Autism/Aspergers

[TikindiDragon]

As requested, one autism & Aspergers topic. To carry on form the discussion in the gay rights one

 

I started speaking on time, but my linguistic skills regressed almost back to square one. So which of the two would I likely be classified as?

 

I was originally just diagnosed with Autism back when it was a blanket disease (and arguably still is) and then HFA... I still need to get tested again to see whether I have Asperger's or not... mom doesn't seem to be in any big hurry to schedule an appointment though...

 

*Thinks we need an Autism/Asperger's topic since it keeps coming up in here*

 

No point in trying to be re-diagnosed. HFA and Aspergers, by the time you are an adult, are the same thing. The regression of linguistic skills suggests HFA to me, although it would help if Sola would have some input on it as she works in the medical profession.

 

I only got my Aspergers diagnosis in 2009. It had taken a year and a half of seeing various doctors and specialists to get it. When I was a kid... Aspergers and HFA were barely understood or recognised - if you weren't a case of classic Kanners Autism you were unlikely to be picked up. By the time Aspergers appeared as a diagnosis in 1994 I was out of pediatrics, and because I never caused any trouble at school I wasn't picked up in the secondary school system either. Note - that isn't never *had* any trouble, I did struggle at times, but I never made life difficult for the teachers so I never *caused* any trouble. Combine that with the fact that I'm bright and, well, got missed. It was only when I started having serious trouble at *work*, and when someone flat out asked me if I was autistic, that I started looking into it. Mum and I did some research, and it was like reading a check list. So I went to the doctors.... and now here I am. Fully diagnosed, and able to realise *why* I speant 25 years having such major problems in life.

 

Interestingly I'm now involved in some research on it. I've got to go up to Cambridge next week to have an MRI done while I'm reading things for them. It should be quite interesting - as this is the research that's actualy proving that ASD people do process things differently to NT people.

[me4him101]

I was tested for Aspergers syndrome but was told that Im just a very anxious person.

[Ruins]

As I said on the Gay Right's thread, I have mild-tp-medium Asperger's and maybe even borderline depression- or so my Mum says. I was diagnosed when I was seven, which was a real help; until then, all my teachers just thought I was bad.

I hate crowds, loud noises, and the touch of wool- I suppose I'm hypersensitive. People touching me is bad and it hurts.

[Zephyr_Drake]

I have Aspergers, I had to be taught how to interact with people and how to read body language too, that had some sucsess, but my spelling and handwriting are still horriffic.

 

Funnily enough, I work as a service assistant, so I have to deal with people every single day and offten get things wrong when dealing with some people. In particular when it comes to kids climbing over my checkout. I tell them to stop, the mother yells at me, I dont and the hurt themselves, they still yell at me. I cant make sense of it.

 

During school, I took mild friendly jokes as a sign that people hated me and withdrew to books in the smallest corner I could find. I got diagnosed in primary school, but did not recieve treatment till high school.

 

I got A's in Biology, Chemestry, Maths, Art and Music, but misribly failed English. One of my best friends also has Aspergers, and we think more alike than we do with others. His main diffrence is that he hasnt developed the "OMG people! RUN!!!" that I have, he just blabbs on and on when people shout (with body language) STOP PLEASE!!! (I also do this sometimes, especialy when talking about my pigeons or Dragon Cave or DRoP or Dragons in general)

[smokealarmsnick]

One of my best friends has Aspergers. He can be a little prickly and opinionated about things, but I love him just the same.

 

It made me so angry a year ago when I found out that some of our other "friends" were making fun of him for his Aspergers. And when I told them off about it, they stopped associating with us.

[kiffren]

I have a mild form of aspergers. Never been officially diagnosed (family hates psychiatrist type people), but I display most of the classic symptons. My ability to handle social situations has improved over the past couple years, but it's still only marginal. Like Zephyr_Drake said, I had to be taught to read body language, still not very good at, and interact with people.

[AngelKitty]

I was diagnosed ADD as a kid, but my Asperger's friend and her family are absolutely convinced I have it. I mean, I guess I display some characteristics of Asperger's (social awkwardness and obsessive interests, though my biggest issue is with assessing appropriateness and putting thoughts into words, though I don't know if difficulty putting thoughts into words is a symptom or not. Either way, I have several "funny" stories about my failure to word things correctly and the cascades of stupid that follow when I try to suavely rectify the mistakes ), but I stick with the ADD diagnosis since a lot of the same symptoms show up there, too, and I can't be bothered to spend the money to be re-tested.

Edited October 15, 2010 by AngelKitty

[me4him101]

sometimes I can't put my thought into words. I tend to get obsessed over something and several days later change. lol! Like using a kniffty knitter to knit with.

[lightbird]

I have a mild form of aspergers. Never been officially diagnosed (family hates psychiatrist type people), but I display most of the classic symptons. My ability to handle social situations has improved over the past couple years, but it's still only marginal. Like Zephyr_Drake said, I had to be taught to read body language, still not very good at, and interact with people.

Sorry if this sounds like following a trend, but I can pretty much apply to myself what Kiffren said.

I have very little empathy, am self-centered, am shy about social situations I haven't experienced and only moderately better at certain situations I do know, can't read a body posture I haven't learned about and have less-than-average vocal language skills.

[earthgirl]

I was never diagnosed, but from what I've been reading about this disorder, I present quite a number of AS symptoms.

