Does anyone have Aspergers?

mojojuju

11 years ago

Originally Posted by vivo

If so please explain how it affwcts you.

Yeah, lots of people have Aspergers. It doesn't affect me at all.

[ 7 ] Thanks

Signature

:)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7286741].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

If you asked people this, you would get answers all across the board. I saw a person here claiming to have it several years ago, and researched it. There are about three big well known doctors and ALL seem to contradict asperger(the doctor it is named after) but they REALLY contradict themselves!

One says you have to be practically WORTHLESS as a productive human being. The OTHER is more in line with aspergers, and says you could be VERY productive, etc... but there ARE a lot of problems...

One thing that MUST be agreed about aspergers, and ALL autistic people is that they tend to lack social skills. That is why they called it aut-ism.

Although less obvious with normal autism, they may seem to be VERY good with some subjects and not so with others, even if one seems to contradict the others. That isn't to say "idiot-savant", but it is along the lines of that. AGAIN, this MUST be agreed about aspergers, but not necessarily otherwise, because it was an observation aspergers HIMSELF made.

They may also speak and write very well. At least with regard to speaking, it should be acknowledged by all.

There are common problems like sensitivity to some sounds, etc...

Anyway, listen to 20 people, on say youtube, and you will see that people claiming to have aspergers have NO symptoms they all have, etc.

Aspergers is an affiliction that gets some special treatment, is hard to diagnose, and may not be immediately obvious, so it is RFE with fraud. Some criminals will be diagnosed as having AS JUST to get a reduced sentence! Some parents do it to get money from the state, etc....

Steve

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7287567].message }}

Alexa Smith

Banned 11 years ago

If anyone's interested, I happen to know from my studies of epidemiology and medical sociology that the incidence of Asperger's, worldwide, is a little higher among university and college professors than it is among the general public.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7288387].message }}

Dave Patterson

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

If anyone's interested, I happen to know from my studies of epidemiology and medical sociology that the incidence of Asperger's, worldwide, is a little higher among university and college professors than it is among the general public.

Now THATS interesting...!

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Professional Googler

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7288478].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 11 years ago

It's kind of surprising to people (of whom I used to be one) who instinctively think of Asperger's as in some sense a "disability".

I'm not into political correctness at all, myself, and it makes me cringe a little when people struggle for expressions like "differently abled" just in order to avoid saying "disabled", but many people with Asperger's really are "differently abled". It's sometimes referred to as "high-functioning autism", and what that expression conceals is that pretty often, in some regards, they can be more highly functioning than average people, not just more highly functioning than "other people who are somewhere on the autistic spectrum".

It's also worth mentioning, of course, that Asperger's is a subjective and unreliable diagnosis, and how people come to carry this label varies enormously from country to country: it's not like there's a definitive blood-test people can do and pronounce "Yes, you have Asperger's Syndrome".
- [ 3 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7288510].message }}
hardraysnight 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Dave Patterson

Now THATS interesting...!

interesting perhaps but hardly surprising
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
These guys helped me with the feedback for my site
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7576400].message }}
- seasoned 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by hardraysnight
  
  interesting perhaps but hardly surprising
  
  Yeah, it would be expected. You could teach your interest, study, and get PAID for it.
  
  Steve
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7576709].message }}

missmystery

11 years ago

Diagnosed aspie here.

Anyway, listen to 20 people, on say youtube, and you will see that people claiming to have aspergers have NO symptoms they all have, etc.

Um, excuse me. Who made you the king of diagnosis? I get told I'm a fake aspie because I'm very high functioning, yet internet strangers are constantly telling me what I do and don't have, and are ignorant to the struggles I cope with every day due to the condition.

It really pisses me off when people think this - what right does one have to diagnose another when they don't walk in their shoes, know them, live with them or watch them go about life?

Symptoms vary from person to person, there is no one symptom that "they all have".

To the OP: It mainly affects my socialisation, anxiety level, and I am prone to depression based on how I inter-relate with others. I suffered from severe OCD when I was 12 and was put on lifetime medication to stop a relapse - that isn't specific to aspergers but people with it are prone to developing it.

