Poll: Asperger Syndrome [please vote, even if you don't know what it is]

[tthor]

i can't speak for every person diagnosed with it, but i am about positive my diagnosis is lagit. i a pretty social phobic, i show the obsessive tendancys are related to aspergers, socially awkward, clumsyness, insomnia, depression, speech problems, etc., i show many of the traits assoicated with AS

some ppl may by chance seem to be misdiagnosed because firstly, asperger syndrome is a bit broad of a spectrum, and can vary quite noticably between people with it.
and certain symptoms of AS can often be misdiagnosed as many other things;
ADHD, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, semantic pragmatic disorder, nonverbal learning disorder, Tourette syndrome, stereotypic movement disorder, and bipolar disorder.

I suffer from some of those symptoms as well (though i`ve never really sufferd froma speach inpediment of any kind)and by clumsiness do you mean like hand-eye co-ordination issues?

some symptoms of asperger syndrome can vary a bit between person to person in ppl with AS. for 1 thing, ppl with AS commonly have trouble understanding metaphors, when personally that is 1 thing i've never had much trouble with.

and the clumsiness;
well i'm not really sure, i guess so. tho i would personally say just coordination in general.

 

[FinalGamer]

As for AS:

I am not too sure if i know what it is - I'm thinking of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, did the protagonist have aspergers? i'm pretty sure he did - but i think i do. I'm sure there are many types of the syndrome but i didn't know that people with asperger's syndrome would use words like "I went through hell" since, as far as i remember, they don't have very developed understandings of those kinds of words. I might just not know enough.

Yes, the protagonist of that book had it, it was pretty much the selling point of the book to try and show people how a kid with Asperger's sees the world.
Bear in mind the boy is 14, not a full adult. When you reach adulthood, some people with AS have it dissipating away depending on naturally how they're nurtured.
One person I know with it was not put in a special class and forced to interact with normal kids, which while harsh has made him as able to interact socially as any normal person.

Then there's me whose been in special classes all my school life and managed to finally get a hang on interacting with people maybe around middle of high school.
I'm not saying throw the AS kids into normal classes or anything, I'm just saying everyone develops at their own pace depending on their severity.

 

[tthor]

I have a pretty good knowledge about AS because I did a three years education in working with handicapped people in general. I learned about most mental and physical disabilities.
Aboout myself, I share some of the characteristics, like having only a few good friends, being awkward about strangers, I don´t like going on parties and stuff - I just don´t like people all that much, that´s how I use to phrase it. But otherwise I am totally fine and I never thought about getting a diagnosis. I don´t want to blame my poor social skills on a self-diagnosed disease that makes other people suffer quite a lot.

ya, from this alone, you really dont sound like you have aspergers, jus pretty shy.

there is a reason why ppl with asperger syndrome are often very shy, and its not because thats just how they're hardwired. its because ppl with AS are normally very awkward socially(due to the logical way they think). but even tho they are awkward, they do still seek to socialize, atleast in the beginning. but this social awkwardness causes them to experience many failed social attempts, and after a while, all these failures cause them to just give up on socializing, and to become very introverted, for fear of more social failures.

 

[I3uster]

I'm not saying throw the AS kids into normal classes or anything, I'm just saying everyone develops at their own pace depending on their severity.

Why not?

Seperating them from the other kids isnt going to help them socialise either.
I didnt want to talk to people at my age, but i grew out of it, mostly thanks to pick up

 

[Randomologist]

This thread is quite interesting, as I was diagnosed at 4 years old with the syndrome. I wasn't aware that quite a few here (relatively speaking) also have this particular trait. My way around the socialising problems involves psycho-analysing others, and getting to talk via social networking an online gaming. While the former may bear the hallmarks of an OCD, it does at least prove useful.

My analogy for explaining AS to another person is centred around software emulation. A Mac thinks differently to a PC, but given the correct algorithms it can emulate the behaviour of a normal PC.

But to those who say "why not just keep AS kids in normal classes", I say this: Treating them as a normal person works fine, but have you ever considered if they simply don't want friends? What if they prefer their own company?

 

[tthor]

I'm not saying throw the AS kids into normal classes or anything, I'm just saying everyone develops at their own pace depending on their severity.

Why not?

