Asperger's Syndrome

I just wanted to really gauge how many people on here a)know what it is b)heard of it c)knows someone who has it d)have it.

My wife is a psych instructor in college, she knows quite a bit about it.....

I have it.

Yes, Yes, Yes and No.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tek48

I have it.

---

Thanks. I think it takes a lot of confidence to admit to it. Now that I know someone else on here has it, I feel like I can admit to having it as well. I'm still learning to be proud of it, just found out a week ago about it.

I'm a special education teacher so I have had several students who have been diagnosed with it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by abuja

Thanks. I think it takes a lot of confidence to admit to it. Now that I know someone else on here has it, I feel like I can admit to having it as well. I'm still learning to be proud of it, just found out a week ago about it.

---

You don't need to be proud of it.

You also don't need to be ashamed of it.

NO ONE is perfect.

Live your life to the best of your abilities. Don't worry about any labels people or doctors give you.

I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to talk about it and that someone else saying they have it has helped.
I personally have problems with depression. I'm also positive that if people had been testing for adhd when I was a kid I would have been diagnosed with at least attention deficit. As an adult I have work around's to help me. I got into a profession when the ability to move quickly from one task to the next is a plus and I get to see a lot of different things which is perfect for me. As a kid, I was the cut up.

We have a very "Asperger-ish" family. My son is especially so; he goes to a new school that opened here this year for high-functioning kids on the autism spectrum (mostly with Asperger's). Here's a link to an article about the school:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...120202884.html

It's been a lifesaver for us; I homeschooled last year because there is no way he'd ever succeed in a public school classroom (especially here in our area). He thrives at Auburn, where social skills programs and individualized OT services are integrated with the curriculum. I think the school characterizes Asperger's just right: "quirky, bright people." :banana:

Lynn
(too many in my zoo to list the whole crew!)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Timebider

We have a very "Asperger-ish" family. My son is especially so; he goes to a new school that opened here this year for high-functioning kids on the autism spectrum (mostly with Asperger's). Here's a link to an article about the school:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...120202884.html

It's been a lifesaver for us; I homeschooled last year because there is no way he'd ever succeed in a public school classroom (especially here in our area). He thrives at Auburn, where social skills programs and individualized OT services are integrated with the curriculum. I think the school characterizes Asperger's just right: "quirky, bright people." :banana:

Lynn
(too many in my zoo to list the whole crew!)

---

One of my operators has it.

27 years old and is a heavy equipment operator.

Best mechanic we have. Once you get accustomed to the little personality quirks, and get used to his sense of humor, you forget he has it.

I have mild Aspergers. Trust me it's nothing at all to be ashamed of or embarrassesd about. I don't take medication of any sort, and I find it very managable. I find the most difficult part of Aspergers is for the people around me to understand it , even in the least. I would suggest doing alot of research on the topic, this will help you understand yourself alot more. I'm not nerdy or anything but, I am very intellectual, Aspergers is very fascinating, and some of the most intellectual people in history were Aspergers :) My girlfriend is a Special Ed teacher and she would have never guessed I had if I wouldn't have told her. One thing that aggravates me is people sometimes confuse aspergers and autism, which are two totally different things.

I recommend that you read the book "Look me in the eye" by John Elder Robison.

I've been told I show enough signs to be diagnosed, but have never pursued that. It's more commonly missed in females, as we apparently do not display exactly the same signs as males. Different brain wiring makes females more socially inclined--females with Asperger's may function as well socially as many males.
This may be why I find males much easier to socialize and communicate with than other females.
It's an interesting variation of human development that can be beneficial in some circumstances, but becomes detrimental when it is extreme. Severely affected persons face serious problems in learning and surviving in society. Mildly affected persons increasingly have an advantage, as specialization of interests pays off more and more often now.

A huge surge in Autism rates occurred in Silicon Valley, as large numbers of bright people with specialized interests flocked into the area, and of course, married each other. This reinforced their mildly autistic traits in their offspring, resulting in large numbers of severely affected children.

