You may think that your partner has autism (including Asperger syndrome). But how can you be sure?
We suggest reading some reliable information about autism which tells you about the main difficulties that people with autism experience, as well as related characteristics and conditions, such as sensory sensitivity. You might like to start with our website:
You can also contact our Autism Helpline if you'd like to talk through any questions or issues. Tel: 0808 800 4104 (open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm). Calls are free from landlines and most mobiles.
If you think your partner may have autism and you want to broach the subject with them, we offer some suggestions for doing this in a sensitive way.
The only way to be certain that your partner has autism is to get a formal diagnosis. This will involve your partner visiting their GP in the first instance, to explain why they think they could have autism, and to ask for a referral to a diagnostician. There is more information about getting a diagnosis on our website. This infrormation has been written for adults who think they may have autism, but will also be of relevance to partners.