Friendships, making friends and saying the right thing are the largest struggles for me. I've always been seen as "weird" or different, and when I say the wrong thing to people or act the wrong way, it only makes it worse.

I also have very intense interests. I'm obsessed with natural health and overweight people, as a child it was cats, as a teenager it was the legend of zelda, it chops and changes.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Geek Girl Fi

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7289436].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by missmystery

Diagnosed aspie here.

Um, excuse me. Who made you the king of diagnosis? I get told I'm a fake aspie because I'm very high functioning, yet internet strangers are constantly telling me what I do and don't have, and are ignorant to the struggles I cope with every day due to the condition.

It really pisses me off when people think this - what right does one have to diagnose another when they don't walk in their shoes, know them, live with them or watch them go about life?

If it wasn't clear in my post, or my thanks to alexa on HER post.....

I AGREE WITH YOU! I said it was HARD to diagnose! I spoke of how aspies can be VERY capable, and the comorbid disorders. And I didn't say anything against you.

Am I an expert? OF COURSE NOT! Some of the "experts" obviously aren't either. sorry if I told it as it is.

Symptoms vary from person to person, there is no one symptom that "they all have".

I DID say what MUST, and SHOULD be agreed. Those are common. My point is simply that many have been misdiagnosed, so it should be taken with a grain of salt. Just because that astronaut may have acted strange, and drove so far to kill, doesn't mean she has AS, etc...

To the OP: It mainly affects my socialisation, anxiety level, and I am prone to depression based on how I inter-relate with others. I suffered from severe OCD when I was 12 and was put on lifetime medication to stop a relapse - that isn't specific to aspergers but people with it are prone to developing it.

Friendships, making friends and saying the right thing are the largest struggles for me. I've always been seen as "weird" or different, and when I say the wrong thing to people or act the wrong way, it only makes it worse.

I also have very intense interests. I'm obsessed with natural health and overweight people, as a child it was cats, as a teenager it was the legend of zelda, it chops and changes.

Those ARE characteristic of AS. I never said otherwise.

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7290636].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

BTW missmystery,

TRUE STORY! I have a step brother that is MR. His mother, my step mother, is involved with related charities, etc... ONE provides some help, I forget what kind, to various people with mental disorders. They eventually DROPPED Aspergers, because they determined them to be too high functioning, and not really that much in need of help they could provide.

That is in CONTRAST to some "experts" that claim that aspies are NOT mentally capable even though the DSM SPECIFICALLY said no clinically significant cognitive impairment besides social, that they should have a normal or better IQ, etc....

I say SAID since, last I heard, they were going to remove Aspergers from the DSM. HFA ALSO says an normal IQ or above though.

BTW Normal, clinically, is often defined as 85-115.

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7290691].message }}

missmystery

11 years ago

Sorry >_< I just saw the words "claiming to have aspergers" and "youtube" and I honed in on it because I'm so used to being attacked about my videos.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Geek Girl Fi

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7291641].message }}

blakmk 11 years ago

theres an easy way to test for it, check out www.AspergersTestSite.com
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7293724].message }}

John Durham

11 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7576856].message }}

Sheryl Polomka

11 years ago

My son has Aspergers, it took us 6 years of trying to get him help to finally get a diagnosis. It was difficult to diagnose him because he didn't meet 'ALL' of the criteria strongly, but the criteria he does meet, he meets it very strongly.

His biggest issues are socialization, making friends and maintaining friendships, and he gets very frustrated which leads to anger. His anger does often get out of control and he can become quite violent, which is a worry now that he is a teenager and taller than I am.

He misses a lot of school, he didn't attend school for the second half of last year at all and missed quite a lot during the first half. He is very intelligent and scored quite highly in some sections of a recent IQ test that was given during his diagnosis, but he scored quite low in one particular section.... which is apparently quite common in people with Aspergers.

I see a lot of myself in my son and although I have never been diagnosed, I do believe I would fit into the Aspergers category myself.

Socialization, making and maintaining friendships, and also often saying the wrong things are things I struggle with. I think I'm quite smart in some areas, but then in other areas... often simple, common sense stuff, I just don't get at first.