It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that people who keep large numbers of reptiles score high on the autistic spectrum, even if they aren't diagnosed. This is an unusual and specialized interest, and one has to have a very narrow focus on it to take it as far as many of us do.

Asperger's is a form of autism, it's not completely different from other types, but there are differences between types of autism.

There are many very influencial and famous people in the world that have this as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I've been told I show enough signs to be diagnosed, but have never pursued that. It's more commonly missed in females, as we apparently do not display exactly the same signs as males. Different brain wiring makes females more socially inclined--females with Asperger's may function as well socially as many males.
This may be why I find males much easier to socialize and communicate with than other females.

---

Yeah, I feel the same way. I was just diagnosed and I'm 13, so my parents didn't catch the signs early on because I'm a female.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kysenia

There are many very influencial and famous people in the world that have this as well.

---

Just to name a few!


* Jane Austen, 1775-1817, English novelist, author of Pride and Prejudice
* Béla Bartók, 1881-1945, Hungarian composer
* Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827, German/Viennese composer
* Alexander Graham Bell, 1847-1922, Scottish/Canadian/American inventor of the telephone
* Anton Bruckner, 1824-1896, Austrian composer
* Henry Cavendish, 1731-1810, English/French scientist, discovered the composition of air and water
* Emily ****inson, 1830-1886, US poet
* Thomas Edison, 1847-1931, US inventor
* Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German/American theoretical physicist
* Henry Ford, 1863-1947, US industrialist
* Benjamin Franklin,1706-1790, US polictician/writer
* Kaspar Hauser, c1812-1833, German foundling, portrayed in a film by Werner Herzog
* Oliver Heaviside, 1850-1925, English physicist
* Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, US politician
* Carl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychoanalyst
* Franz Kafka, 1883-1924, Czech writer
* Wasily Kandinsky, 1866-1944, Russian/French painter
* Abraham Lincoln,1809-1865, US Politician
* H P Lovecraft, 1890-1937, US writer
* Ludwig II, 1845-1886, King of Bavaria
* Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1868-1928, Scottish architect and designer
* Gustav Mahler, 1860-1911, Czech/Austrian composer
* Marilyn Monroe, 1926-1962, US actress
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791, Austrian composer
* Isaac Newton, 1642-1727, English mathematician and physicist
* Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher
* Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British logician
* George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish playwright, writer of Pygmalion, critic and Socialist
* Richard Strauss, 1864-1949, German composer
* Nikola Tesla, 1856-1943, Serbian/American scientist, engineer, inventor of electric motors
* Henry Thoreau, 1817-1862, US writer
* Alan Turing, 1912-1954, English mathematician, computer scientist and cryptographer
* Mark Twain, 1835-1910, US humorist
* Vincent Van Gogh, 1853-1890, Dutch painter
* Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519, Italian Painter,Scientist
* George Washington, 1732-1799, US Politician
* Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Viennese/English logician and philosopher
* Virginia Woolf, 1882-1941, English Writer

Historical people prominent in the late twentieth century (died after 1975)

* Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992, Russian/US writer on science and of science fiction, author of Bicentennial Man
* Hans Asperger, 1906-1980, Austrian paediatric doctor after whom Asperger's Syndrom is named
* John Denver, 1943-1997, US musician
* Glenn Gould, 1932-1982, Canadian pianist
* Jim Henson, 1936-1990, creator of the Muppets, US puppeteer, writer, producer, director, composer
* Alfred Hitchcock, 1899-1980, English/American film director
* Howard Hughes, 1905-1976, US billionaire
* Michael Jackson, 1958-2009, US singer
* Andy Kaufman, 1949-1984, US comedian, subject of the film Man on the Moon
* L S Lowry, 1887-1976, English painter of "matchstick men"
* Elvis Presley, 1935-1977, US musician
* Charles Schulz, 1922-2000, US cartoonist and creator of Peanuts and Charlie Brown
* Andy Warhol, 1928-1987, US artist

