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Bloodheart

Who has been through adult diagnosis?

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I'm sorry if this has been covered before, I'm sure it has, but right now I'm very sick so please forgive me.

 

I went to my GP for a referal, he sent me to a mental health nurse.

After one session the mental health nurse agreed AS was a possibility so she was going to look into my history (I had been sent by my school to therapy between the ages of 12-14 due to social problems), she was also going to discuss it with her team. The second session was just to let me know what was going on - it seems that during the time I was in therapy they had suspected Asperger's, only because it was via a shrink they went down the route of 'social anxiety' and as I took myself out of therapy they never looked into the possibility of my having Asperger's.

 

SO...I've been refered to a specialist team for diagnosis - woo!

I had no idea it was all going to happen this fast, I had assumed I'd get stuck in the mental health system with people telling me I had social anxiety for the next few years before AS was even considered, I'm pleased this isn't the case. I don't really know what to expect from the whole diagnostic procedure though, most of what I've read online has been about diagnosis in children, and when it comes to adults they normally talk about getting parents in to help - I hate my mother, I want her to have anothing to do with this.

 

My normal concerns come up too, woundering how they go about all this when as an aspie you struggle to explain yourself and have trouble talking to people...I've heard mention of IQ type tests, which I may struggle with as I've had multiple minor-strokes...do they go by general observations too? I mean most people who know me agree that I have Asperger's, I don't doubt it, they don't doubt it, the fact the mental health nurse and the shrinks I saw during my teens all seem to think AS is a possibility surely means observation in general would be enough to determine possible AS...

 

Anyone have any personal experiences to share?

 

I'm 27 and female - so I'd appreciate fellow adults and females answering.

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I was diagnosed with Asperger when I was 21 years old. I started going to a psychologist when I was 18, and at that team they thought psychosis and started with a review of that. The psychologists at that team was specialists in psychosis. After three years there, with a session two times at week, they still hadn't concluded if I was psychotic or not, and by that time I was moving to a new place and a new psychiatrist with her speciality in psychosis took over. In addition to being a specialist in psychosis, this psychiatrist worked in the habilitation services and was so also expert on Asperger syndrome, ADHD, CP and other cognitive disabilities. After three months she did a test for ADHD on me, and after 5 months she told me that I showed the ADHD symptoms but that I was something more and that more was Asperger syndrome.

 

Christopher Gillberg, who is an expert on Asperger syndrome, has written that it is very normal to be reviewed for psychosis in adults with asperger syndrome, and if one not know the differences clear enough many with Asperger syndrome may end up with a diagnosis of psychosis. For my history this was nearly the case since those specialists in psychosis didn't know much about Asperger syndrome. But the new psychiatrist which was an expert in both psychosis and Asperger syndrome was able to see the differences and set the right diagnosis.

 

My parents was not involved, but reports from teachers and so from the childhood was. An IQ-test isn't too much of value in diagnosing Asperger syndrome according to research. The IQ is in most cases around 100 in Asperger syndrome and it is often a difference between verbal IQ and performance IQ in Asperger syndrome, where verbal is higher than perfomance. I have myself a significant difference between verbal and performance IQ, but none of them are outside the normal IQ range (85-115).

 

Anyway, different clinicians have different practices on diagnosing Asperger syndrome. In some cases neuropsychological test batteries (as IQ-test), parents, surveys etc. are required and in other cases only a general observation and some interviews are required.

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hi

 

where are you from?

 

i was diagnosed aged 25 at the maudsley hospital in london after self recognition and a period of poor mental health. try looking up adult ADOS. they used this when i was part of a research project in october.

 

is there another family member or friend who has known you as a child that could go with you?

 

i was told originally i had social anxiety disorder but did not believe them. you are lucky things are moving so quickly i am glad for you.

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I'm 28 and just starting the process too.

I hope it goes ok for you, sounds like it's happening quicker than it is for me!

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I'm at a similar stage and would like to hear other peoples' experiences.

 

So, if you've done this -

What happened when the assessment was carried out? What methods did they use? Did anyone else need to be involved if you're an adult? How did you get the result? Wass it just a yes or no, or did you get some kind of report and advice on what to do?

 

Bloodheart - don't mean to hijack your question! Are these the kind of things you want to know too?

 

Do you know when your assessment is going to be?

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So, if you've done this -

What happened when the assessment was carried out? What methods did they use? Did anyone else need to be involved if you're an adult? How did you get the result? Wass it just a yes or no, or did you get some kind of report and advice on what to do?

