Chris Packham has opened up about the “radical changes” he has experienced after a health diagnosis later in life. The wildlife expert was diagnosed with Asperger’s when he was in his forties.
According to the NHS, Asperger’s is often used to describe autistic people who have “average or above average intelligence”. People with the condition often do not “have the same learning disabilities that many people with autism have”. Doctors no longer routinely diagnose people with the condition, instead saying it is part of autism spectrum disorder.
Since receiving the diagnosis Springwatch star Chris says he has noticed he has become a more confident individual. He felt finally getting a diagnosis meant he could speak more freely about his “struggles”.
When asked by the Metro what impact the diagnosis had on his life, Chris, 64, said: “With the benefit of hindsight, and the commentary from the three people I still know from when I was diagnosed in 2005, they say it had quite a radical transformation.
“One of the key things is confidence. I’d been struggling to think, ‘What is this about? Why is this happening? Why can’t I make this work? Why am I no good at this, but quite good at that?’
“When you finally have something to bring that all together, it makes it easier to talk about and explain.”
No one knows what causes autism, explains the NHS, or even if the condition has a cause. It can affect people in the same family, meaning that it could be something passed from parents.
People living with the condition often find it more difficult to communicate with others, or understand how other people think and feel. They can often find themselves getting anxious in social situations.
During his documentary, Chris Packham: Asperger’s and Me, the TV presenter explained he has “taught myself to manage” some of his personality traits over the years. He explained: “Sometimes I fail, I do go off on one.
“There were times when I fought it. Really fought it. I didn’t want to be different.
“There’s a lot about me that is pretty normal. There’s a lot of other things which are not quite so normal.”
Chris hoped that filming the documentary would encourage others to be more understanding of people living with autism. Chris says he often found himself wondering if life would be easier if he could “get on with people” during his teenage years.
He explained the “confusion” of wondering why other young people picked on him and made him feel isolated was “the worst thing”. He added: “If you’re isolated, then it’s harder for you to find help when you need it.”
He concluded that while some scientists are looking for a “cure” for autism, he says it would be a “no thank you” from him. Chris’ media career began in the 1980s when he worked as a camera assistant on A Toad's Tale.
In 1986 he landed a job on The Really Wild Show with Nicola Davies and Terry Nutkins. He later went on to appear with Michaela Strachan, who he now hosts Springwatch, as well as spin-off shows Winterwatch and Autumnwatch, with.