Contemporary famous people

* Woody Allen, 1935-, US comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, jazz clarinettist
* Tony Benn, 1925-, English Labour politician
* Pip Brown "Ladyhawke", 1979-, New Zealand Singer/Songwriter, Musician
* Charles ****inson, 1951, US Writer
* Bob Dylan, 1941-, US singer-songwriter
* Joseph Erber, 1985-, young English composer/musician who has Asperger's Syndrome, subject of a BBC TV documentary
* Bobby Fischer, 1943-, US chess champion
* Bill Gates, 1955-, US global monopolist
* Genie, 1957-?, US "wild child" (see also L'Enfant Sauvage, Victor, )
* Crispin Glover, 1964-, US actor
* Al Gore, 1948-, former US Vice President and presidential candidate
* Jeff Greenfield, 1943-, US political analyst/speechwriter, a political wonk
* David Helfgott, 1947-, Australian pianist, subject of the film Shine
* Garrison Keillor, 1942-, US writer, humorist and host of Prairie Home Companion
* Paul Kostabi 1962-, writer, comedian, artist, producer, technician
* Kevin Mitnick, 1963-, US "hacker"
* John Motson, 1945-, English sports commentator
* John Nash, 1928-, US mathematician (portrayed by Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind, USA 2001)
* Keith Olbermann, 1959-, US sportscaster
* Michael Palin, 1943-, English comedian and presenter
* Keanu Reeves, 1964-, Lebanese/Canadian/US actor
* Oliver Sacks, 1933-, UK/US neurologist, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings
* James Taylor, 1948-, US singer/songwriter
* Robin Williams, 1951-, US Actor

Well, most of that list is speculative, of course. Unless people have an actual diagnosis, it's merely a guess. In some cases a good guess, but still a guess.

I have worked with a child for 2 years now with it. You just learn their boundries and what sets them off. His Mom is a good friend of mine....she has a saying...."Im either laughin or cryin".

The person that stated a lot of ppl with this become very successful is exactly correct! Look how detailed pokeymon is....the person that created it has this as well.

My son is friends with this child and gets along fine with him. Kids tend to understand that not everyone is the same...some things set some off...some set others off. Wish I could say that for some adults. It saddens me when ppl ask me why I let my son go to his house. I hear aren't you afraid he is going to hurt him. UGH...makes me very angry and sad all at the same time. Wish adults would be more like children in this aspect....accepting!!

I have a cousin diagnosed with Asperger's.There is an undiagnosed strain of it in my family. It's nothing more than a mild case of autism. Mild enough that the person should be able to live a normal life, to work, marry, have children etc. The strength of Asperger's is that the person can think and reason more objectively without being unduly influenced by emotion and to be able to concentrate very deeply on something. The weakness is that understanding nonverbal communication such as body language and polite indirect hints that is intuitive to others must be learned either by instruction or painful trial and error. The tendency to avoid eye contact will attract bullies unless overcome. There is a somewhat interesting article that can be found on the internet about how not to attract bullies that was written by a famous author that posts on this site.

I have a niece with autism so in reading up on it I've seen some information on asperger's but not overly familiar with it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dsirkle

I have a cousin diagnosed with Asperger's.There is an undiagnosed strain of it in my family. It's nothing more than a mild case of autism. Mild enough that the person should be able to live a normal life, to work, marry, have children etc. The strength of Asperger's is that the person can think and reason more objectively without being unduly influenced by emotion and to be able to concentrate very deeply on something. The weakness is that understanding nonverbal communication such as body language and polite indirect hints that is intuitive to others must be learned either by instruction or painful trial and error. The tendency to avoid eye contact will attract bullies unless overcome. There is a somewhat interesting article that can be found on the internet about how not to attract bullies that was written by a famous author that posts on this site.

