Adult Aspergers

[followinghim]

I didn't know it was possible to be diagnosed with this condition as an adult. Does anyone have any experience of this?

[Dee Dee Warren]

Interesting. I would suppose so if it was undiagnosed for years. I have OCD my whole remembered life, but I didn't know what it was until relatively recently.

It is possible to develop Asperger's later in life? Or is that inborn? OCD can come at any phase of life. I think actually I am quite unusual that I can remember the OCD behaviour from my earliest memories. It actually has lessened with age, there was a point when I was a minor when I am really surprised that no one picked it up.

So maybe that is what can happen with Asperger's?

[Zipperhead]

This kid at college was 18 and had aspergers and he was a complete nutball.

All he did was rant and rave about how much he hated God.

I'm sure God hates him a lot more.

[wfaber]

I didn't know it was possible to be diagnosed with this condition as an adult. Does anyone have any experience of this?
I never knew about AS until age 46. I saw a Scientific American magazine on the brain. What got my attention was a picture of a boy building a brick wall around himself. I identified with the picture, and read the article. I was shocked to find out so much about AS that fit me.

Knowing the dangers of self-diagnosis, I invested a few hundred dollars to talk to a psychologist specializing in AS. He said I was definitely on the spectrum, but because I am fully able to function quite well in society at at work, it is not Asperger's Disorder.

I can live with it. It actually makes me better as a land surveyor, having to do detailed research, trigonometry and drawing maps. It's also fun watching people's expression when they tell me their birthday and their age and I tell them what day of the week they were born. But that and 95 cents will get me coffee at 7-Eleven.

[Dee Dee Warren]

My doctor has a cartoon in her office that says something like "fees are doubled for those who come in with their self-diagnosis" on the Internet

but sometimes, especially with these issue, the Internet can be helpful - it is what identified my OCD - I literally wept when I read stories of the exact same thing from other people - it was a relief to know

[Dee Dee Warren]

This kid at college was 18 and had aspergers and he was a complete nutball.

All he did was rant and rave about how much he hated God.

I'm sure God hates him a lot more.

At least he didn't rant and rave about how much God hates other people.

Seriously, try to have a little more tact when discussing issues of personal health - that post was really classless.

[theseed]

This kid at college was 18 and had aspergers and he was a complete nutball.

All he did was rant and rave about how much he hated God.

I'm sure God hates him a lot more.
That probably had nothing to do with his Asbergers. Don't be so sure that God hates him either.

[theseed]

AS is a developmental disorder, which means that adult with AS would have had it as a child, diagnosed or not.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I have heard that a reliable diagnosis cannot be done with adults - perhaps because diferent coping mechanisms have developed?

And interesting, some people will know who I speak, there is a set of twins that are known in the debate community, and the one who is the better debater of the two is very upfront that he has Asperger's, but I do not think his twin does. But then again, I am not sure they are identical twins. Is it possible to have that happen in identical twins?

[I wish I had an identical twin - I am my own best company :rofl:]

[theseed]

I have heard that a reliable diagnosis cannot be done with adults - perhaps because diferent coping mechanisms have developed?

And interesting, some people will know who I speak, there is a set of twins that are known in the debate community, and the one who is the better debater of the two is very upfront that he has Asperger's, but I do not think his twin does. But then again, I am not sure they are identical twins. Is it possible to have that happen in identical twins?

[I wish I had an identical twin - I am my own best company :rofl:]
It is probably not purely genetic. Schizephrenia is 50% heritible. Scientists/Psychologist etc often do identical twin studies to determine if a disease or disorder is purely genetic or not.

According to the DSM-IV, AS can't be diagnosed in adulthood (by definition).

Also, keep in mind that DSM diagnoses are lables for clusters of behaviors.

[technomage]

I have heard that a reliable diagnosis cannot be done with adults - perhaps because diferent coping mechanisms have developed?

And interesting, some people will know who I speak, there is a set of twins that are known in the debate community, and the one who is the better debater of the two is very upfront that he has Asperger's, but I do not think his twin does. But then again, I am not sure they are identical twins. Is it possible to have that happen in identical twins?

Yeppers--a lot of the studies of autism and aspergers deal with identical twins--one of whom has it, the other does not.


[I wish I had an identical twin - I am my own best company :rofl:]

We love you much better because you're unique.