I had to fill in the AQ and EQ beforehand. I think that this information was used to decide whether I required an assessment, but it might have just been in advance to save time on the day and so that the result could be counted up in advance.

 

I then had an assessment, which a parent had to attend (both of mine attended). This lasted three hours, and by the end of it I had no idea what was going on and after leaving had to actually say to my mother, "Was I diagnosed?" I had been.

 

I was told then and there that I was being diagnosed, but the forms took a bit longer to be sent through (a write-up of the assessment with a few recommendations, although nothing specific or particularly helpful, tbh). I was diagnosed over three years ago and I'm only just managing to pursue some services. I was diagnosed for over a year before realising that I should have been applying for DLA (a woman at the Jobcentre told my mum about it, otherwise I'd have had no idea).

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I then had an assessment, which a parent had to attend (both of mine attended). This lasted three hours, and by the end of it I had no idea what was going on and after leaving had to actually say to my mother, "Was I diagnosed?" I had been.

Did a parent /have/ to attend? There would be no point in my Dad attending as he wouldn't be able to say anything useful - he was too busy working to spend much time with me as a child, and my Mum died three years ago. I have an older brother, but he lives in Singapore...

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Yes, a parent *had* to attend (although I think that anyone who has known you since childhood would had sufficed). Not all assessments are carried out this way, though.

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Did a parent /have/ to attend? There would be no point in my Dad attending as he wouldn't be able to say anything useful - he was too busy working to spend much time with me as a child, and my Mum died three years ago. I have an older brother, but he lives in Singapore...

In order to give an accurate diagnosis they have to be sure that the difficulties you present with have been present across your lifespan and it can be very difficult, especially once you're aware of the areas of difficulty, to give an accurate portrayal of your development. Also, you're less likely to know details about speech development and other milestones. This is why they ask you to be accompanied by someone who knew you well as a child, preferably a parent.

 

In my case, this wasn't possible, as there is only my Mum, and we don't really get on and she wouldn't attend. However, she was given an extended questionnaire to complete and was invited to give written responses to things she would have been asked. She enjoyed this, writing an essay on what a difficult child I was, all the problems I had, how I wasn't normal, etc. etc. etc. :tearful: They also had my school reports which were from two years old as I started full-time school then due to the difficulties identified in me and the problems my Mum had looking after me as well as my severely autistic brother. I was also accompanied by someone who knew me in a professional capacity for a while and who could give an independent assessment of what I was like.

 

So yes, for an accurate assessment they do really need a parent there or some access to extensive information on your development. I would seriously question any assessment that did not include this component, however difficult it is.

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I have all my school reports from when I was just 4 (the primary school ones have lots of references to not working well in groups and social issues), and I am asking for access to my childhood medical records to see if there is anything documented about developmental concerns. I could easily get him to fill out a questionnaire, or my brother (who was 10 when I was born), but my Dad seems to have a selective memory, particularly about the way he treated my mother. My husband has known me since we were 11, but I suppose that isn't young enough...

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I'm literally about to start the process. I am planing to go to the doctor but I'm pretty terrified...I suppose I'm

afraid they'll just tell me I'm being ridiculous. Although, I know I have enough evidence that it would be pretty unlikely they'd say that. I'm 28. My son was diagnosed with Autism last year, so I suppose they should take me seriously on that basis alone. But it all fits into place. I'm really interested in other women who are being diagnosed, so I hope to hear more about it!

 

I'm hoping I won't have to take an IQ test...I took the mensa test when I was 17 and have a certificate, so hopefully they'll take that and I was going to take AQ and EQ test results with me as well. I was also going to take a print out of triad of impairments and examples of how I relate in general and why I think I have AS.

 

I also was also going to print out the table of "female traits of women with Asperger's" which is on rudy simone's site help4aspergers.com because I relate to 90% of them.

 

I suppose I plan to go loaded with as much information as possible to back me up!!

 

Good luck!

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Thanks for those responses. It does shed some light on it.

Having a parent involved would be a stumbling block for me. I have very little contact with mine, and they are quite elderly now. I have a sister who is four years older, but she always plays down my problems. She thinks that i stuggle because of lack of confidence and doesn't accept that i have social and other problems as well. However i have a friend with an AS diagnosed son who does recognise AS in me. I expressed concern to her that i might go for assessment and not get a diagnoses, and she fell about laughing.... She sees lots of similaities between me and her son, but i've only known her a couple of years.

