Diagnosis after 18

[persimmondeb]

I'm going to agree that you should involve the medical profession, even if your daughter is somewhat self-concious about her difficulties. Obviously something is going on, although it may be fairly subtle. The ability to mask deficits well does speak to a fairly high degree of intelligence, and the resilience to adapt to circumstances.

I would lay off the driving for the moment and concentrate on making her functional as a non-driving adult (public transportation, bicycle, etc., if these are practical in your area). I do not have spatial issues, but I seem to be unable to learn to drive due to a combination of ataxia and vision issues (and maybe a little temperament thrown in). My parents were adamant that if I wasn't driving I needed to figure out how to get places by myself and I have always been grateful that I did not spend my adult life sitting at home waiting for someone to drive me.

My DS15 has a diagnosis of Aspergers/high-functioning autism, and we went around in circles with the medical profession for years before anyone was willing to commit to any kind of diagnosis. Your description of your daughter doesn't sound a lot like him in most ways, but he is also markedly childlike, and quite friendly and social with one or two people. Some developmental issues can be kind of subtle, and we had at least six qualified professionals go back and forth on whether he was autistic or not until they finally reached a consensus when he was around 12.

 

[EllenFrasier]

I really do not know what the symptoms indicate at all !!But go to a specialist or even better a clinic that has such specialties !!I do know that TIME is of essence as I work in the Developmentally Disabled field and the Diagnosis of any Dev. Disability needs to be made before the age of 22 !! The Diagnosis will make her eligible for much more assitance both financially and treatments etc !! So don't delay!!

My son is 20 and has not really been diagnosed with more than a learning disability, but nothing specific like Aspergers or anything like that. He's been to an audiologist back in grade school that said he has CAPD but I am certain he has other things going on too. Why is the age of 22 an important cutoff? We just applied for SSI, not sure how it will go being it is our first attempt.

 

[englishrose47]

My son is 20 and has not really been diagnosed with more than a learning disability, but nothing specific like Aspergers or anything like that. He's been to an audiologist back in grade school that said he has CAPD but I am certain he has other things going on too. Why is the age of 22 an important cutoff? We just applied for SSI, not sure how it will go being it is our first attempt.

I work in the field and constantly see" was the diagnosis made by age of 22" !! I really don't know why,but I know if the diagnosis of any type of DEV Disability is not made by 22 it is then most likely to be called Traumatic Brain injury , which makes no sense to me . The diagnosis by 22 ensures they get the help they need !!I have a grand daughter with a learning disability that was diagnosed in early grade school, we applied and were denied for SSI ! Apparently they have tighten up the rules considerably in the last 5 - 10 years !!