Not to mention that we sleep much sounder at night. I don't think the world could handle two Dee Dees. It's bad enough when you assimilate the modstaff upon promotion, but with two, you'd take over the world. :hehe:

[Cynic Sage]

This kid at college was 18 and had aspergers and he was a complete nutball.

All he did was rant and rave about how much he hated God.


Him knowing you, I'm not surprised.

"Ranting and raving" is pretty common. However, I happen to rant more about comics (how it operates as a storytelling medium) and Theology.

I was diagnosed in at the age of 15. My parents didn't tell me about it until 16 though.

[Cynic Sage]

It is probably not purely genetic. Schizephrenia is 50% heritible. Scientists/Psychologist etc often do identical twin studies to determine if a disease or disorder is purely genetic or not.

According to the DSM-IV, AS can't be diagnosed in adulthood (by definition).

Also, keep in mind that DSM diagnoses are lables for clusters of behaviors.

Schizophrenia and Aspergers are two different Neurological conditions.

Although they both share certain symptoms, Schizophrenics have difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality while Aspergians tend to be more literal minded and think in black&white (IIRC).

BTW: TheSeed, what exactly is your avatar? :twitch:

[Dee Dee Warren]

I don't understand how it is not genetic though if AS is something born with? And from what I've heard not only is it not diagnosable in adulthood, but even after the age of 11. But as an adult anyways, what is the purpose of getting a diagnosis. It isn't like there is a "cure" (and I put that in quotes because I have my doubts about some things today we label as syndromes rather than just part of the broad spectrum of normal human development)

And from what I have read (I have a young family member that I am convinced is AS) the diagnosis are pretty subjective (this family member was diagnosed as not having AS but just ADHD - I don't buy it - and I don't buy it as a handicap, this young person is brilliant)

[theseed]

Schizophrenia and Aspergers are two different Neurological conditions.

Although they both share certain symptoms, Schizophrenics have difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality while Aspergians tend to be more literal minded and think in black&white (IIRC).

BTW: TheSeed, what exactly is your avatar? :twitch:
Yeah, they are different. I was just offering that as an example.

My avatar is a picture I made for art class (art journal). It is three people making a cross.

[Piebald]

Being hated by God is a serious neurological disorder that can be treated with Paxil.

[Cynic Sage]

My avatar is a picture I made for art class (art journal). It is three people making a cross.

I see.

It was just your name ("theseed") that threw me off. Thanks.

[Cynic Sage]

Being hated by God is a serious neurological disorder that can be treated with Paxil.
:lol:

[theseed]

I see.

It was just your name ("theseed") that threw me off. Thanks.
The Seed is the name of my devotional website. I think you can find it in my profile.

[Cynic Sage]

The Seed is the name of my devotional website. I think you can find it in my profile.
Oh, thanks for clearig that up. Now back to the subject.

Does any of the other Aspies here have trouble dealing with socially awkward moments such as this?

[theseed]

I didn't think there was anything social awkward about your questions :)

[Cynic Sage]

I didn't think there was anything social awkward about your questions :)
Well, that's a relief. :sigh:

[andiwashere]

OMG! I just read this and the other Aspergers thread.... I've tried to explain to my husband that I'm border line Autistic (self-diagnosed).

I used to wonder why my Mom always got so upset with me. Then, when I grew up, a family friend explained that my Mother would start lecturing me...and my eyes would go out of focus...she would get louder...and my eyes would glass over...pretty soon Mom would be in a fit and I would be somewhere else.

I hate loud noises. I hate two different noises at once.

I like blank walls. Why are people always telling me I need pictures on my walls?

When I'm doing something - please don't talk to me - I get confused.

Social discomfort? I have to mentally prepare myself for mundane conversation. If I'm not prepared, and somebody asks, "how are you?", I'll just blank out and forget how to talk. Before I ever leave the house, I rehearse..."Ducky, how are you?".

I don't like talking to people because they are always changing the subject. My brain can't make the switch - and my mouth just goes ba-ba-ba. What's so hard about finishing the first topic before we start the second?

Anyways, that's me. I don't know of it's Asperwhatever, but I'd sure feel better having a fancy title for my odd behavior.

[andiwashere]

This is so cool! I just read the linked asperger sight.

