how can I explain it?

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I had a friend ask me what adult onset aspergers is and then I was at a loss on how to explain it. I don't really understand it myself probably because I'm not sure if I have it or not. My psychiatrist has said that he suspects it but wants to bring in a specialist. How do I explain this to them and how can I understand it better? Can someone help me?

Could be wrong, but I don't think that is possible. Symptoms for all the ASDs, including Asperger's, need to be present in the early development period (before age 3) to my knowledge. They may have been missed at the time, but they'd still be there.

Adulthood onset occurs for disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum however. Schizotypal especially has a lot of overlap of symptoms but differs in that its onset is after 18 rather than before 3.

Are you absolutely sure there were no childhood symptoms? I think he's right bringing in a specialist, update us on what they find once you see them.

Hmm I don't think thata possible. You can be diagnosed in adulthood but not be NT and then become autistic in adulthood.

Nonsense.

There aint no such thing as "adult onset aspergers". You must have misunderstood your doctor.

You either have aspergers from birth, or you never have it. Its not like diabetes (which comes in Juvenile, and adult onset forms).

But if it did exist it would just mean you were born neurotypical and then developed aspergers late in life as an adult. But Ive never heard of such thing happening in real life.

Agree with what the above posters have said. I'd ask your doctor for a more detailed explanation. Are you sure he didn't say Adult Asperger Assessment (as in the diagnostic method)? Or something similar? IOW, that you are being diagnosed in adulthood (not that you "became" autistic in adulthood)?

There's no such thing as "adult-onset Asperger's."

Schizoid Personality Disorder has many symptoms in common with Asperger's, and the onset is typically in early adulthood. My psychologist suspects it might simply be Asperger's, in people who manage to hide their symptoms as children. (She thinks one day the DSM might be changed to reflect this, but it's just her own personal theory!)