What is it Like Having Asperger's Syndrome? | Autism
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Individuals who have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome usually have characteristics in common with each other but may have symptoms that vary in intensity or may have more symptoms than the next person. The main symptoms which all individuals who have Asperger's Syndrome have in common is that they have a great deal of difficulty dealing with social situations. They have difficulties understanding or taking social cues; have been bullied in school for being different, odd, and even eccentric. They have a great deal of difficulty with non-verbal communications. Social situations can be very confusing times for someone with Asperger's Syndrome.
Those with Asperger's Syndrome find it difficult usually to make "small talk" at parties or other social gatherings. They have a great deal of trouble when asked to come up with an imaginative piece at school, as they are very literal people. They are good at recognizing details and facts, but cannot interpret what others are thinking or feeling based on body language and other non-verbal communications. They are often accused of being rude in public even though that was not the intention of the person. They like routine and doing things by rote. They can get extremely agitated when they experience changes. They are often accused of being inflexible and that they have repetitive behaviors such as wringing hands, or flapping hands.Recognizing the symptoms of those who have Asperger's syndrome and relating them to someone who has not been diagnosed yet can give a sense of relief that there is a name for what they have been experiencing all their life; there is a diagnosis to be had, support and treatment that can bring relief.Having Asperger’s Syndrome can be like driving down the street blindfolded or having a conversation with a person that you are very interested in talking to but someone turned down the volume on your hearing aid. Think of all the things you do on a daily basis that involve some sort of non-verbal communication from greeting family members and sharing a meal with them to meeting strangers on the street on your way to work. The workplace is a cornucopia of situations that involve non-verbal communications. The ability to make friends, date and find a mate all involve some sort of non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is very difficult for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome to accomplish successfully.When the diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome is made the life of the individual can be improved through interventions, therapies and medication. The blindfold comes off the driver and the hearing aid is turned up. There is hope that the individual being treated for Asperger’s Syndrome can learn to develop skills that will overcome or at least dilute the symptoms of the syndrome that keep him or her imprisoned in a cell where verbal and behavioral communication is stifled. The treatment unlocks the cell door allowing them freedom to participate in social situations, to participate more fully at work and school and to even be able to have a normal family life.Aspergers Syndrome
- Aspergers Syndrome & Autism
Common characteristics of individuals with Asperger’s syndrome are deficiencies in social skills, difficulties when it comes to changes and they often have obsessive routines and are preoccupied with one subject of interest.
Documentary about Asperger's Syndrome
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raymond, Very informational! I have a son with aspergers syndrome, and it really impacts our family greatly. the "Youtube" documentary you included is especially good. Thanks for making others aware. I invite you to check out my 2 hubs on aspergers. Keep writing. Julie
Chef thanks for sharing your thoughts here. As a teacher you play a very important role in the development of children.
Julie. I willcertainly check out your hubs on aspergers. I hope your son is doing well.
Speaking as someone with the diagnosis of Asperger's I find some of your comments very broad and general.
***Quote***They have a great deal of trouble when asked to come up with an imaginative piece at school, ***
That wasn't the case with me and it certainly isn't the case for the majority of people with asperger's I know personally.
Yes, it's true that SOME of us have difficulty doing this. But I know quite a few people whom you might dub "normal" or "neurotypical" who can't do that either. So it's hardly a fair guage to determine of someone has Asperger's or not.
I'm a huge fan of fantasy and science fiction and writing imaginative pieces was not my problem. Math was. Math always has been a problem.
Getting the diagnosis sure didn't make me feel better. It made me feel ostracized and alienated. It gave people the impression that I didn't have a mind of my own and they treated me that way through my entire high school years.
And then the so called "experts" write books about it and the people who read them to try to better understand their sons and daughters, or whoever, take these writings as gospel without considering that person's individual needs. (Remember how we're the ones who are supposed to take everything literally?)
I'm not trying to openly criticize your work or your methods. I'm simply trying to speak out as one of the people effected by these "experts" who are all ready in the field. I hope you are open to what some of "us" might actually have to say.
Thank you for your comment. That is surely appreciated.
I think i know a ;o about this syndrome.Thanks
Hello, I'm a 17 year and I have asperger's. I feel kind of offended when a person who most likely does not have asperger's judges and gives advice on us.
I for one am an extremely creative person, it annoys me when people make judgments like saying people with asperger's aren't creative, because that is just wrong. I do art, Photography,I'm going to become a chef, and travel the world, I write my own novels, I also bike, kyack,roller blade. I have ambition and dreams like anyone else.