Seperating them from the other kids isnt going to help them socialise either.
I didnt want to talk to people at my age, but i grew out of it, mostly thanks to pick up

you may have a point, but what you are saying could end up as being no different than 'throw them in the sharkpool to teach them to swim'. ya, it could be very successful for some students, but it could also wind up with half adozen kids becoming shark chum. im not saying special group classes are a whole lot better for helping AS students socialize, but i think in some cases, often depending on the school, it may be pretty helpful, because atleast in those classes they usually try to teach the students better social skills.

there is also the issue about how the students learn thats important. the normal school system is designed primarily for, well, normal students, who think for the most part in a similar manor. but this 'normal' school system can be a big issue for students with AS, because their brains are hardwired much differently than nurotypical(a typical brain) students, so in order for them to have a good chance at being successful in school, their classes need to be better suited to how they think, not to how nurotypical think. ipersonally have seen many instances of where i suffer in school because i do not think like my classmates do in my own school, tho i am very thankful that this school has some accomidations for students like me

 

[Ignignoct]

This thread is quite interesting, as I was diagnosed at 4 years old with the syndrome. I wasn't aware that quite a few here (relatively speaking) also have this particular trait. My way around the socialising problems involves psycho-analysing others, and getting to talk via social networking an online gaming. While the former may bear the hallmarks of an OCD, it does at least prove useful.

My analogy for explaining AS to another person is centred around software emulation. A Mac thinks differently to a PC, but given the correct algorithms it can emulate the behaviour of a normal PC.

But to those who say "why not just keep AS kids in normal classes", I say this: Treating them as a normal person works fine, but have you ever considered if they simply don't want friends? What if they prefer their own company?

LOL... Now you got me wondering about myself =p

 

[I3uster]

I'm not saying throw the AS kids into normal classes or anything, I'm just saying everyone develops at their own pace depending on their severity.

Why not?

Seperating them from the other kids isnt going to help them socialise either.
I didnt want to talk to people at my age, but i grew out of it, mostly thanks to pick up

you may have a point, but what you are saying could end up as being no different than 'throw them in the sharkpool to teach them to swim'. ya, it could be very successful for some students, but it could also wind up with half adozen kids becoming shark chum. im not saying special group classes are a whole lot better for helping AS students socialize, but i think in some cases, often depending on the school, it may be pretty helpful, because atleast in those classes they usually try to teach the students better social skills.

there is also the issue about how the students learn thats important. the normal school system is designed primarily for, well, normal students, who think for the most part in a similar manor. but this 'normal' school system can be a big issue for students with AS, because their brains are hardwired much differently than nurotypical(a typical brain) students, so in order for them to have a good chance at being successful in school, their classes need to be better suited to how they think, not to how nurotypical think. ipersonally have seen many instances of where i suffer in school because i do not think like my classmates do in my own school, tho i am very thankful that this school has some accomidations for students like me

Well, if you have a hard case you will get sent to special school with other handicapped people anyway.
But with a light case a nromal school shouldnt be that much of a problem becaus coordination and socialisation are not necesarry to pass the school.

People with AS most of the time do not want social interaction anyway.

 

[tthor]

My analogy for explaining AS to another person is centred around software emulation. A Mac thinks differently to a PC, but given the correct algorithms it can emulate the behaviour of a normal PC.

lol spoken by a person with true aspergers

 

[tthor]

Well, if you have a hard case you will get sent to special school with other handicapped people anyway.
But with a light case a nromal school shouldnt be that much of a problem becaus coordination and socialisation are not necesarry to pass the school.

People with AS most of the time do not want social interaction anyway.

there are so very many things so very wrong with this statement, it makes me weep for humanity that such blind unwilling ignorance exists

i am tempted to tell you all that is rong with this, but it would be nothing more than a waste of my time, since you appear to have such deep rooted ignorance, nothing anyone says shall make a difference in your mind, and will merely fuel your trolling

you have my sympathy

 

[tthor]

Is there a disease where your happy allot? if so I really do have it, I'm only mad .01% of the time.

Is there another disease where you constantly have to do something? I have that as well

lol i think i saw something like that on House

who knows, it could just be a hormone imbalance or something like that,not that theirs much reason to treat it lol

 

[superbleeder12]

People will find a cop-out excuse for just about anything now.

I'm uncomfortable in social interactions, I sometimes get fearfully so. Do I have Aspergers? Possibly. Do I use it as a cop-out excuse for being socially inept? No.

The fantastic thing about the human brain is that it isn't a "program and forget" machine, you can, through force of will and repetition change the way you can think.

For example, I quit eating meat for 4 years, just through shear force of will. I trained myself that meat has a disgusting flavor and texture. A few times during that 4 year stint, I did happen to start eating meat, and guess what, I got terribly Ill.

I think now, we've lost the idea that we can change what we don't like about ourselves through shear willpower, we rely on cop-out diseases and drugs in an attempt to make us feel the slightest bit normal.

Maybe if people started taking a bit of responsibility for their actions and their personality, it can change. But I doubt it, its human nature to find the easy way out, and if that's popping some placebo pill in an attempt to make us feel better, then so be it. Its just the way we're wired.

 

[tthor]

People will find a cop-out excuse for just about anything now.

