Autism/Aspergers

[Cecona]

I know first hand it can be really hard on parents. My Mum spent a *lot* of time feeling like she was a failure as a parent because I simply didn't 'get' the things she was trying to teach me. Getting the Aspergers diagnosis helped with that a lot, as she began to realise that it was just how I was wired, rather than a failing on her part.

 

We did a *lot* of talking stuff through, though. And my diagnosis didn't come until after I'd moved out, so there was a bit of pressure off there too.

 

My sister had the same thing with what people thought when we were growing up - she actually disowned me at one point. As in denying we were related when directly asked. She and I have likewise worked a lot of our issues out (although not to the levels of understanding each other my Mum and I have reached).

It makes me happy to hear I'm not the only one that has had these problems considering parents and siblings. While my sister never disowned me, she was heavily embarrassed being related to me because of the things I did. I would balance by book bag on my head, wear cat ear hairbands and hiss at people that pissed me off, there was also this one time after taking the TAKS test (Texas's version of the big tests given at the end of the year) I wanted to leave and walk home since there wasn't anything else left for me to do but they wouldn't let me so I ran and they had school security chasing me and I went outside and hid in the bushes. Apparently people that knew my sister and I saw and they were telling/asking her about it.

 

I think the thing that pissed her off the most about me was my tendency to break things. Specifically her things. It's not like I ever did it on purpose I'm just really really clumsy. Things are cool between us now though for the most part, and actually I'm kind of the reason she went into psychology during college.

 

When it comes to my mom, she believes that she knows what's going on with me but she hasn't done any actual research on Asperger's or looked up how to properly handle a child with Asperger's. I try to talk to her, but I have a lot of difficulty getting certain things out/across and it frustrates me. And if it starts drifting to a subject she doesn't want to talk about she will get pissed off at me and tell me to go to my room. (not in a punishment way but more of a "I can't deal with you right now so it's best to avoid me for awhile" way)

 

One factor that I think makes it more difficult for her to deal with me is because she was basically gone for my teen years. My parents separated when I was 12 and she moved to Louisiana where I saw her maybe a collective of one month out of the year. This continued until I was 17 when she finally moved back to Texas. And the only reason I actually live with her now is because I can no longer live with my dad... seeing as he is just a box of ashes.

[eritated]

And sometimes I think I might be deaf because I have to ask people to repeat themselves 100 times.

Having hearing loss does not = being deaf. Being deaf means you can't hear at all.

 

Sorry, I'm just sensitive to this because people assume that I'm deaf just because I have some hearing loss (not that being deaf is a bad thing, it just annoys me).

[Obscure_Trash]

Being deaf means you can't hear at all.

Well, technically, you can still hear while deaf, but you can't unscramble sounds. It's like hearing a bunch of mumbles. But I'm derailing, so I'll disappear. ^^

[dragongrrl]

Pretty interesting test, but I seem to be in some sort of middle ground with it. I know I have some neurologic glitches, but it's never been completely explored.

 

Your Aspie score: 99 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 100 of 200

You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

 

I've always been a pretty weird mix. I guess I should try to learn more about this. I've always dealt best with kids and animals, but don't deal as well when there is artifice involved.

 

As to deafness and autism, I had this experience a long time ago.

 

In my babysitting years, I took care of a little girl, a baby, who was thought to be autistic. She would arch her back when being picked up, almost like she didn't want to be held, but touch seemed to be the only way to communicate with her. The parents didn't know what to do, and the doctors thought she was autistic, but I got along reasonably well with her, so I spent a lot of time with her. When she was about a year old, someone clapped their hands loudly and she turned her head, first time I'd ever seen her respond to anything but touch. As a result, the parents had more testing done and she was found to be deaf. They started teaching her sign language, and she blossomed. Once she had a way to communicate, the autistic symptoms vanished.

[Cecona]

Having hearing loss does not = being deaf. Being deaf means you can't hear at all.

 

Sorry, I'm just sensitive to this because people assume that I'm deaf just because I have some hearing loss (not that being deaf is a bad thing, it just annoys me).

Sorry, I wasn't being serious, I know I'm not deaf, but there definitely are moments where I might as well be because I cannot hear them well enough to understand what they are saying to me even if they've repeated themselves 20 times. It gets really frustrating.

 

Edit: that's really interesting, dragongrrl. She mustn't have been completely deaf if she was able to hear a loud clap, did they ever see if maybe she could be fit with a hearing aid?

Edited September 23, 2013 by Cecona

[dragongrrl]

She did wear hearing aids, but she learned far more by sign. The clap has very loud, sudden, a kind of explosive pop against very little background noise. She made sounds past a point, but had trouble making intelligible speech. I lost touch with the family when she was about six, so I don't know how well she might speak now, but I did learn a few years ago that she married a deaf man and they had two hearing sons.