It is also not a disorder and their is no medication, because it is not a mental illness or sickness of any form.We are just people with a different kind of brain. Yes, I have social problems and guess what, it kills me inside, to never get to express myself, to be talked down to, being underestimated. Asperger's is not something that can be 'fixed,or 'cured'. It's something that needs to be understood, people cant ask how to deal with it because thats just plain offensive, like were unwanted pest, a liability. were people, we want to express ourself's we are just to afraid to, its so scary talking to others, and no wonder, people just judge us, they may have a friend or family member with it and instantly believe they understand but they don't. I'm happy I have asperger's, because although it affects me socially, it gives me a different perspective on things, I would hate to be a typical immature teenager. I wish their were more people out their that would come forward and be proud and share it with the world, then their would be less of a minority and life would be better, I can relate to others with asperger's. What they really lack is having the support and understanding, because even in daily life people blame their asperger's for their actions, like maybe their having a bad day and their little sister tells them that asperger's is a behavioral problem, and that they think they understand because they live with them. well Aspergers is just part of who these people are, its you choice accept it and support or reject and try and ind a 'cure' or 'medication' to make them an ordinary child. Well thank you for talking the time to read, kind regards, Miss Anonymousv
I just decided to watch the video link. It says that "a person with asperger's live' on the physical level, what the can see,touch and measure is what is real to them,that's what's real to them,whilst emotions are invisible so you can not consider them or realize that they can be considered' thats a quote however not quite word for word. Whilst I understand that this man David apparently has asperger's I do not feel that it is his job to define how all aspies feel about emotions, i myself am a very emotional person, and I understand and recognize emotions. I love change, I live for change, I feel really bored when things say the same as-well. I do agree with some for the stuff said though.
I have Asperger's (now Autistic Spectrum Disorder - which kind of irks me, but that's for another discussion).
I think that a lot of what you said was very useful and actually affirming, but there are some areas where you could specify more to make things more accurate.
First of all, as mentioned above, we are emotional people. In fact, in some ways we often feel emotions more acutely than neurotypicals (people without Asperger's). The reason for this is that neurotypicals usually have a well developed mechanism for integrating emotions into their experience of life. You see, for many people with Asperger's, our ability to process information is very rigid, fact based and concrete. But it is not that emotions are not real to us. It is just that emotions do not lend themselves to analytical processing to lead to linear conclusions. Many of us will feel an emotion, but not know what to do with it, what to make of it, how it should affect our decisions and actions. The emotion becomes overpowering, may seem all the larger because we simply don't know how to classify it, use it for what it is intended for, and then be done with it. Thus the excessive guilt and difficulty handling emotions often experienced by us.
As was also said before, the person with Asperger's can be very creative. I can only speak from my own experience, but I find that I can often be inspired to very creative projects, but if someone asks me to do something "creative," I typically freeze up, because I don't have a "file" in my head marked "creative," such that I can just pick out a marvelous idea. The word creative only has meaning to me after I have done something fitting that description, not when trying to generate such an action.
Very importantly, I would like to address the statement that Asperger's is not a disorder. Like Asperger's itself, this is a paradox; it is and it isn't true. I like to say that Asperger's is a disorder and a superpower. We typically have the ability to outthink most of our peers, we are more intelligent than the vast majority of the population of this planet, we can make ideas dance and converge in ways most others cannot imagine, until we explain it. To be able to do this is magnificent and thrilling, and something most of us would never give up. On the other hand, most of us find it challenging to do things the vast majority find ludicrously simple - tell others our feelings, understand the significance of our feelings to ourselves, understand the wordless communication that most people know without even being aware of it, open emotionally to another without exploding, understand what others are feeling when we ourselves are distaught. Believe me, it is excruciating to hear for the millionth time in my life, "How could you not know that?" "It's obvious." "It's common sense." Like everything else in life, Asperger's is a mixed blessing. Sometimes the adventures of thought and mind are exhillerating. Other times, they seem like poor consolation for the racking emotional isolation many of us often feel. Sometimes, we find a special person, someone who has the patience to see through us, to help us hold ourselves together as we strip bare to them who we really are, who sees what we are and, instead of seeing an obstacle, sees something beautiful. Who loves us for our different mind, rather than in spite of it. I think that is what most of us crave - perhaps even the neurotypicals. It is what I wish for all of those who share my unique and different mind.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Psych, I still say aspergers. They can reclassify all they like but I'll still me my aspie self :)
Having aspergers feels like everything has been turned up full. Sometimes it's a good thing and sometimes not so good. Some of my traits are stressful and others, I believe benefit me greatly. Like Miss Anoumousv said I am also a very emotional aspie, often I feel that I feel to much or an too empathic and that has a negative effect on me. I don't mind change too much as long as it isn't sudden or uncertain.
Chef Jeff 3 years ago
Thank you for writing this hub. As a teacher I have had several occasions to work with children with Autism in its many forms. Some of the students I remember were exactly as you explained.
It always pained me to see adults trying to force an Autistic student to do things "just like everyone else" when it was clear that technique could never work for these students.
I also discovered that with patience and by adjusting my teaching strategies I could actually do a lot of good for Autistic students.