 

Trouble is, for me i wasn't really noticed as having problems as a child. I was extremely quiet, worked hard, passed my exams, so presented no difficulties to anyone. All the kids thought i was wierd, but i didn't attract any attention from teachers or parents while i sat quietly in the corner. I was an unhappy child, but nobody knew that.

My problems really began when trying to make my way in the adult world, where it's social interactions that count more than exam results. And you need greater organisational skills to get through work, home life etc.

 

Anyone else find that their problems emerged more when they reached adulthood?

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Trouble is, for me i wasn't really noticed as having problems as a child. I was extremely quiet, worked hard, passed my exams, so presented no difficulties to anyone. All the kids thought i was wierd, but i didn't attract any attention from teachers or parents while i sat quietly in the corner. I was an unhappy child, but nobody knew that.

 

That sounds exactly like me! Although looking through my primary school reports, there are a lot of references to needing to work better in groups etc.

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That sounds exactly like me! Although looking through my primary school reports, there are a lot of references to needing to work better in groups etc.

 

 

Yes - my reports always said that i was quiet and that i should participate more in class discussions. When i was about seven i was put in the remedial reading group. I remember it well because my Mum was upset. I could read absolutely fine, but i couldn't see the point in telling the teachers was the words on the cards were.

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Yes - my reports always said that i was quiet and that i should participate more in class discussions. When i was about seven i was put in the remedial reading group. I remember it well because my Mum was upset. I could read absolutely fine, but i couldn't see the point in telling the teachers was the words on the cards were.

When I started school at just 4, my teacher thought I was dyslexic because I wouldn't read letters for her. I could read fluently before I started so mine must have been a 'can't see the point' thing too.

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When I started school at just 4, my teacher thought I was dyslexic because I wouldn't read letters for her. I could read fluently before I started so mine must have been a 'can't see the point' thing too.

 

Interesting. I wonder if AS women are less likely to be diagnosed when young because many of us just quietly lived in our own worlds?

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I also was also going to print out the table of "female traits of women with Asperger's" which is on rudy simone's site help4aspergers.com because I relate to 90% of them.

 

Thanks for this reference - is a useful site. I think i need to know more about traits of AS women - think i'll start another thread on this.

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I also was also going to print out the table of "female traits of women with Asperger's" which is on rudy simone's site help4aspergers.com because I relate to 90% of them.

 

 

Thanks for this reference - is a useful site. I think i need to know more about women and AS - think i'll start another thread on this.

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Interesting. I wonder if AS women are less likely to be diagnosed when young because many of us just quietly lived in our own worlds?

 

 

I really identify with that quote. I just kept quite, kept my head down low and tried not to get noticed too much.

 

What people also find hard to understand, is that I can get up and sing in front of a group of strangers, so they are then thinking that I am extrovert but cannot do social chit chat with them. They are left thinking that I must be an aloof snob !

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I really identify with that quote. I just kept quite, kept my head down low and tried not to get noticed too much.

 

What people also find hard to understand, is that I can get up and sing in front of a group of strangers, so they are then thinking that I am extrovert but cannot do social chit chat with them. They are left thinking that I must be an aloof snob !

I can identify with that too. I can interact with people fine on a professional level as well, I just struggle socially...

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I also was also going to print out the table of "female traits of women with Asperger's" which is on rudy simone's site help4aspergers.com because I relate to 90% of them.

 

Thanks for this reference - is a useful site. I think i need to know more about traits of AS women - think i'll start another thread on this.

 

 

No problem, I found the table incredibly accurate from my own perspective. Obviously all AS women are different, but as far as my own condition goes, it was spot on. It's so difficult to find an accurate description of FEMALE AS on the internet - or anywhere else - but I hope that awareness is growing. Rudy's book: ASPERGIRLS - I also related to very strongly. Being (still) undiagnosed - it was a real mind boggler to read. It was almost like reading about my own life. Quite spooky!

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So - lots of quiet AS women! That makes me feel much less alone. Also - i'm another one who can talk with confidence to an audience (can't sing though!), but struggle much more with everyday interaction. My Dad is like this in the very extreme. He can perform to large groups, but has never got to know his children.