 

I lack empathy and ability to read body language. There have been many situations where people tried to tell me something, made signs at me and stuff and I simply didn't get it. :| Also, I am kind of clumsy and numb most of the time. As a kid, I always had this inclination to be the 'different' one. It didn't help me much though. Hypersensitive and I cry very easily. Can't really talk properly either if in front of a crowd. I can't use proper grammar if I'm frightened of something (and I usually am), tho I can write perfectly. This makes me look dumb. >.> Let alone, the ability to express my feelings in front of a stranger.

I don't have as much desire to interact with people in real life and when they show up, I am mostly reserved and don't say a thing. Well, at least I won't say a thing unless there is a person I feel attracted to socially. I have this thing and pick them.

I have the ability make friends, tho very hard and not for a long time, because something in me is telling me that I won't need them for too long.

 

I guess this kind of sums up my symptoms and if someone here knows for sure, they are free to help me.

Edited October 15, 2010 by earthgirl

[RheaZen]

If I got examined they might find something, but I'm pretty sure I don't have anything.

 

There's a difference between autism and just being a shut-in, peeps.

[lightbird]

There's a difference between autism and just being a shut-in, peeps.

This.

 

Personally, I don't think that not being able to make friends is a sign of autism/Aspergers, there are some other character traits at work there.

[AngelKitty]

If I got examined they might find something, but I'm pretty sure I don't have anything.

 

There's a difference between autism and just being a shut-in, peeps.

This. And this is another reason why I won't get tested - I really don't think I have it, even if my friend and her family say I act like it. There are better explanations for my social awkwardness than autism - in my case, it's more likely due to being harassed and tormented for so long.

[Obscure_Trash]

There's a difference between autism and just being a shut-in, peeps.

Thiiiiiiiiiis.

 

~

 

There was a kid in my high school with Asperger's (wore a suit everyday even when I thought I would melt in a t-shirt and shorts). Every year we had to do an inquiry project, basically ask an open-ended controversial question with no answer and do a presentation on it. I don't remember his question, but I saw his presentation one year. T'was on Asperger's and was pretty interesting.

 

Found out that if you put my friend and I together, we make a full Autistic person. ;P

[TikindiDragon]

I can direct people to a online test designed by a specialist researcher in the field if y'all are interested. It covers the full range of things that are likely to indicate a diagnosis, not just the social things. Funnily enough I show almost off-the-scale Aspergers on it, my other half shows NT (although he has a *major* spike in the direction of aspie socialising because he's socialy phobic).

 

http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php <- aspie quiz. Not a diagnosis, but I find it to be a good voer view.

[lightbird]

Funny, that that quiz has a question about walking on your toes, because I do enjoy that.

 

Anyway... This shows I supposedly have both neurotypical and Aspie traits with more a bit more Aspie than NT. /goes to fetch the .pdf

Looks like I mostly fail at being NT when it comes to socializing. Durp.

Edited October 15, 2010 by lightbird

[earthgirl]

um well, my results to the quiz were:

 

Your Aspie score: 137 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 68 of 200

You are very likely an Aspie.

 

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12c.php?p1=84&...6&p11=74&p12=36

 

Well, pretty much.

But I still have to see a doctor, in order to know for sure.

 

[Indelicately]

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12c.php?p1=50&...9&p11=36&p12=31

 

Your Aspie score: 71 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 165 of 200

You are very likely neurotypical

 

Hurhur like I didn't know that already.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Indelicately

[lola92]

Your Aspie score: 170 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 41 of 200

You are very likely an Aspie

 

I took the quiz just because some of my habits someone i knew told me i acted like i was austistic....

 

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12c.php?p1=91&...2&p11=68&p12=76

[wolfclaw]

Your Aspie score: 165 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 35 of 200

You are very likely an Aspie

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12c.php?p1=96&...7&p11=79&p12=76

 

I have to idea what the shape in the box means. The lines seem to be one the red side. I was surprised that some of the questions fit me really well, especially the one about walking on my toes.

Two of my neighbors grandchildren have autism, and the older one has Aspersers. He's about two or three years younger than me, but is still one of my best friends (I have very few friends.) The younger one has it worse and really can't talk well.

 

Edited October 15, 2010 by wolfclaw

[RheaZen]

Funny, that that quiz has a question about walking on your toes, because I do enjoy that.

How else are you supposed to pretend you're a raptor?

 

I'm actually stuck on the quiz. One of my parents is from Hong Kong, the other from Beijing. (Why is Hong Kong separate from the rest of China anyhow...?)

[lightbird]

How else are you supposed to pretend you're a raptor?

 

I'm actually stuck on the quiz. One of my parents is from Hong Kong, the other from Beijing. (Why is Hong Kong separate from the rest of China anyhow...?)

Oh yes. /does the velicoraptor

 

Uh, didn't Hong Kong have a long history of being an English colony yadayada?

Edited October 15, 2010 by lightbird

[War Pig Killer]

I suspect I have it, but I haven't seen a reason to be tested other than for the sake of knowing - I couldn't afford treatment/therapy even if I could get it.

[Qwackie]

I just took that quiz. Says I'm likely an Aspie.

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12c.php?p1=68&...4&p11=79&p12=35

I got a 150 of 200 on aspie, non-autistic is 52/200.

[RheaZen]

Oh yes. /does the velicoraptor

 

Uh, didn't Hong Kong have a long history of being an English colony yadayada?

... still leaves me in a bit of a quandary.

 

Meh, I'll probably get bored halfway through anyways.