[zaverxi]

Your Aspie score: 144 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 52 of 200

You are very likely an Aspie

 

And today's a bad day. Social anxiety through the roof.

 

Also can someone explain what the graph means? I'm having difficulty interpreting it.

Edited September 23, 2013 by zaverxi

[Aamaranthine]

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.

I could pretty much quote this to summarize my life.

 

I am 28 and I took a couple of self-tests.

 

Like the usual Aspie Quiz:

 

Your Aspie score: 157 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 56 of 200

You are very likely an Aspie

 

I never thought about that, even though I knew I was really different when I was a kid, a teen and even an adult. But I came accross a particular blog about an autistic boy and started to communicate with his mother via e-mail because I had many things in common with that boy. I found out I could be an aspie. Noone from my family believed me when I first started about this. They always called me weird but never looked for a reason. However I didn't give up and my mum read some of the conversation I had with that woman, and I believe, she got it. Or at least she understood a bit.

I visited a psychiatrist who sent me for a test. I took the test (3,5 hours) but never came back for the results, because the psychiatrist's office was a mess and she didn't even pay attention to me. I was so stressed and shocked I never visited her again to know the results. It was 1 year ago.

Like everyone else I would like to know... Not that it can help me in my life, but it can help me to know who I am.

[7Deadly$ins]

It makes me happy to hear I'm not the only one that has had these problems considering parents and siblings. While my sister never disowned me, she was heavily embarrassed being related to me because of the things I did. I would balance by book bag on my head, wear cat ear hairbands and hiss at people that pissed me off, there was also this one time after taking the TAKS test (Texas's version of the big tests given at the end of the year) I wanted to leave and walk home since there wasn't anything else left for me to do but they wouldn't let me so I ran and they had school security chasing me and I went outside and hid in the bushes. Apparently people that knew my sister and I saw and they were telling/asking her about it.

 

Is that sort of behavior related to Asperger's, though? I legitimately don't know. Particularly the running out thing.

[Cecona]

Well I think that had more to do with the whole utterly hating school thing. I hated being there. The kids bullied me a lot and made it a living hell to be there.

 

 

And I kind of feel bad for the people that had to wait a long time and take a lot of tests to get their diagnosis. The psychiatrist that diagnosed me has a brother who has Asperger's and she also specializes in patients with Asperger's and Autism. She said she was able to tell I had it after talking with me and asking questions for 5 minutes.

Edited September 23, 2013 by Cecona

[7Deadly$ins]

Well but I mean that specifically. Like, there's all sorts of reasons why that sort of behavior is a really bad choice, but you did it anyway. Is that because of Asperger's or just because you hate school?

[Cecona]

I don't really know. I just do things I feel I should do.

[Obscure_Trash]

Edit: that's really interesting, dragongrrl. She mustn't have been completely deaf if she was able to hear a loud clap, did they ever see if maybe she could be fit with a hearing aid?

Deaf people can still sense vibrations and can hear noises. They just can't make out or understand what is being said or what the specific sound was, maybe. They can recognize beats. They can enjoy music. My deaf teacher for ASL knew whenever we were talking. Deaf people don't just sit around in silence. =p

[Cecona]

Deaf people can still sense vibrations and can hear noises. They just can't make out or understand what is being said or what the specific sound was, maybe. They can recognize beats. They can enjoy music. My deaf teacher for ASL knew whenever we were talking. Deaf people don't just sit around in silence. =p

Well I tried to specify it as completely deaf, as in no sounds heard at all. I understand that deaf isn't classified as just that, and there are varying degrees of it. I'm not trying to be insensitive x_x

 

I don't know if a baby would be able to feel the vibrations from a clap, especially just a single one.

[VictoryWolf]

I am confused, what is this thing about Aspie scores? And does Aspie mean Asperger's Syndrome, because being one myself, I don't like that. Might seem a bit picky, but its how I feel.

[KageSora]

I am confused, what is this thing about Aspie scores? And does Aspie mean Asperger's Syndrome, because being one myself, I don't like that. Might seem a bit picky, but its how I feel.

There are some tests out there that can give you a vague idea of if you share some traits with a person who's on the spectrum. Kinda like how there are tests out there for mental illness, or personality.

 

They can be interesting to take, but should never be taken as an actual diagnosis. Though, for some people, it might be something that pushes them to seek a professional opinion on the matter.

 

As for aspie... Yep, it's short for Asperger's.

 

As an aspie myself, I like it because I can't spell the proper name to save my life without a reference/looking it up. It's a term a lot of us use to refer to ourselves, NOT a term used mostly by neurotypical people to refer to us. Though, personally, I don't mind when they do since, IMO, it's just a shorter/easier to spell way to say the same thing.

