Know if You Have Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by difficulties in social interaction and non-verbal communication. Some of the smartest, most talented people worldwide and throughout history are thought to have had Asperger's.[1] Many adults who have Asperger's Syndrome were never diagnosed or even misdiagnosed.[1] While Asperger's Syndrome is no longer officially a diagnosis as of 2013,[2] it's still commonly talked about. People with Asperger's Syndrome (sometimes referred to as "aspies") often have difficulty with making and keeping friends. People with Asperger's Syndrome are sometimes considered gifted and talented. As they become more aware of themselves socially, they may understand their differences more.

Steps

  1. Understand some of the key traits that people with Asperger's Syndrome tend to experience:[citation needed]
    • People with Asperger's Syndrome have difficulty with social politics. When in social situations, they don't always understand how and why people act the way they do. They also have difficulty understanding social cues, like facial expressions and body language.
    • People with Asperger's often have trouble forming and keeping friendships due to their social difficulties.
    • People with Asperger's Syndrome often dislike changes in their routines, and they tend to have strict preferences in all aspects of life.
    • People with Asperger's Syndrome often have limited interests, which they may be very knowledgeable about.
    • People with Asperger's Syndrome may talk a lot, usually about a favorite subject. One-sided conversations are common, and internal thoughts are often verbalized.
    • People with Asperger's Syndrome often have delayed coordination and motor developments. Many do not participate in sports and in general are not fans of sports.
    • People with Asperger's syndrome may have heightened sensitivity and become over-stimulated by loud noises, lights, strong tastes, or textures.
    • People with Asperger's often have poor executive function skills. This includes having difficulty keeping track of time or possessions, or not being able to complete homework and turn it in on time.
  2. Note that a person with one or two of these symptoms does not necessarily have Asperger’s Syndrome. To be diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a person must have a combination of these symptoms and severe trouble with social situations.. Many of these symptoms coincide with other disabilities such as ADHD, OCD, depression, or anxiety.
  3. Be aware of the positives. Adults with Asperger's syndrome can obtain a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. Most can eventually live independently, hold jobs, and even marry and have children. However depending on the individual, it may take them longer than usual to accomplish these.
    • Some traits that are typical of Asperger's syndrome, such as attention to detail and focused interests. Many people with Asperger's Syndrome seem to be fascinated with progress of the human race, breaking barriers to achievements. A common career choice is engineering.
    • Scientific careers are by no means the only areas where people with Asperger's Syndrome excel. Indeed, many respected historical figures have had symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome which has led to speculation that they had Asperger's, including Vincent Van Gogh, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Bertrand Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Emily Dickinson, Henry Ford, Mark Twain, and George Washington.[1]
    • Each individual with Aspergers is unique in regards to traits. One may be very talkative and like sports, while another is very quiet and likes comics. Not all people with Asperger's will have the same components such as having limited interests, or not liking routine. One individual with Aspergers may have the obvious traits while another can fly under the radar for a long time. In other words, each person is unique and one shouldn't generalize someone with Aspergers.



Tips

  • A very important trait that is often not listed is that individuals with Autism/Aspergers have an impaired and often delayed theory of mind aka mind blindness. This is the ability to understand the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of other people. Someone with an impaired theory of mind may have difficulty understanding how their words or actions will affect other people. This would explain some of the traits such as being honest to a fault, having one-sided conversations, or difficulty picking up on non-verbal cues.
  • Some people believe that an Asperger individual's struggle to empathize is false. Because of their alleged emotional immaturity it could be said that they actually find it easier than most (for instance, a child with Asperger's may be deeply concerned or troubled if a person was being interviewed on the television about some hardship they had to endure and confused as to why others watching the television were not as affected), but just either don't recognise that someone is upset or don't know how to go about it.
  • People with Aspergers are often overly honest to a fault. This may make them at times appear rude or insensitive to other peoples feelings even if they don't realize this. One example is if a teacher asks a student if they completed their homework assignment, the student might reply with "I don't care I never do my homework anyway."
  • One may also say that it depends on the individual as to whether someone with Aspergers has difficulty to empathize or not. Just like anyone else, some people are better at empathizing than others.
  • Many children with Asperger's Syndrome have other disorders. They include:
    • Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD).
    • Anger
    • Anxiety
    • Depression.
    • Nonverbal Learning Disorder.
    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
  • Although not a core trait of Aspergers, a majority are not fans of sports whether through watching them or playing them.
  • Although Asperger's syndrome is on the autism spectrum, a person with Asperger's syndrome has typical cognitive development and usually has normal language development.
  • A higher percentage of those with Aspergers compared to the neurotypical population are non-religious. One reason for this is because they tend to be more logical and may not understand the concept of religion. Another reason may be because they don't get the social benefits of being in a group as going to church often puts you in a social group with other people who are alike.
  • There is some dispute whether Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism are the same thing or different diagnoses. Some researchers believe they are distinct while others say they are indistinguishable. Some studies indicate that those diagnosed with HFA have some language delays, have higher spatial intelligence, and have a wider array of interests while those with Aspergers have better verbal intelligence and have no language delays.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/article_2086.shtml
  2. ↑ http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorder%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

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