I'm uncomfortable in social interactions, I sometimes get fearfully so. Do I have Aspergers? Possibly. Do I use it as a cop-out excuse for being socially inept? No.

The fantastic thing about the human brain is that it isn't a "program and forget" machine, you can, through force of will and repetition change the way you can think.

For example, I quit eating meat for 4 years, just through shear force of will. I trained myself that meat has a disgusting flavor and texture. A few times during that 4 year stint, I did happen to start eating meat, and guess what, I got terribly Ill.

I think now, we've lost the idea that we can change what we don't like about ourselves through shear willpower, we rely on cop-out diseases and drugs in an attempt to make us feel the slightest bit normal.

Maybe if people started taking a bit of responsibility for their actions and their personality, it can change. But I doubt it, its human nature to find the easy way out, and if that's popping some placebo pill in an attempt to make us feel better, then so be it. Its just the way we're wired.

"lame man! stop being lazy and get out of that wheelchair! you still have arms! now CRAWL!"
this is what you are saying, just in a slightly different context. and you're right. the lame man does still have arms, so he can still crawl. why should he need a wheelchair?

 

[superbleeder12]

"lame man! stop being lazy and get out of that wheelchair! you still have arms! now CRAWL!"
this is what you are saying, just in a slightly different context. and you're right. the lame man does still have arms, so he can still crawl. why should he need a wheelchair?

Talk about a shitty metaphor. The person in the wheelchair is in a wheelchair because they have a physical disability.

The person blaming their inadequacies on some cockamamie 'mental disorder' is just trying to cover up for the fact that they are too lazy or scared to make an attempt at social interaction.

 

[tthor]

"lame man! stop being lazy and get out of that wheelchair! you still have arms! now CRAWL!"
this is what you are saying, just in a slightly different context. and you're right. the lame man does still have arms, so he can still crawl. why should he need a wheelchair?

Talk about a shitty metaphor. The person in the wheelchair is in a wheelchair because they have a physical disability.

The person blaming their inadequacies on some cockamamie 'mental disorder' is just trying to cover up for the fact that they are too lazy or scared to make an attempt at social interaction.

they are both physical disabilitys, only 1 can be seen by the naked eye, and the other cannot.
Asperger Syndrome is, in fact, caused by genetics. the brain of a person with asperger syndrome does infact work differently than the brain of a nurotypical person, and this is proven by brainscans.

also, Asperger Syndrome is a type of Autism, not a mental disorder. to help explain what the difference is, this quote:

I think, though, a distinction needs to be made. Personality disorders do not lack intent; that is, a person with a personality disorder chooses to continue their behavior. For a neurological disorder, this would be nearly impossible. A middle ground, mental disorder, is a bit less distinct.

For a person with autism, their neurology is physically impaired. It is unlikely they can simply elect to overcome their social inhibitions, for example.

For a person with social anxiety -- can they simply choose to overcome said social inhibitions? I would say some yes, and some no. But that is the limitation of the DSM -- mental disorders reside in a grey area where the difference between choice and biology is still indistinct with our medical knowledge.

For a person with borderline personality disorder (and, bear in mind, nothing else, as neurological and mental disorders can present with personality disorders as well), they are equipped to understand their actions, are able to anticipate reactions to their actions, and are capable of understanding beforehand the likely consequences of their actions. They simply, basically, refuse to acknowledge, either through plain denial or a stubborn refusal to accept anything but their own will, their condition, or prefer their condition to the work required to improve said condition or over improvement at all. The only reason this gets to be called a disorder, really, is that a disorder is loosely defined as any state or situation that results in a failure for a person to maintain a reasonable state of existence -- which is why, for example, the DSM-IV includes guidelines for depression that include one or more debilitating states or events that meet a criterion for "disorder."

Frankly, I think "personality disorder" is a bit of a misnomer, since it's only really a disorder for everyone around the person, and not a disorder FOR the person until that person acknowledges it as such -- although some obvious criteria can lead to legitimate diagnoses of "disorder." If your continued negative actions result in you being out in the street with no food, for example.

Not to piss anyone off, but I look forward to a day when the science of the brain catches up to the point where we can definitively pinpoint the causes of so-called disorders. Either we'll find out that many of us who believe we are disordered are simply hiding from our own bad choices, or we'll find out that neurology is everything and answer a lot of questions about things like choice, the soul, etc.

If you have a personality disorder alone, though, you choose to continue to have it, if you even believe you really have it, diagnosis from a medical professional notwithstanding.

 

[FinalGamer]

I agree with ya Superbleeder in one way, in that you shouldn't let a mental disorder limit you from possibilities if it can be helped. Of course those actually with Asperger's can't exactly be told to wake up and get out there, it's a real rocky road they gotta walk on compared to the smoother road others do with life so they gotta take extra careful steps.