I used to embarrass the heck out of my Mother. I'd say the most inappropriate stuff in front of company (nothing bad - just comments out of context of a conversation). It's like I was stuck in my own conversation. After a while I found it best just to shut up - or drink.

My husband is much more understanding. He just grins, raises an eyebrow, waits for me to leave, and then explains to everybody how smart I actually am...God I love him.

I have this teeth clenching thing...it's all about numbers and repetition. The song, 'On The Road Again', is a major trigger. It's got sequential numbers 2-3-4-5. Each side of my mouth has four contact points....just typing about this has got my teeth going.

Clumsy - oh ya. Broken bones and stitches all over. We moved to this place where I have to go down 14 steps to do laundry. I stop at the top - every time - and say, "pay attention". I'm afraid, one day, I'll forget.

I have a VERY hard time demonstrating affection. My hugs come in short, energetic, bursts. I have to get it out before my mind takes me somewhere more interesting.

I'm not really as pathetic as this sounds. I have friends, a great family, I do function in society. I can even hold and job and make lots of money (even though I choose not to).

One thing that makes me wonder...I have a memory live a sieve. That doesn't sound very Asperger, does it? I remember concepts and generalities very well. But names, faces, dates, places, events...forget about it. Half the time I can't even remember how old I am.

Anyways, sorry for the obsessing. I tend to do that on forums - and then obsess about what a fool I was...ugh.. Hey, that reminds me, back in the fifth grade, I had to go to a psychiatrist for anxiety. I kept getting stomach aches (butterflies I call them now) every time I thought about leaving the house.

Cheers,
Andi

[wfaber]

Welcome to the club.

[Cynic Sage]

Growing up, I would often rub my hands together like Frank Gorshin when he played the riddler on the 60s Batman show.

Still do today.

[andiwashere]

And one more thing...I swear...

About three years ago a decided to do a critical reading of the bible. I got stuck on 'In the beginning' for about two weeks. I mean, 'In' can also be 'near' or 'at'. And, the 'beginning' of what? After two weeks, I moved on. Three years later and I'm on GEN 9:6.

Some people think I'm smart, because I can learn just about anything. They just have no idea how much time and effort I have to put into the learning (it's my little secret).

[Rubia Warren]

andiwashere, that was some creeepy posting. Almost everything you mentioned describes me too.
Aw crud. We're all nutty around here, aren't we. :no:

[Leonhard]

]Knowing the dangers of self-diagnosis, I invested a few hundred dollars to talk to a psychologist specializing in AS. He said I was definitely on the spectrum, but because I am fully able to function quite well in society at at work, it is not Asperger's Disorder.

Well I'm a pretty well functioning individual and I've been diagnosed with AS. Took alot of time though, I had to see all sorts of shrinks before they figured it out. I'm 19, by the way, so I was pretty young when this happened. Perhaps thats why I'm so well working now; becuase my mom was better able to raise me, with this knowledge.


Aw crud. We're all nutty around here, aren't we. :no:

Yeah well, my first diagnosis was "Borderline Psychotic" :tongue:

[{Tim}]

One thing that makes me wonder...I have a memory live a sieve. That doesn't sound very Asperger, does it? I remember concepts and generalities very well. But names, faces, dates, places, events...forget about it. Half the time I can't even remember how old I am.

Anyways, sorry for the obsessing. I tend to do that on forums - and then obsess about what a fool I was...ugh.. Hey, that reminds me, back in the fifth grade, I had to go to a psychiatrist for anxiety. I kept getting stomach aches (butterflies I call them now) every time I thought about leaving the house.That's quite interesting. Especially the bit about poor memory... cos for myself, I do, and I don't. On topics of interest, I remember heaps of little details; on other things... well, stuff that happened three days ago might as well have been a month. Faces I'm ok with... but names, dates ... terrible! :no: Often I even have to think to remember what I did earlier in the day... and yes, I too have been known to stop and work out my age, because I wasn't quite sure... :hrm: and it's not like I'm old or anything, either!
As for remembering concept rather than details... when I was in high school doing advanced math, I would hardly ever memorise the formulas -- I just knew how they worked, so if I needed them in an exam, I would derive it from first principles because it was easier than trying to remember it. :egad: I am a geek, aren't I?

What's also interesting is the anxiety thing... I have also been diagnosed with anxiety several years ago, thought it wasn't over any one specific thing so much as just in general... especially unknown things or where I had to make a choice where it could have significant (for me, that is) results...