Although I struggle to think of Aspergers as a 'disability' it certainly makes life difficult. I think it's hard because it is hard to diagnose, Aspergers people often appear to be 'normal' to a large degree. I know with my son I get looks and comments that suggest people just think I'm a bad parent and that's why he acts the way he does.

It's certainly not the worst disorder/illness/disability to have, so I'm thankful that my son is otherwise healthy, but I must admit, it is hard and there are days I ask myself.... why????

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

~~ TOP PETZ ~~

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7593342].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka

He misses a lot of school, he didn't attend school for the second half of last year at all and missed quite a lot during the first half. He is very intelligent and scored quite highly in some sections of a recent IQ test that was given during his diagnosis, but he scored quite low in one particular section.... which is apparently quite common in people with Aspergers.

I forget the pattern, but as I recall, people with AS tend to have one pattern, and people with HFA another. They tend to do poorer in one section than another, but not necessarily poor. The average person will get between about 85 and 115 on any one part. Generally though, they only care about the composite score. Again generally between 85 and 115. So a person with AS has to get a composite score,generally, of 85 or better. That is one of the factors that WAS in the DSM. The IQ scores fluctuate slightly based on the test given, but the description is within 1SD.

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7593440].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

The "medical establishment" has misdiagnosed, etc... for SO long. They clouded the AS issue for SO long. They could no longer find any way to reason away what they were doing! The RESULT?

http://www.dnj.com/article/20121217/...ing-from-DSM-5

This means that SOME may miss totally and AGAIN have no answer for their problem. SOME may be on the periphery and grouped with people that bear little resemblance to them. ANYWAY, AS is no longer considered a valid diagnosis.

That is NOT because it was ever wrong. The psychiatrists ADMIT that! It is, to paraphrase THEIR dumb theory, "Because there is effectively no difference between the two diagnosis". The fact is that there was one, then they realized that some people were totally out of the park, but similar in some ways, and so AS came to be. THEN, they found that some seemed more like the autistic but about as bright as those with AS, and they broadened the first. More and more people mixed up AS and HFA and now they have ONE listing!

So the boat was supposed to be grey, and someone painted it pink. The customer wanted GREY, so they just renamed the color pink to grey, rather than repainting the boat. NEVER mind about confusion or perception, it is GREY!

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7593411].message }}

Sheryl Polomka

11 years ago

When I was speaking to someone at Autism SA (South Australia) he was saying with the new diagnosis there will be 3 levels of Autism, and depending on where you lie on the scale as to what level you are on. So severely Autistic might be level 1 and Aspergers people might be a level 3 (or vice versa).

I don't like the new diagnosis, when I think of someone Autistic I think of someone like the guy in Rain Man. I think of people that are much more severe than those who have Aspergers and as such I just don't feel right stating that my son is Autistic. Although they share some traits, they are still quite different.

As for my sons IQ.... I can't remember the particular sections that he scored high or low in, but on average, most sections he scored around 110, in one section he scored up around 140 and then it that other one section it was as low as about 65. They said it is quite unusual for someone to have such a large variation as most people tend to be either all high, all low or all average, but not such big differences. But then they said that it is quite common for Aspergers people to score high and low in those categories that my son did.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

~~ TOP PETZ ~~

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7593481].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka

When I was speaking to someone at Autism SA (South Australia) he was saying with the new diagnosis there will be 3 levels of Autism, and depending on where you lie on the scale as to what level you are on. So severely Autistic might be level 1 and Aspergers people might be a level 3 (or vice versa).

I don't like the new diagnosis, when I think of someone Autistic I think of someone like the guy in Rain Man. I think of people that are much more severe than those who have Aspergers and as such I just don't feel right stating that my son is Autistic. Although they share some traits, they are still quite different.

As for my sons IQ.... I can't remember the particular sections that he scored high or low in, but on average, most sections he scored around 110, in one section he scored up around 140 and then it that other one section it was as low as about 65. They said it is quite unusual for someone to have such a large variation as most people tend to be either all high, all low or all average, but not such big differences. But then they said that it is quite common for Aspergers people to score high and low in those categories that my son did.

