Do I Have Asperger's?

[leeds_demon]

Last year I was diagnosed as having Asperger's, by a clinical psychologist at the Sheffield Asperger's Unit and yet I still don't think I'm an Aspie and here's why:

 

I don't have the classic Aspie monotone voice;

I can look people in the eye most of the time - Aspies don't.

A young lad, with Asperger's, who appeared on BBC 2's Wonderland and who was on a car journey with his family, had never been to the shops and yet as a youngster I went to the local shops for my mum.

I don't have many friends - but then again I don't go out a lot, if at all, as I don't like leaving my dog for too long. But then again I didn't have many friends at school/college, but not for the want of trying.

However:

I can become agitated quite easily, especially if I'm trying to get my point of view across to someone over the phone. If I don't get a response to the messages I send to a person on a dating website I use, I message that person again.

I can get really upset if I lose my keys. When the sound went on my computer, I started to cry and panic.

I could go out socialising if I wanted to, I just can't be bothered to.

I don't like the thought of strangers, i.e. workmen using my bathroom and I don't like the thought of using the bathroom should workmen be in the house.

I really am not keen on my space being invaded; if it's my family that's invading my space, then I'm ok.

I don't really like strangers stromking my dog, when I've tied him up, so that I can go shopping

I don't like the taste or texture of peas, celery or candied peel.

My house is a tad untidy.

There are dirty dishes on the kitchen worktops that need washing.

I prefer to wear my nightclothes rather than day clothes during the day.

 

I could go on ad infinitum, but I might end up boring you, so I won't. The question is, do I have Asperger's?

Edited July 11, 2011 by leeds_demon

[baddad]

You are diagnosed with Aspergers - you are Aspergers. Technically, it's that simple. Are there people diagnosed with Asperger's who don't actually fit the criteria? - I have absolutely no doubt there are, but, technically they have Aspergers too. If I phoned a consultant tomorrow after hearing by word of mouth that he/she had a good reputation for 'spotting' autism and spoke to him/her on the phone for half an hour and on the basis of that conversation and me handing him/her a cheque for several hundred pounds was presented with a letter confirming that I had aspergers I would, technically, have Aspergers.

 

None of which helps, I know, but it is accurate, and nobody here would be able to give you a more accurate dx than the one you received at Sheffield...

 

As for the 'traits' you list there is absolutely nothing there that would 'confirm' a dx of autism or disprove it. There are certainly some slightly 'odd' behaviours (crying at the sound on your computer is one that sticks out for me listed), but everyone on the planet has an odd behaviour or two or five hundred, and in fact if there was anyone who didn't have odd behaviours that in itself would be odd behaviour!

 

Best thing is to try, if you can, to stop worrying about if you are or aren't autistic and just live your life in the way that makes you most happy and as long as it doesn't have a detrimental affect on the lives of others... Sometimes, that can be a bit of an 'either / or' and things one feels one needs to do might clash with the needs of others. An example might be a family outing, where they want you to go but you don't want to, and ultimately you can only decide whether your NOT wanting to go is more or less important than their happiness... That's compromise, and it's a tricky part of social for everyone.

 

HTH

 

L&P

 

BD

[AdamJ]

You are diagnosed with Aspergers - you are Aspergers. Technically, it's that simple. Are there people diagnosed with Asperger's who don't actually fit the criteria? - I have absolutely no doubt there are, but, technically they have Aspergers too. If I phoned a consultant tomorrow after hearing by word of mouth that he/she had a good reputation for 'spotting' autism and spoke to him/her on the phone for half an hour and on the basis of that conversation and me handing him/her a cheque for several hundred pounds was presented with a letter confirming that I had aspergers I would, technically, have Aspergers.

 

 

BD appears to be saying that having AS is defined by having a dx of AS. On that premise, you have AS - the label anyway. Not all diagnoses are right, though. My clinical psychologist asked me what I wanted to come out of the assessment process. I said, 'the truth.' She replied that the best that any professional could offer is their best clinical opinion. Opinion is always open to error.

 

On a small point, if someone on a dating website doesn't reply, take it as a 'no thanks.' Many people choose not to reply to avoid getting into unwanted correspondence (some people who are turned down can become nasty). Don't think the other person is being rude. They've probably had a bad experience in the past.

[cmuir]

If I phoned a consultant tomorrow after hearing by word of mouth that he/she had a good reputation for 'spotting' autism and spoke to him/her on the phone for half an hour and on the basis of that conversation and me handing him/her a cheque for several hundred pounds was presented with a letter confirming that I had aspergers I would, technically, have Aspergers.

 

 

L&P

 

BD

 

 

I don't think it's that black and white.

 

 

leeds_demon, I think in the majority of cases it can take a long time for someone to receive a diagnosis. That could be for a number of reasons e.g. it's a team effort (i.e. relies on the expertise of consultant, SALT, OT, background reports from various individuals, family history, observations, etc). It's a long process which no one takes lightly – labelling someone can have a profound effect on that person's life (some view it as a positive/others as a negative). That's not to say that all professionals get everything right – I'm sure there are a small number who get it wrong and also, as Baddad has gone as far as to say, that some are quicker than others particularly when there a cheque involved (again, a smallminority). I don't know your history or anything about you really, but your doubts may or may not be valid (it's impossible to say). It could be you are correct, but could it be that you're struggling to accept the diagnosis/label? I guess I'd be interested to know whether in your pre-school/school years if anyone picked up anything, what your parents/siblings/family members think, whether you've been seen by a number of professionals over the years or a short time, etc etc. Sorry, I realise that doesn't give you any definitive answers and raises lots of questions. The other thing that I would say is that my son has AS and he's definitively not classic. He didn't tick every box and still doesn't. However, over the years any doubts I may had had have been dispelled – it's become more and more obvious, mainly because more and more is being expected of kiddo academically and socially which is a real struggle for him. So, on the basis of not ticking every box, it's very difficult to say one way or another. You may have done this already, but have you raised your doubts with your Psychologist?

[baddad]

I don't think it's that black and white.

 

 

Hi C Muir -

 

No, it isn't, and that wasn't what my post was about, which is why i used the term technically several times...

The point I was making was that the OP now has a dx, and therefore, technically 'is', and whether that's accurate or not is a different question all together.

The advice part was to stop worrying about 'am I aren't I' and to just deal with the 'symptoms' he does have in a way that will serve him best while acknowleding the needs of others too. That's good advice in either scenario, I think, and ultimately the different question may prove to be completely irrelevent in practical terms anyway(?)

 

L&P

 

BD