[LindaK]

I didn't know it was possible to be diagnosed with this condition as an adult. Does anyone have any experience of this?
It doesn't surprise me. My son will be 18 this year but was diagnosed with Aspergers 6 years ago. Aspergers is a highly functioning form of autism, Bill Gates, Einstein, Al Gore and Woody Allen are among those thought to be diagnosed as an adults (or went undiagnosed, but most likely fit the parameters).

There are many people that go undiagnosed with many illnesses. I suffered for two years with an agonizing undiagnosed tumor that I saw doctor after doctor about... nothing ...probably my age and hormonal...not so, grasshopper…I finally found a doctor who discovered a large abdominal tumor.

Science is a study of what has happened before and a guess as to what might happen next. People do not always fit into compartmentalized cubbyholes.

The bottom line is that an illness isn't a problem until it interferes with living your life. If your Aspergers has gone undiagnosed/untreated, but did not negatively impact your daily life...then there probably was no need for a diagnosis/treatment.

Also, Aspergers is a syndrome, in other words there are a set of symptoms that are displayed that collectively characterize a condition of highly functioning, above average intelligence, sensory sensitivity, socially inhibited, myopically focused autism. The absence of a symptom does not necessarily mean the condition does not exist for an individual.

An example of my son's presentation was that he would wear the same thing everyday, because he got used to the feel and was comfortable with the feel of what ever it was. So, when we shop for cloths we have to buy several of the same things so that he can feel the same texture, fit, etc, and not actually be wearing the same item (sometimes we can even get them in different colors, or patterns). He could stare at a spinning top/motor/whatever for (what seemed like eternity), he could not be in the same room when the vacuum cleaner was running (because of the sound), if his routine changed he just shut down. If someone was sitting in his place at the table he would stand and eat (this was before the diagnosis), he wouldn't say anything, but he wouldn't sit anywhere else either. Things have gotten better in that he has learned skills that enable him to find alternatives out of situations that would otherwise have shut him down (to almost a catatonic state), his therapy does also include medications.

I wish you the best in your treatment and your life.

[Smokering]

Interesting thread!

I'm a self-diagnosed mild Aspie, but I probably would have just called myself 'weird' if I hadn't grown up with an awareness of the syndrome, due to the fact that one of my sisters is autistic. Right now I'm doing ABA (applied behavioural analysis) with a 5-year-old autistic boy as my fulltime job, so the whole autistic/Aspie field is fascinating to me.

As for the teeth thing--four points of contact--wow, I'd never heard that one before, but I do it too. :) I also do it with clenching the muscles in my legs and feet to 'play tunes' like on the piano (each muscle is a key... yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense).

I'm hopeless in uncontrolled social situations, particularly with females (I had a hard time finding bridesmaids, because most of my friends are male!). I've trained myself to be 'Good With People' in controlled scenarios like serving customers at the movies, but I tend to either space out or talk far too fast and far too much in less rigid settings.

One thing I've only remembered recently is that I used to verbal-stim a lot--I'd get a sound in my head and say 'k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k' over and over again, or 'ch-kt, ch-kt, ch-kt'... actually, I'm doing this now at the computer and it's oddly consoling. :) The more I learn about autism, the more I recognise things I used to do (or things my fiance used to do/still does--he's worse than I am!). :)

I don't see much point in getting a formal diagnosis--it'd be a 'vanity diagnosis' really, because I'm not ashamed of the syndrome and it doesn't hamper me in most respects. Actually it's a great boon given my job--my mind sort of works the same way my little boy's mind does, so I can 'translate' some of his odder segues and mental links. And ABA requires a therapist to be, in many ways, more autistic than the autistics--we're supposed to be painstaking and pedantic, and take meticulous data! So I can think of worse mental states to inhabit, really.

[Cynic Sage]

Interesting thread!

I'm a self-diagnosed mild Aspie, but I probably would have just called myself 'weird' if I hadn't grown up with an awareness of the syndrome, due to the fact that one of my sisters is autistic. Right now I'm doing ABA (applied behavioural analysis) with a 5-year-old autistic boy as my fulltime job, so the whole autistic/Aspie field is fascinating to me.

As for the teeth thing--four points of contact--wow, I'd never heard that one before, but I do it too. :) I also do it with clenching the muscles in my legs and feet to 'play tunes' like on the piano (each muscle is a key... yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense).