Yeah, when I said DIFFERENT, I meant like 1SD or more. 110 is high normal and within 1SD, 65 is below normal, and just over 2SD. 140 is into the talented and maybe genius range, and almost 3SD. I wish I could recall the pattern, but there is a fair chance, obviously, that your son fits one. So the pattern would give an indication of HFA or AS, though nothing is exact.

BTW the 3/4 IQs tested are spatial(they often show diagrams and ask if they match or what they can be bent to look like), math/logic(they often have math problems/questions, ranges, patterns etc....), and verbal(what words can be made, etc...).

Based on what you said about him being bright, etc... I'm betting he did poorly on the spatial. It is probably the easiest one to hide in school, etc...

As for the social problems, that is the one thing every autistic has in common. BTW most autistics are probably pretty bright. The STUPID stereotype, in the US at least, is from prior to the introduction of the HFA diagnosis. It came before the AS in the US, as I recall. Anyway, prior to that, a person with an IQ over a certain value couldn't be classified autistic. NOW, there is no limit. I ALSO credit THAT with the fantastic rise in autism.

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7593677].message }}

waterotter

11 years ago

Sheryl, this article may explain the changes in criteria in diagnosing "Autism Spectrum Disorders" (ASDs): DSM-V: What Changes May Mean | Autism Research Institute

On a personal note, I'm inclined to agree with you about disliking the new system. I feel there is still much to learn and understand about Autism and Aspergers on too many levels.

One concern I have with this new system is questioning how many will fall through the cracks so to speak(?)

All the best to you and your son.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7593748].message }}

Sheryl Polomka

11 years ago

Originally Posted by waterotter

One concern I have with this new system is questioning how many will fall through the cracks so to speak(?)

Exactly!! I'm so glad we finally got my son diagnosed before the new system came in. Although a diagnosis doesn't change anything, he might actually get some help as far as school goes now. The school straight out told us last year that they couldn't do anything to help until he had a diagnosis, which according to Autism SA is not correct, but anyway..... at least he might get that help now.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

~~ TOP PETZ ~~

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7595594].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka

Exactly!! I'm so glad we finally got my son diagnosed before the new system came in. Although a diagnosis doesn't change anything, he might actually get some help as far as school goes now. The school straight out told us last year that they couldn't do anything to help until he had a diagnosis, which according to Autism SA is not correct, but anyway..... at least he might get that help now.

Yeah, it ONLY matters if someone IN THE SCHOOL chain of command agrees. That is the teacher or somewhere up the chain until the principle. That plan that they can have sounds like a neat idea. And with the IQ disparity, maybe they will be willing to help, or provide access to such help. 65 IS low and, contrary to belief, IQ CAN be improved through practice and nutrition. If it IS spatial, just working with exercising it, possibly even regular puzzles, could help. Maybe some models. Any way to kind of trick him into exercising that kind of skill. If it is vocabulary, studying that could help. Same with math. It isn't like he will see instant results but it COULD improve so much that he may be presented with some new problem, and solve it HIMSELF.

Heck, look at bella thorn on disney. She plays a person that secretly has dyslexia, and is a real poor student. Apparently, in REAL life she has that SAME problem, it was noticed when she was six, and she was behind the class. She reads a year ahead of her grade now, and is apparently doing fine. She was probably about 14 then. I couldn't even see being a kid with the vision I have NOW, but to have the mind flip things every which way, YIKES! On talking about her REAL life, she only mentions reading problems. On her show, she says she ALSO has trouble copying peoples motions, and telling left from right. That last part MIGHT not be true, in real life, but I assume it probably is.

Anyway, your son should try to improve the situation. It is possible that it could be made into a kind of game, and end up being fun.

As for his anger, that will probably subside. He's frustrated. Who wouldn't be?

Steve

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7595774].message }}

thunderbird

11 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

<snip>contrary to belief, IQ CAN be improved through practice and nutrition. <snip>

That notion has sure been ingrained into our culture, usually unquestioned. Bring it up in conversation and you'll likely face a wall of dogma to the effect it is always the same. While one can improve language-learning ability, math skills, coordination, ability at sports, musical dexterity, and pretty much every skill under the sun, IQ tests are deemed to be as constant as the speed of light.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Project HERE.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7596019].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by thunderbird

That notion has sure been ingrained into our culture, usually unquestioned. Bring it up in conversation and you'll likely face a wall of dogma to the effect it is always the same. While one can improve language-learning ability, math skills, coordination, ability at sports, musical dexterity, and pretty much every skill under the sun, IQ tests are deemed to be as constant as the speed of light.