 

I've started the new thread on women - also under 'general discussion'

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No problem, I found the table incredibly accurate from my own perspective. Obviously all AS women are different, but as far as my own condition goes, it was spot on. It's so difficult to find an accurate description of FEMALE AS on the internet - or anywhere else - but I hope that awareness is growing. Rudy's book: ASPERGIRLS - I also related to very strongly. Being (still) undiagnosed - it was a real mind boggler to read. It was almost like reading about my own life. Quite spooky!

 

 

The more times women are diagnosed, they will be able to build up aa description of Aspergers and how it affects females.

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The more times women are diagnosed, they will be able to build up aa description of Aspergers and how it affects females.

 

yes, awareness seems to be growing so hopefully women will start finding it easier to be diagnosed now. I just read this article about asperger's and I found it so accurate, even though it wasn't specifically female. It was about traits as children - through childhood. Very interesting - but I can't find it. Will probably post here when I have.

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I just read this and wondered how others related:

 

http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/articleItem.aspx?id=26

 

It's not specifically female, but I related still do a lot of it. I think many of my "traits" became more obvious in adolesence however, that seems more common for girls. Then it was quite a downward spiral because I found everything so confusing and had such low self-esteem.

 

I also had lots of ear infections in childhood, (it mentions many AS children have many ear infections in childhood). I wondered if that was the case for other women here?

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I also had lots of ear infections in childhood, (it mentions many AS children have many ear infections in childhood). I wondered if that was the case for other women here?

 

Oh lord, to the extent that my mum knitted me a dreadful woolly hat with ear flaps!! :shame::lol:

 

Bid :)

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I just read this and wondered how others related:

 

http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/articleItem.aspx?id=26

I definitely found a few things on there that I would have thought of associating with AS. I never babbled, never used single words but went straight to full sentences(~17 months). I also did exactly the same with walking - went from sitting still to walking confidently(~16 months). I would say I would identify with at least 75%...

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Im in my 30s and I got a diagnosis at age 16. I still haven't had Asperger's clearly explained to me

so I find out all I can from books, other autistics and online forums. At the moment I am trying to

get mental health support but I get the "we dont treat ASDs thrown back in my face from the CMHT"!

 

I have just drafted an 8 page appeal that I hope will do something to get the help I need.

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I'm not aware of having had any ear infections...

 

 

I am under the impression that ear infections are very much a Fragile X thing. Could be wrong. Look it up !

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Apparently autistics are more likely to suffer from frequent ear infections, yes. Not sure whether it's also true of people with Fragile X, but I know it is common in autistic children.

 

I did suffer with frequent ear infections as a child.

 

Apparently there's also a theory that lots of autistic kids can often have poorer immune systems (I was diagnosed with Selective IgA Deficiency as a baby), but a boy I work with is pretty much the healthiest kid I know! So it's not a steadfast rule.

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i also have ear infections as child very painful indeed i had MH probs ( depression,anxiety social anxiety disorder animal phobias , panic attacks) social anxiety is common with A.S can be overlooked .... CMHT don't know where to put how to deal and manage with A.S/A.S.D clients just get signposted to other services as they can't accomadate your complex needs of MH probs interwinted with A.S too complicated for them to handle they have lack of knowledge and information to go alot of time so just get passed pillar to post they really don't know how best to support and help so shrug their shoulder and wash their hands as fast as possible your just number on their busy waiting lists like wasting their time holding them up!

 

XKLX

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Hi all - I was diagnosed with AS in July 2009 aged 39, although I knew about autism from a magazine article I read aged 9 and suspected I had it (I didn't say anything since if I did a doctor would say something). My GP referred me when I said a friend suggested I get tested - I've always had trouble with eye contact and interaction, and have obsessive interests. If I behaved in school now as I did then I'd definitely be assessed. I developed mental health problems at 17 and a therapist said I probably had schizoid personality disorder and couldn't believe no one had said about my eye contact. I never believed that. I was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, which my psychiatrist is adamant I do have.

 

For the AS assessment I had 2 hour long appointments with a psychologist and had to complete an AQ and EQ. I had to provide my school reports and my psychologist interviewed my mum over the phone for an hour. (Incidentally mum and I are extremely alike and in my opinion she has even more AS characteristics than I do).

 

All the best.