---

You have to understand that Aspergers is not as cut and dry as alot of people may think. It is a very very broad spectrum, and we are all very different. I don't believe that there can be a "status queue." Aspergers, just because one may have a particular trait doesn't mean the next 5 in line will have the same exact trait. The spectrum can vary greatly from person to person. For example, with what you spoke about "the weakness" part of your post, I always make direct eye contact with someone, and I understand non verbal communication extremely well. Also Autism and Aspergers, contrary to popular belief are 2 different worlds.

Yup, autism, pddnos, and aspergers are related, but different enough that they are categorized on their own. I'm a psych major and we have classes exclusively on the topic of autism and related illnesses, and the only sure thing about it is that it really is an extremely broad spectrum. So much that many psychologists think that most, if not everyone, exhibits to a certain extent the symptoms that are described for aspergers, the only difference being severity and how much it affects one's life. A psychological issue doesn't become an issue until it negatively impacts a person's quality of life.

i.e. a phobia of flying isn't an issue that needs treatment for someone who doesn't travel, but it is if the person needs it for work. Or, if someone is petrified of clowns, the only time it may matter is if they work for the circus.

The criteria for it is also very broad, and just because someone diagnosed has one symptom doesn't mean he/she will necessarily have another. It makes it very difficult to distinguish normal behavior from ones related to aspergers--for example, if someone have problems understanding metaphors or sarcasm, but are extremely social (yet slightly awkward,) and though he/she exhibits some fixation on certain topics, he/she is able to hold great conversation on others, they may be clumsy meeting new people, but don't lack the motivation to do so--some psychologists may diagnose this is aspergers, some may not.

We may think this is normal behavior because who hasn't been in that awkward stage where you're clumsy in everything you do and catch onto things a bit slow? Who doesn't have certain topics that are loved and just a bit obsessed over? Then again, if it causes issues in their relationships and affect the general well being of their lives, then it might become necessary to seek help for it.

Then you have some who have more severe symptoms, like having difficulty empathizing with others, may appear insensitive, have repetitive movements, fixate or obsess over a topic, and have issues understanding figurative speech--but what of it? They may still be social, have friends, and live through life undiagnosed but happy, and as it has been shown over and over again, the majority are also incredibly smart and intellectual.

Sometimes we're too much in a hurry to categorize and place a name on things, we forget that it may not be as severe as it may seem. A diagnosis isn't something to be sad or unhappy or feel stigmatized about, rather it simply sheds light on how to cope with it better. If you're someone who other people think is insensitive because certain behaviors don't come intuitively to you, it gives you a chance to be aware of it and correct it when you can.

Like everyone else said, they might appear a little quirky, but hey, that's character.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

You have to understand that Aspergers is not as cut and dry as alot of people may think. It is a very very broad spectrum, and we are all very different. I don't believe that there can be a "status queue." Aspergers, just because one may have a particular trait doesn't mean the next 5 in line will have the same exact trait. The spectrum can vary greatly from person to person. For example, with what you spoke about "the weakness" part of your post, I always make direct eye contact with someone, and I understand non verbal communication extremely well. Also Autism and Aspergers, contrary to popular belief are 2 different worlds.

---

Asperger's syndrome is no more than a title, can't be determined by science and therefore can't be cut and dried. But the fact remains that Hans Asperger coined this term in 1944 when he identified a strata of what at that time was considered the Autistic Spectrum and he wanted to separate it because of the lesser severity of symptoms and the expectation that these children could lead normal lives in comparison the typical autistic child. The traits that I mentioned are the typical identifying traits along with ticks of varying kinds. The traits usually are found in varying degrees within family groups and appears to be genetic. It runs in my family and I have some of the traits. If you think that are in a position to lecture me on the subject after I have read about it, observed it and lived it for 57 years go right ahead. As skiploader noted a peculiar sense of humor is also a trait.

Quote:

---

Quote:
Originally Posted by abuja
Thanks. I think it takes a lot of confidence to admit to it. Now that I know someone else on here has it, I feel like I can admit to having it as well. I'm still learning to be proud of it, just found out a week ago about it.

You don't need to be proud of it.

You also don't need to be ashamed of it.