None of us should have to sit at the side of the road and expect someone else to lend us a ride except for those who can't move forward due to physical disabilities or a particularly stressful life. And I mean REAL stressful, abusive levels of it.

As much as most Asperger's have great fears and inabilities to handle social interactions, we can try if we take it slowly. But then, have you ever wondered why so many people with Asperger's are on the internet?
Because we don't have to talk to anyone but still be able to make friends. All the wonders of social interaction with none of the problems!
Of course there's so many of anyone on the internet anyway.

 

[jimduckie]

it's a bad disease that they think just pump them full of antiphsycotics and lock them will help but it doesn't just like neurofibromatiosis a bad disease that the experts are stimied in finding a cure and most people are afraid of what they don't understand

 

[pow1149]

I don't have it. But sometimes I wish I did. Aspergers is a mental disorder. As with all mental disorders if you have it you are exempt form the rules of society. You can act however you want and nobody blames you for it. I know it sounds cold-hearted, but it's true. I could act like an ass and get away with it. And I'd still be in school.

You're wrong. No-one can tell you have AS unless they have some background knowledge. And even if they do, AS is no excuse for being an "ass". People with AS aren't crazy, you really should know what your talking about before you say such things.

Apart from a very literal interpretation of school rules (and answering questions with a true answer rather than a complimentary one), people with AS really have no excuse.

 

[tthor]

I don't have it. But sometimes I wish I did. Aspergers is a mental disorder. As with all mental disorders if you have it you are exempt form the rules of society. You can act however you want and nobody blames you for it. I know it sounds cold-hearted, but it's true. I could act like an ass and get away with it. And I'd still be in school.

You're wrong. No-one can tell you have AS unless they have some background knowledge. And even if they do, AS is no excuse for being an "ass". People with AS aren't crazy, you really should know what your talking about before you say such things.

Apart from a very literal interpretation of school rules (and answering questions with a true answer rather than a complimentary one), people with AS really have no excuse.

i agree you except for your last sentence. many ppl tend to misunderstand the problems between AS students and school, many of these problems i doubt a person would even realize unless they already had a very good knowledge and understanding of what AS is.

ppl with AS have, what i can only describe as, obsessive compulsive traits linked to the other symptoms of AS, which can make it very difficult for a student with AS. these obsessive compulsive traits, for example, often cause the student with AS to mnetally require a great deal of structure in the day to day routines. if they cannot maintain this structure, or the structure changes suddenly, it can be very difficult for that student to adapt to the changes. ppl with aspergers learn primarily thru repitition, (for example, a student with AS could easily learn how to solve a certain type of math problem after seeing maybe 2 or 3 different math problems of that type answered), so they often require day-to-day repitition, or else they will have difficulties with certain parts of that day (primarily the parts that lack structure). this is only a single, broad, example of problems with AS students. many things, even seemingly very small things and unimportant things can make a big difference in the psychy of that AS student. even things that are almost completely unnoticeable to most ppl (for example, the high pitch hum of flurescent-lights/tv-screens,or the location of the students desk related to the board/door/window/teacher/other desks/lights/even sometimes the very direction the chair(s)/windows are facing in north,south, etc) can actually be very distracting and annoying for the AS student [i for one, off the top of my head, cant stand it when ppl are walking the same direction of me on my left side]. these are only a few examples of how those obsessive traits in AS students affects them. these obsessive compulsive traits can often make it difficult to act properly in most school settings, espeusally with homework.

you can even observe these strange obsessive traits in many famous ppl in history who are believed to have Aspergers (ablert einstein had 5 outfits he always wore that were each exactly the same. Charles Dickens could only sleep if his bed was in the center of the room, facing north. Clark Gable used to take more than four showers a day. Beethoven would often poured ice water over his head. -etc-..)

 

[Sindaine]

My mother seems to think I might have it; I am way too old to be diagnosed, however, and unlike what I've heard about most Aspies I can carry on a conversation and even have a sense of humor.

Mmm, I doubt you're too old, this isn't the Jedi here, you don't have to have been diagnosed at a young age. Although, there's no point anyway if you don't see it as a problem or it doesn't have such a significant impact on your life that you would need to.

Second, the socialisation bit isn't true for all, and as has been said, for many, you really can't tell the difference of someone with aspergers from someone without.

Yeah, but see I talked EARLY and not late; isn't speech delays one of the criteria for having it? Also my aunt--who is a counselor; works with special-needs children for a living and can recognize when they're messed up--never said anything to my mother about getting tested ever; one would think it would be apparent.

I don't flap my hands or spin, or rock, or stack things; I just don't like direct eye-contact all that much and know a lot about certain topics.