Why Did NOBODY Notice YOU'RE Autistic Before?

Thank you for discussing this! This is something I think about a lot. As a child, I was minimally verbal (did not become fully verbal until my 20s), suffered from chronic pain due to sensory overwhelm, cried basically daily, did not have any real friends until I transferred to public school and met diagnosed autistic classmates, etc etc. I know my parents believe autism doesn't exist, but I often can't help but wonder what my pediatrician and elementary school teachers thought. Were they simply uneducated? Did they dismiss it because I'm a girl or because I was smart? How many people noticed, but thought it would do me more harm than good to receive a diagnosis? Ultimately, it doesn't matter, but I often think back to that little girl, struggling and suffering without accomodation, and wonder what justification each person had for refusing me proper care and accomodations.

Hindsight can be a wonderful thing, but it's never around when you need it!

Ignorance is a huge one. I'd never thought about it until my therapist suggested it, mainly because I had my own ignornt ideas about autism. Thanks to you and others, I am less ignorant. Even though there are a couple of studies which contend that the incidence of autism in people with certain congenital blindnesses such as rubella, ROP or Leber's Optic Atrophy, similarities get passed of to the blindness and ignored. I'm extremely curious about what my assessor is going to unearth hwen I finally get to see her. I'm expecting every reaction from none to horror, having already received the latter from someone whom I thought was a dear friend but who did not take kindly to my calling out her ignorance. Keep in shining. 👏👏

The good old days was a myth for boomers on the spectrum.

That's funny you bring up Rainman. I remember watching that movie and realizing I had a touch of that. I was 11 or 12 at the time. Really helped dodge the diagnosis until I was ready, 30 plus years later lol.

Thankyou Quinn, You have helped me so much over the past few years to understand myself. Keep up the fantastic work, love your channel.

Brilliant video as always, Quinn. Love the nod to Tales of the Unexpected (great dance) 😄💛

Entered school '83 in Germany. Back then, they obviously recognized when you had issues. But they would first try to make you conform well enough to somehow survive school before diagnosing you with anything. So if you were not one specific phenotype, you wouldn't be found and somehow go on blunder through life. Another factor: The parents of us back then grew up with the mindset of: "Are you calling me crazy?" Especially in Germany, after what the Ns did, you can probably understand why people had a strong incentive to try staying out of the medical system - and keeping their kids out as well. Now I'm 47, and I'm getting suspicious results on all the available tests on the web ... Makes you wonder.

40 yo late diagnosed here. Great video - thank you

As a GenX with Boomer and Millenial autistic relatives who tick all three boxes this is a great summary and spot on! Thanks Quinn 💜

My autistic traits were written all over my school reports. My struggles were blamed on my other disability and I was told I had to fix myself.

While not having a social media presence, I have elected to be visible about my AudHD in my work environment and have spoken frankly about it in group social online events. Going without a diagnosis for over 50 years was a struggle, but I've also learnt from coming out as a gay man over and over again, that advocacy never stops and you need to give people a real face and human story to learn from. Some of my colleagues have non-verbal autistic children and I believe really appreciate those of us trying to pitch a flag on a new continent of rational acceptance and compassion. That is where they hope their children will live.

Thank you very much for all your good work. Even though I educate people who seem willing to learn, it's only ever been selfishly. I had never even thought I might be making other autists lives easier. I hope it works like that, hard to judge my own level of communication. Thanks again Quinn.

I am 55 years old. I was diagnosed with Aspergers in the 4th grade but my parents did not tell me. I only know because a therapist thought I might be Autistic. I went on Facebook and read entries from a Parent of Autistic children group. Their stories about their children sounded a lot like my childhood. I told some of my friend and none of them were surprised. I told one of my cousins and she told me I was diagnosed with Asperger's in elementary school. I think my parents did me disservice because I constantly wanted to commit suicide because I was not fitting could not understand why.

My kids got autism they call each other the r word!