I'm hopeless in uncontrolled social situations, particularly with females (I had a hard time finding bridesmaids, because most of my friends are male!). I've trained myself to be 'Good With People' in controlled scenarios like serving customers at the movies, but I tend to either space out or talk far too fast and far too much in less rigid settings.

One thing I've only remembered recently is that I used to verbal-stim a lot--I'd get a sound in my head and say 'k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k' over and over again, or 'ch-kt, ch-kt, ch-kt'... actually, I'm doing this now at the computer and it's oddly consoling. :) The more I learn about autism, the more I recognise things I used to do (or things my fiance used to do/still does--he's worse than I am!). :)

I don't see much point in getting a formal diagnosis--it'd be a 'vanity diagnosis' really, because I'm not ashamed of the syndrome and it doesn't hamper me in most respects. Actually it's a great boon given my job--my mind sort of works the same way my little boy's mind does, so I can 'translate' some of his odder segues and mental links. And ABA requires a therapist to be, in many ways, more autistic than the autistics--we're supposed to be painstaking and pedantic, and take meticulous data! So I can think of worse mental states to inhabit, really.

I wouldn't trust a self diagnosis. There are other Asperger-like conditions.

Plus, posers tick me off. :brood:

[Smokering]

I wouldn't trust a self diagnosis. There are other Asperger-like conditions.
True. Having several relatives on the spectrum does make it likely, however. Plus the more I read, learn and observe about Asperger's, the more it fits, and I've been researching for a while now... Still, as I said, it doesn't matter unduly in any case. I can function; and I don't need an official diagnosis to tell me I'm weird. :)

[sc_q_jayce]

This is very interesting. I have a question, and some comments as well...

I know someone in my Church in California who is diagnosed with AS. His parents over-shelter him a lot, so I think it's hard for him to rise above his situation. He's in high school now, and I think it's still pretty tough. Now for people like Leonhard, I was wondering how exactly you were raised differently once your mom had the knowledge of your disorder? I just want to see how your situation may or may not be similar to the one that I know.

On a side note, he has been one of the most interesting characters I've met, especially when we take him to Youth Camp. His questions are usually "inappropriate" in nature, but proudly honest. I love it. But it gets a lot of kids around him on end. It's amazing how quickly they label him as a pervert, or a freak, or something of the sort. Yet, at the same time, he's likely asking the same things that run through everyone's head.

Alas. I would say he's more honest in his faith than me by far.

[frogtumor]

A (much) older friend of mine apparently self-diagnosed himself. He happens to be dyslexic as well. I remember how he would stare at me when we were talking, he wouldn't glance off very often, like he'd learned to make eye contact way too well. He tells stories and uses jokes in place of what would normally be 'small talk', which I guess is how he learned to interact with new people.

Now I was officially diagnosed when i was 14 or so, before my friend diagnosed himself, so presumably he saw alot of traits of himself in me in my more 'raw' syndrome. These days I'm better, so he tells me, which I guess is true since I can now see how strange he really is! ;)


As a side note, it took me nearly an hour to write this.
I'm such a freaker.

[Cynic Sage]

I've never heard that before.

[Little Shepherd]

Oh, this is an interesting thread. I have some weird habits of my own. The teeth clenching thing got me interested because I've done that ever since I can remember. I have two points of contact, one on each side of my mouth. I clench in counts of 10, making sure 5 clenches are on each side. Symmetry is important, or I don't feel right.

I'm also socially stunted, but not severely. I'd say I'm about 5 or 6 years behind normal social development. And I'm intelligent, but not genius level. I doubt I have any fancy condtion(beyond the ADHD I've been diagnosed with), but it's interesting to see people with similar habits and read what they have.

[wfaber]

Oh, this is an interesting thread. I have some weird habits of my own. The teeth clenching thing got me interested because I've done that ever since I can remember. I have two points of contact, one on each side of my mouth. I clench in counts of 10, making sure 5 clenches are on each side. Symmetry is important, or I don't feel right.
I try to do everything in exponents of 2. I prefer 8 or 16 particularly. That includes scratching an itch, petting the dog, chomping on a cracker, etc. It bothers me when the dog licks me a prime number of times.
If I scratch an itch 32 times, then I have to decide whether to scratch it another 32 times or let it keep on itching.