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Hi all - I was diagnosed with AS in July 2009 aged 39, although I knew about autism from a magazine article I read aged 9 and suspected I had it (I didn't say anything since if I did a doctor would say something). My GP referred me when I said a friend suggested I get tested - I've always had trouble with eye contact and interaction, and have obsessive interests. If I behaved in school now as I did then I'd definitely be assessed. I developed mental health problems at 17 and a therapist said I probably had schizoid personality disorder and couldn't believe no one had said about my eye contact. I never believed that. I was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, which my psychiatrist is adamant I do have.

 

For the AS assessment I had 2 hour long appointments with a psychologist and had to complete an AQ and EQ. I had to provide my school reports and my psychologist interviewed my mum over the phone for an hour. (Incidentally mum and I are extremely alike and in my opinion she has even more AS characteristics than I do).

 

All the best.

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Sorry I've not been taking part - forgot about this post.

 

This is a real worry - the part about having someone from your childhood, as I have no one.

 

There is my mother but she is abusive so I try not to have anything to do with her, frankly she is starting to lose it a bit so can't remember half the things that happened in her life let alone mine...she knows nothing about my life and shows ZERO interest in trying to learn a single god damn thing about me. I don't have contact with any 'friends' from back then because I was such a different person and didn't want them any more.

 

I guess we'll see how they manage with this.

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I was recently seen at the Maudsley Hospital for an assessment. I was in a similar position to you i.e my mum is dead and my father of 92 wasn't aware of, or able to answer questions regarding my childhood. My sister who is 18 months older than me, had to help out with the questionnaires relating to the years between 5 and 12. A close friend provided the information for the questions relating to the last 6 months. The consultant who saw me was OK with this.

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I'm sorry if this has been covered before, I'm sure it has, but right now I'm very sick so please forgive me.

 

I went to my GP for a referal, he sent me to a mental health nurse.

After one session the mental health nurse agreed AS was a possibility so she was going to look into my history (I had been sent by my school to therapy between the ages of 12-14 due to social problems), she was also going to discuss it with her team. The second session was just to let me know what was going on - it seems that during the time I was in therapy they had suspected Asperger's, only because it was via a shrink they went down the route of 'social anxiety' and as I took myself out of therapy they never looked into the possibility of my having Asperger's.

 

SO...I've been refered to a specialist team for diagnosis - woo!

I had no idea it was all going to happen this fast, I had assumed I'd get stuck in the mental health system with people telling me I had social anxiety for the next few years before AS was even considered, I'm pleased this isn't the case. I don't really know what to expect from the whole diagnostic procedure though, most of what I've read online has been about diagnosis in children, and when it comes to adults they normally talk about getting parents in to help - I hate my mother, I want her to have anothing to do with this.

 

My normal concerns come up too, woundering how they go about all this when as an aspie you struggle to explain yourself and have trouble talking to people...I've heard mention of IQ type tests, which I may struggle with as I've had multiple minor-strokes...do they go by general observations too? I mean most people who know me agree that I have Asperger's, I don't doubt it, they don't doubt it, the fact the mental health nurse and the shrinks I saw during my teens all seem to think AS is a possibility surely means observation in general would be enough to determine possible AS...

 

Anyone have any personal experiences to share?

 

I'm 27 and female - so I'd appreciate fellow adults and females answering.

 

Don't worry. I was diagnosed aged 40 at the Sheffield Asperger's Unit. I was sent a pack, prior to my appointment, which included a questionnaire for my parents, which they had to complete the appointment. It was a 2 hour appointment & my parents were seen separately & then at the end of the session, the psychologist saw my parents & me together. I don't think that it's important that your mum goes along - maybe your dad/anther relative who knows you well, could go along.

 

At no time during the appointment was I given an IQ test to do. But then again , it depends on the unit you attend. It might be that the unit you attend has a different way of doing things. Please don't be worried. If you want a definite diagnosis, then you should be seen by either a consultant psychiatrist or a clinical psychiatrist, who are experts in diagnosing AS.

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Im in my 30s and I got a diagnosis at age 16. I still haven't had Asperger's clearly explained to me

so I find out all I can from books, other autistics and online forums. At the moment I am trying to

get mental health support but I get the "we dont treat ASDs thrown back in my face from the CMHT"!

 

I have just drafted an 8 page appeal that I hope will do something to get the help I need.

 

You need to throw back at the CMHT, that there is the Autism Strategy and then see what they say.

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As a female Aspie, I'm not all that interested in fashion or makeup. I wonder if I'm not the only female Aspie who has no interest in fashion. I, however, do like watches (no the £40 ones, but high-end watches and audio systems.

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