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My Turn to Introduce Myself - Hi Everyone

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Hi, I'm Matthew, 20, from Southend and I'm in my 3rd and final year of studying Sociology at Warwick University.

 

I've been curious about Asperger's Syndrome and other Autistic Spectrum Disorders for quite a while now. When I was a baby I was tested for autism and whilst I was then diagnosed outside of what they defined autism to be then, they considered me to be a borderline case, seeing as knowledge about autism varies greatly over time and within the medical profession, I believe they may have misdiagnosed a case of Asperger's within myself, though I've yet to face up to have any official tests or diagnosis as yet, though its something I want to do within the next year.

 

I've always been the outsider within most social groups, though socially, life has never been better for me here at university and I'm having a great time. However, I've always had problems making long term relationships with people, and I dread graduating, as I know it will mean I will inevitably drift apart from those I've got to know at university, just as I've drifted away from those I've got to know at primary school and secondary school. I can generally get by by myself in society I think, sometimes I'm quite happy to talk to people in the right situations - my housemates or those I've known for longer, but in large groups of people, I tend to be much more shy and I'm certainly prone to bouts of social awkwardness very frequently and sometimes find it hard to understand me, just as I find it hard to understand them sometimes. I guess one way of putting in is that I'll try my best to get on and like other people, even if doesn't look like I am, yet other people don't seem to have the patience to do the same with me.

 

I'm currently focusing my dissertation on how those with Asperger's Syndrome are treated by the rest of society. There are a lot of issues I want to cover, such as, the problems people have in forming relationships, in gaining jobs and careers as well as just getting by to by in daily social life. Linked to this is discrimination against those with Asperger's and how public opinion is formed upon it, looking particularly at the role of the media.

 

And in a separate area, I want to study attitudes to Asperger's within the medical profession - dealing with the lack of medical knowledge in the area and how this leads to misdiagnosis, under and over diagnosis, and different attitudes towards treatment of the condition, ranging from drugs to counselling and other methods. Also there's the area of those who attempt to find a "cure" to autism and aspergers, as well as those who believe the conditions don't exist and believe their causes are social, rather than neurological with a comparison to the similar public disdain there is towards to ADHD. If anyone can help me with my research into these issues, it would be much appreciated. :-)

 

I have decided to join this forum both as an aide to my research and to find out more about myself and what makes me who I am. I hope to find those with similar experiences I can identify with.

 

Well, that's a bit about me, thanks for reading :-)

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Hi Matthew, welcome to the forum. Good to hear university is going well for you.

 

All the interesting ASD related issues you raise have been discussed on the forum at sometime or another, and I'm sure there will be no shortage of opinions from current members. Good luck with your research.

 

K x

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Hi welcome and It was interesting reading your post,

 

my son is a complex case of autistic spectrum disorder, especially as he didnt meet the criteria for either Autism or Aspergers Syndrome and our area doesnt dx High Functioning Autism something he has now been Diagnosed with after been in a specialist school,

 

so even now all these years later from your own childhood, children are still not aquiring a diagnosis,

 

my son has further complications in that he has Co morbids such as ADHD and Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia where his IQ is above average, he excells in certain subjects but has massive impairments in language and communication, there is still a long way to go for our todays children and many are going to go down the same path as you, been undx as a child, been undx as a student, and possibly undx as an adult.

 

Anyway hope you get a formal dx in the near future, it must be very inspiring writning about a syndrome you may possible have yourself, thats amazing.

 

Goodluck to your research.

 

JsMumxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi welcome and It was interesting reading your post,

 

my son is a complex case of autistic spectrum disorder, especially as he didnt meet the criteria for either Autism or Aspergers Syndrome and our area doesnt dx High Functioning Autism something he has now been Diagnosed with after been in a specialist school,

 

so even now all these years later from your own childhood, children are still not aquiring a diagnosis,

 

my son has further complications in that he has Co morbids such as ADHD and Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia where his IQ is above average, he excells in certain subjects but has massive impairments in language and communication, there is still a long way to go for our todays children and many are going to go down the same path as you, been undx as a child, been undx as a student, and possibly undx as an adult.

 

Anyway hope you get a formal dx in the near future, it must be very inspiring writning about a syndrome you may possible have yourself, thats amazing.

 

Goodluck to your research.

 

JsMumxxxx

 

Welcome :thumbs: my son was diagnosed with aspergers 3 times at various hospitals and our local hospital tried to undiagnose him :wallbash: Its been a long and tough journey but atleast we are not alone now :party:

 

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Do I know you? HINT: Think High School.

 

...We both know the answer to that (I hope). I've only just turned up (as in accepted earlier today). Not so worried about losing track of everyone from the past, now, are we?

 

Well done on getting into one of the best Unis in the country. Even if saying so is a bit late.

 

Scott

Edited by sf-313

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Hello and welcome to the forum :)

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