Don't you see though that in order to be constant they CAN'T be! It is an IQ!!!!

(MA/CA)*100

So if CA=10 and MA is 15, your IQ is 150.

CA increases by one EVERY YEAR! So in 5 years, CA is 15. Everyone MUST admit that! It is a GIVEN! It is the CHRONOLOGICAL age! A 10 year old in 5 years is 15! If MA doesn't likewise increase, it would be 15! 15/15*100=100! MA has to become 22.5 to have an IQ of 150. Yeah, I know. a lot of doctors disagree with me. Anecdotal and logically I am right though. And HEY, it can't hurt. I am suggesting maybe find or makeup games to get better.

And it IS shocking how your aptitude on some things could change. some stuff can quickly seem SO simple. Ever try to lift a weight and a few days later you look down to see how much lighter it is, because it seems so easy, and you find it ISN'T? Ever try to play a game and suddenly what seemed challenging doesn't? Even if an IQ test says you are no better, it is nice to know that somehow you ARE.

As for nutrition, some things have helped and deficiencies in some things have been shown to have short term negative effects. By short term, I mean they can be reversed.

HECK, stress can obviously negatively affect a test TOO, especially with an autistic person.

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7596059].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

Thanks for that waterotter,

I thought SPD WAS a separate diagnosis as well. It WAS under autism/aspergers in the old one as well! As for combining, she is clearly wrong. Many can't talk but are social, and many do talk but aren't. ALL autistic people have social problems. "Autismspeaks" does NOT speak for autistics. As far as "autismspeaks" is concerned, aspergers was never autism. Just look at how they describe autism. So any study of the people covered can NOT be done by "autismspeaks", since it is automatically biased. The later study, on the lower half of the screen shot, but NOT spoken about, said that milder cases, especially aspergers, MIGHT be dropped. Oh well, I only watched about 20 minutes, and have to do some other things.

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7594799].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

BTW it WOULD be interesting to see those yearly test results that at least some schools used to do like every year. Of course a psychiatrist or someone is bound to say it was an old test, non standard, or improperly done, unless it validates their line.

Steve

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7596078].message }}

seasoned

11 years ago

I didn't even look at the OP. What do you suppose VIVO's goal was?

Steve

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7596082].message }}

Sheryl Polomka 11 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

I didn't even look at the OP. What do you suppose VIVO's goal was?

Steve

Yeah I don't think Vivo has had any input at all!
- Thanks
Signature

~~ TOP PETZ ~~
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7596230].message }}

Rick B

11 years ago

I think that many people think that all of us with Asbergers are seriously handicapped. That's sure not true in my case. I'm high-functioning. I have trouble dealing with social situations. For example, when I was young I wouldn't kiss a girl unless she asked because I figured that if she didn't ask that meant she didn't want me to kiss her. I had trouble dealing with other guys because I never understood their desire to better the other guy. I always thought that people should do their best but also hope that others achieved their best too, even if that meant that they out-performed me. So sports were out for me. Fighting was out for me. Etc. Now you might say those are good things but they aren't things that result in a young boy "fitting in".

On the positive side, while the social-functioning part of my brain leaves something to be desired, I also have a genius IQ. I've been self-employed during most of my life and have had several very successful businesses. I've been able to use that IQ to learn how to function socially even though it didn't come naturally. I'm a very low key person so I'm well liked by almost everyone. I've even had several employees say that I'm the best boss they've ever had because I don't see them as only a tool in my money-making kit, I also see them as human beings.

So while there are people with Asbergers who have extreme challenges in life, many of us have been able to compensate to a reasonable degree. I never married or had children but I have had a loving relationship with a lady that lasted 5 years and several other close relationships. I've got lots of great friends and loving nieces and nephews who mostly compensate for the lack of children. I've traveled the world. I'm financially set and am able to help friends and family having financial woes.

Like most people, there are things in life that I wish had turned out better but there are many things that also turned out pretty great.