Subtle signs I missed as a late diagnosed ASD
<EditorsNote> I’m on a mission to further the conversation for people who are late diagnosed with Autism. Thus, I’m asking a lot of questions … here are some of the answers … </EditorsNote>
Question: People with autism who got diagnosed (really) late, what was a dead giveaway you didn’t notice was autism related until you got diagnosed?
“I am 45 years old at the time of this writing and was diagnosed a month ago.
“Back in the 80s and 90s, when we were kids, you pretty much had to fit that super narrow idea of autism to get noticed. You know, the extreme stuff like not talking, freaking out over what seemed like nothing, or having really obvious quirks.
“But me? I was just that shy kid in the corner, always lost in my own little world of doodles. Zero social game. I was all about drawing, animals, books, science, and nature. Totally felt like I didn't fit in anywhere. Picture a lonely, oddball kid who was just a bundle of contradictions.
“Now, chatting with doctors and some folks who are educated in Autism - they pointed out stuff about me that I never connected the dots on. It's like I was on this roller coaster, sometimes acing things way beyond my age and then totally bombing the basics. I was the science fair champ but couldn't do the simplest math. Reading like a college kid in grade school, but spelling was a total disaster.
“Everyone thought I was just not trying. "If only she applied herself," they'd say, as if it was that easy. But man, I was giving it my all, and it just crushed me when it wasn't enough. And no one had a clue about stuff like executive dysfunction or hyperfocus back then.
“School was a wild ride. Smart, sure, but also slapped with the "learning disabilities" label and tossed into special ed. Those classes? Just a mishmash of kids and one saint of a teacher helping me try to keep it all together.
“Social stuff was like navigating a minefield blindfolded. I was bully bait, the epitome of uncool, and for the life of me, couldn't figure out why. I mean, I was nice, right? But nope, I was the resident "weirdo" and the target of some pretty harsh name-calling. And nobody could really tell me why, except to say everything about me was just off.
“I had a short fuse, sure, a lot like my dad. And when the teasing got too much, I'd lose it, which just made things worse. Some say that's a classic sign of autism, getting overwhelmed like that. To me, it just felt like the world was against me.
“And then there was this constant tiredness, like someone hit my off switch in third grade. While other kids were out living their best lives, I was holed up at home, trying to recharge in any way I could. Doctors now think it was me just shutting down to cope, but back then, they just told me to shake it off and get moving.
“I was obsessed with TV, not for the shows, but to study how people interacted, desperate to crack the social code and stop being the odd one out. Over time, I actually got pretty good at it, which made me think maybe I wasn't autistic after all. Turns out, I was just really good at masking.
“And those classic autism sensitivities? Not much of that going on here, except for this sensory sensitivity with paper. Can't stand touching it, so I'm all about the long sleeves life.
“Food was another battleground. I was the kid who turned up her nose at soda and mac n' cheese but could go to town on some veggies and sardines. Didn't exactly win me any popularity contests.
“Despite what people might think, being alone was never my thing. It just kinda happened. I was that kid who would stick close to the few grown-ups who didn't seem to mind me around.
“Oh, and the toe-wiggling? Apparently, that's my version of stimming. Who knew, right?
But here's the kicker: finally getting some answers, understanding all these quirks and challenges, it's been a game-changer for me. It's like a whole new world of understanding myself has opened up, and it's all happening right now, at this point in history. Pretty wild, huh?”
