as obviously different although i still have the same difficulties as some boys are having in the same areas and in some areas the difficulties are worst. I have thought for a long time that boys with the conditiona re affected worst but then perhaps that isn't the case when i thought about it a bit more.i think it is more obvious they are more obviously odd or different. Then i don't have any difficulties with eye contact or social etiquette, though i don't like socialising and don't feel the need to .Eye contact and social etiquette are two very obvious areas of difficulty. I think it is often very hard to pick up A.S. in girls and with boys it appears to be very obvious.my husband had a friend with probable a.s. and he came across as quite odd.yet if you compared me to him i would appear normal, i am not far from it. :

Bullet I have been accused of being a neurotic mother(in the first four years of her life my daughter went to the doctors four times!!!)so i was hardly neurotic, being told she was always going to be autistic because she had speech therapy!(what so everone who has speech therapy is suddenly autistic at four years old within a week of having an mmr vaccination)I was told there is nothing wrong with her because she looked at me! More recently once i realised i Had in all lileklihood A.S. I have been accused of making things up for attention, making illness up for sympathy, bullying and lying, having problems that i need councelling for and i am sure there is more I've forgotten!! Now it 's like water off a ducks back.i won't be pushed around any more or accused of things.I just think well we are all entitled to our opinions in life and i don't think i would say my daughter was autistic and i had a.s. if it wasn't true.Nobody wants to have these things

I have a large head and always have big trouble getting hats to fit me. Must be brains in my case as well as A.S.

Thanks Steve that was a good upbeat article highlighting the positives as well as the negatives.Interesting reading.

I understand what you are saying something different but if you strongly suspect other family members have A.S. then strongly suspect you yourself have A.s. and you take four tests that indicate that could be the case the chances are my suspicions are likely to be correct. Would you like to have friends? if you are happy as you are then it doesn't matter. Your not wierd your perhaps a bit different.What is wrong with that? It wouldn't do for us all to be the same. Your you and that's what matters.

scored 25 again suggesting I have aspergers or definate tendancies of.This is the fourth test i have taken now all suggesting the same thing.

either that or cry and its better to laugh

Something Different Well i've only just realised I have A.S and it takes a bit of getting your head round. I have done three different tests which all indicate that my suspicions are likely to be correct.

I think these posts just highlight to me the utter ignorance people have about A.S. and autism. I think I would just say to myself.They are the one's with the problem.They are ignorant and un educated.Easier said than done i know. I have had professional people say X can't have aspergers.He/she would be unable to work and would be in a home. Please!!!! Or you would know if someone had aspergers.it would be obvious.Yeah right thats why there are all these people walking around wondering what is wrong with them or knowing what they might have but unable to get a diagnosis.It obviously cant be too obvious!!! That's why this forum provides invaluable support.it is full of people who do know what they are talking about from their own experiences. i am a firm believer if you don't know put your hand up and say so and ask to learn and listen.

I scored 35 which suggesta as expected I have in all probabilty got A.S. Interesting to do though.I always score well on the imagination questions otherwise my score would have been even higher

Welcome to the forum Tracy. You sound like a caring Aunt Your sister will need and appreciate your support I'm sure.

Shintyboy I can so relate to how you are feeling.My husband says that since I have realised i have in all likelehood got A.s. i have got worst.I don't feel i have but he says instead of fighting certain aspects of the way i am i go with it a bit now because I know it is A.S. My realisation has explained so much of the past to me with my father and other things and it is like opening the floodgates.Sometimes I feel totally overwhelmed by it all and wish i never knew but I like yourself i realise its the best thing to do and it has given me so much peace of mind in explaining why my father was like he was with me(Isuspect he has A.s. too) but in other ways it weighs me down. Have some of these. <'> <'> <'>

Really I didn't realise this Tally it might be worth looking into further in that case.I have always held back before to protect my children from my father who is not someone we wish to have any contact with. Thanks for the advice.it's appreciated.

Thanks to all of you for your advice replies and opinions.

I have not seen my father for thirty years.He has many problems and in some ways it is best left that way .Not sure what i would do in your circumstances though. Sending some of these to you <'> <'> <'>

Natasha Unfortunately I am unable to do this.I do not wish my father to have any knowledge of myself or my children.He has many difficulties and is not someone who I would wish my children to have any contact with. I think it is an excellent idea to promote awareness of these rare conditions but unfortunately because of my circumstances and the need to remain anonymous to a certain extent I have never gone to the newspapers or magazines. I wish i could because it would help others and also show what happens when the mmr booster vaccination doesn't suit the person it wwas given to. It was certainly a though provoking article for me and well worth a read.

Aspergers and ocd often run hand in hand unfortunately.In my case I believe my father to have aspergers and ocd so guess I inherited it. I'm so lucky sometimes

Marknotgeorge I really hope you get the support and help you feel you need.just because you have a wife a family and a job does not mean you don't need help and it is ignorant to presume you don't. Without wishing to be rude what about the affect your suspected a.s. has on your family and your life etc.Do not give up.You need someone to listen to your concerns not just dismiss them because you appear to be coping it doesn't mean you actually are. I suspect one of my close relatives to have a.s. and the effect their suspected a.s. has had on people around them is devistating.They too had a wife family and job.Never under estimate the effectas of a.s. I suspect i too have mild a.s. but according to my husband fortunately it doesn't have too much of an impact on people around me.yes we have good weeks and bad but overall it's fairly managable.I also have ocd.I too have a husband and family and a job but that does not mean I don't have a.s. Keep pushing until you get the answer and peace of mind you deserve. <'> <'> <'>