[Cecona]

An Aspie is someone that has Asperger's Syndrome, not a name for the syndrome itself. I like the nickname, I think it sounds cute. I remember taking one of those online Asperger's tests and got a score on the higher side of Asperger's part of the spectrum. Maybe I should try the test posted earlier.

[KageSora]

An Aspie is someone that has Asperger's Syndrome, not a name for the syndrome itself. I like the nickname, I think it sounds cute.

Ah, yeah, that's what I meant--it's short for the actual name of the diagnosis but is used not as an alternative, but as a name for those who have said diagnosis.

 

I just like not having to say "I have Asperger's" and just being able to go "I'm an aspie". (Since, if it's not readily spelled out, I can't spell it as I said.)

[Cecona]

Yea, I perfer saying Aspie over Asperger's, but the problem is not a lot of people know what Aspie means or even what Asperger's is. And when I say Asperger's I have stupid people going "Ass burgers?" Even my mom did that when I first told her about it.

 

Also I did the test thing:

 

Your Aspie score: 173 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 48 of 200

You are very likely an Aspie

Edited September 26, 2013 by Cecona

[7Deadly$ins]

I am confused, what is this thing about Aspie scores? And does Aspie mean Asperger's Syndrome, because being one myself, I don't like that. Might seem a bit picky, but its how I feel.

As you've been told, yes that's what it is. I'm not a fan of it myself because I hate "Internet Brain Doctor" self-diagnosing, but it is what it is.

[Switch]

Weelll I probably wouldn't have brought it up to my parents if it weren't for that little quiz (I mean I had suspected I had something for a while anyway) but I did aaand it turns out I was actually diagnosed with aspergers a long time ago but my parents didn't tell me. But that's just my case personally ;u;

Although that also happened a while ago.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Switch

[KageSora]

Weelll I probably wouldn't have brought it up to my parents if it weren't for that little quiz (I mean I had suspected I had something for a while anyway) but I did aaand it turns out I was actually diagnosed with aspergers a long time ago but my parents didn't tell me. But that's just my case personally ;u;

Although that also happened a while ago.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the test prodding somebody to seek professional opinions--it can be a good thing!

 

And, it can also give you a little insight into how your brain works, even if you're not actually an aspie.

 

The problem, though, comes with people who just self-diagnose and just decide that that makes them a special snowflake or who just want a self-diagnosed label and don't actually want to seek out any information on their supposed "condition" (for lack of a better word).

[Switch]

Oh yeah I definitely agree with you there. I just thought that was relevant. ;u;

Edited September 26, 2013 by Switch

[eritated]

Your Aspie score: 130 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 62 of 200

You are very likely an Aspie

 

Okay wow. Some of those questions really described me and my life so perfectly o_o

 

I've been suspecting something like this for awhile now, ever since my mom jokingly said to me "Do you have Aspburger's or something??" because I prefer to stay in my room alone, and don't like being in social situations. It made me start thinking about how I might actually have Aspburger's or something similar. I don't know how to bring it up to my parents that I suspect that I could have it...

 

Edit: I've heard that a lot of people who are diagnosed with Aspburger's don't really have it. Is this true, or just a rumour?

Edited September 26, 2013 by Erica8798

[TikindiDragon]

Edit: I've heard that a lot of people who are diagnosed with Aspburger's don't really have it. Is this true, or just a rumour?

[/color]

I've not heard that about Aspergers (no 'b', incidently) myself, although I *have* heard it about ADHD in the States. I'm aware there is a tendancy in the US to diagnose something so they can medicate, though.

 

Anyone who is wondering can also go looking for the AQ (Autism Quotient) and EQ (Empathising Quotient) tests by Simon Baron-Cohen. He's a leading expert in the UK, and I know those tests are used as diagnostic tools over here (though, please note, they are not a diagnosis in themselves). Very much like the other test I posted these sorts of things can only highlight possible areas, a full diagnosis can only be made by a board of professionals, and does require statements from family members about your childhood.

 

For all those doubtful of self diagnosis - there's a large amount of 'it depends' here. I know that for a lot of people who get their diagnosis as adults they have self diagnosed *first*, and then gone to the doctors. That's certainly how I did it - someone flat out asked if I had Aspergers (which I'd never heard of), so I went and did some reasearch. I was 99% sure I was aspie before I ever went to my GP, and going through the diagnostic process only confirmed that. I didn't suddenly go from 'non-Aspergers poser' to 'actual Aspie' because I'd self-diagnosed first. There's also a lot of self diagnosed adults out there who have no desire for a formal diagnosis (which may actualy give them more trouble than help), but can use the self diagnosis to help them form a framework to improve how they interact with people.

 

Also, FYI for those wondering, 'aspie' is a term mostly used within the Autistic community, and by those that are familiar with us. It is categorically *not* a derivitive name that has come from NTs not familiar with the condition.