I have always had a distinct dislike for any disease or disorder that becomes the "go-to" diagnosis in the medical field. I resisted going to a doctor for depression for several years, not because I didn't want to admit to being depressed, but b/c I didn't want to be thrown into a diagnosis unless it was a true diagnosis.
In the 80s and 90s, children were being diagnosed hand-over-fist as being ADD or ADHD. Then there was majoe depressive disorder (also known as clinical depression) and manic-depressive disorder (also known as bipolar disorder). The latest "go-to" diagnosis is autism.
I know several people that have autistic children, all of which are on the severe end of the spectrum. I marvel everyday at the things they deal with and the special things they have to do just to get through a normal day.
Recently, I have been reading up on what is being called the Autism Spectrum Disorder. ASD is a proposed revision to the DSM-5, released in May 2013 (I'll refrain from going out on a tangent about my feelings regarding calling it the DSM-5, as opposed to the DSM-V), where the diagnosis of ASD will encompass all of the following: Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. In other words, instead of being diagnosed as autistic or as suffering from CDD, etc., a person would now be diagnosed as suffering from ASD, and will be described in terms of (a) severity of social communication symptoms, (b) severity of fixated or restricted behaviors or interests, and (c) associated features.
Several years ago, I took the AQ, or Autismm Spectrum Quotient. It's a fifty question test that looks into whether adults of average intelligence (high-intelligence is generally typical of autism patients) have symptoms of autism spectrum conditions. According to Wikipedia (which I trust only to a certain extent), in the test's initial trials, "the average score in the control group was 16.4, with men scoring slightly higher than women (about 17 versus about 15). 80% of adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders scored 32 or more, compared with only 2% of the control group. The authors cited a score of 32 or more as indicating "clinically significant levels of autistic traits"." Scores of 25-31 can be indicative of Asperger's Syndrome. NOTE: THIS TEST IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED TO SELF-DIAGNOSE. However, I scored a 40 out of 50.
Asperger's Syndrome is a form of high-functioning autism. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, and often include:
-problems with social skills
-eccentric or repetitive behaviors
-unusual preoccupations or rituals
-communication difficulties
-limited range of interests
-coordination problems
-skilled or talented
-unable to cuddle or be comforted
More specifically:
-inability to start and maintain a conversation
-dislike any changes in routines
-appear to lack empathy
-unable to recognize subtle differences in speech tone, pitch and accent that alter the meaning of speech; very literal
-have a formal style of speaking
-avoid eye contact or stare at others
-have unusual facial expressions or postures
-be preoccupied with only a few interests, and be extremely knowledgeable about those interests.
-talk a lot, have one-sided conversations, and/or verbalize internal thoughts
-have delayed motor development
-heightened senstivity to and become overstimulated by loud noises, lights, or strong tastes or textures
-most students with Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism have average mathematical ability and test slightly worse in mathematics than in general intelligence
-problems with sleep, including difficulty falling asleep and frequent nocturnal awakenings
-excellent auditory and visual perception
According to webMD, "although teens with Asperger's can begin to learn those social skills they lack, communication often remains difficult....will want friends but may feel shy or intimidated when approaching other teens. He or she may feel "different" from others. Although most teens place emphasis on being and looking "cool," teens with Asperger's may find it frustrating and emotionally draining to try to fit in. They may be immature for their age and be naive and too trusting, which can lead to teasing and bullying...some teens with Asperger's syndrome are able to make and keep a few close friends through the school years. Some of the classic Asperger's traits may also work to the benefit of your teen. Teens with Asperger's are typically uninterested in following social norms, fads, or conventional thinking, allowing creative thinking and the pursuit of original interests and goals. Their preference for rules and honesty may lead them to excel in the classroom and as citizens."
Regarding adults with Asperger's, webMD continues, "Asperger's syndrome is a lifelong condition, although it tends to stabilize over time, and improvements are often seen. Adults usually have a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. They are able to learn social skills, including how to read others' social cues."
Many people with Asperger's syndrome also have symptoms of the following conditions:
-attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
-anxiety disorder
-depression
-nonverbal learning disorder
-obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
-social anxiety disorder
*a note on nonverbal learning disorder:
Children with nonverbal learning disorder often have difficulty with math.
We have long thought that I am numerically dyslexic. By the time I figured out what the problem was, I was out of school and didn't see the need to get an official diagnosis. However, if I ever go back to college, I will be looking into the issue. I won't make it through 5 years of scientific math and calculus without some kind of help.
Check out all the orange in the above information. If it's orange, it's me. It's not that I want to be diagnoxed as having Asperger's Syndrome. But the more I read about it, the more I wonder if I might be right htere on the edge. So many of the symptoms have always been chalked up to other things, all of which do seem to fit. But isn't it interesting that EVERY SINGLE ONE of the symptoms fits under one single diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome?