NO ONE is perfect.

Live your life to the best of your abilities. Don't worry about any labels people or doctors give you.

---

Maybe not "proud" persay, but once you find out about this its a whole lot better than being told you are/or feeling like, you're crazy. It can actually bring about a feeling of relief.

It's alot easier to be proud of being a high functioning autistic with personality quirks, than it is to be proud of being depressed, bipolar, OCD, PPD, or any of the other things many people with AS are misdiagnosed with.

Of course certain things cannot be scientifically proven but with AS there is an "abnormal" functioning in the brain which can be seen in brain scans. Although I know this is true with many of the other things I mentioned as well. That was just a point made. (we also like to argue:rolleyes:)

The most interestig part about this thread being posted here on BP.net is the fact that most of us here are very obsessed with our hobby. :D Hmmmm.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

For example, with what you spoke about "the weakness" part of your post, I always make direct eye contact with someone, and I understand non verbal communication extremely well. Also Autism and Aspergers, contrary to popular belief are 2 different worlds.

---

It is my understanding that a deficiency in inherent social skills is part of the defining characteristics of Autism/Asperger's. This is not to say that persons with these conditions cannot learn to read body language, or make eye contact--just that it does not come naturally. If a person does appear to engage in non-verbal communication, understand it, and make eye contact normally without training themselves, I would actually suspect a misdiagnosis of Asperger's.

For my part, I use eye contact to assure others of my sincerity, since they seem to require that--or to dominate them. <lol> I have an easier time understanding animal body language than human body language, but I have learned a few things to look for over the years. I still think most humans behave in an irrational manner, and while I've come to expect many things, and understand why they do it, it's like understanding animal behaviors--I wouldn't do such a thing myself, and don't see why they can't override their impulses with logic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

It is my understanding that a deficiency in inherent social skills is part of the defining characteristics of Autism/Asperger's. This is not to say that persons with these conditions cannot learn to read body language, or make eye contact--just that it does not come naturally. If a person does appear to engage in non-verbal communication, understand it, and make eye contact normally without training themselves, I would actually suspect a misdiagnosis of Asperger's.

For my part, I use eye contact to assure others of my sincerity, since they seem to require that--or to dominate them. <lol> I have an easier time understanding animal body language than human body language, but I have learned a few things to look for over the years. I still think most humans behave in an irrational manner, and while I've come to expect many things, and understand why they do it, it's like understanding animal behaviors--I wouldn't do such a thing myself, and don't see why they can't override their impulses with logic.

---

I agree here. Not being able make and maintain eye contact is a huge part of AS. Those with AS do train themselves to make eye contact. It is not so much a social anxiety thing either. It is a natural way of being. Then when one figures out how society is supposed to be (learning through childhood and conquering these issues) they make it a point to make eye contact. And like said here,, usually to try to convey their feelings or sincerity, as well as to fit in and seem normal like everyone else.

Its like feeling like an alien or an oddity in a human body who interprets things differently, cannot understand "humanity" or lack thereof, societal norms or even physical norms.

I think too many people are not fully informed about this subject. The "symptoms" are all very clear and to anyone else may seem like they should not coincide but to people with AS who have every single "symptom" and sign ever listed, its more than obvious how it all connects.

When you consider the child-like actions and feelings an adult with AS may have, the intelligence level, manner of speaking and conversing, the awkwardness, the way humor is interpreted differently and often taken too literal, the specialization and obsession in one or two areas of interest, nervous ticks.. The list goes on..

It is a form of autism, and if for some reason it is not.. It is closer to autism than any other form of mental or neurological problem out there.

As for understanding non verbal communication? Those with AS usually can. In fact they are more prone to having a much higher understanding of certain things. Much more sensitive to emotion, spiritual, etc.. Which in turn makes it difficult to convey. Nothing in the world is harder to fully explain than Asperger's because those with it are on a different level and those without it dont understand it. Thats what makes it hardest. Always being stuck in your mind because others dont get you.