Poll: How many of you have Asperger's/Autism?

[Something Amyss]

Asperger's is reasonably rare.. I doubt 20% of users actually have it.

While it is indeed rare, I'm still surprised the number of people claiming it is so low. Several websites I go to have dozens of members claiming asbergers. And, of course, it's not always clear on the internet who the legits and the phonies are.

I'm frankly surprised the number isn't close to 50% claimed.

 

[flaminghand]

Well I was actually diagnosed, but with a minor case. I am essentially high functioning and does not have problems to learn or concentrate, well only the stuff I find boring does. If I however are intrested in a subject I will outshine the entire class.

I take offense of aspergers being called a disorder, in fact, if I ever got medicine for it I would be outraged. From what I gathered here, the United States have a very uneducated look on it, I am from Sweden by the way.

We are not lesser in any way from other people, in fact, in many cases we are superior.

 

[MartianWarMachine]

Hi there.

I was diagnosed with Aspergers when I was in 3rd year (High School, I was 14 or 15 I think) by an educational psycologist, and I had no idea what was going on. But then I started getting Speech Therapy for my dull monotonous droning, so I assumed that was it. Oh, and I started going to a youth club after school on fridays, where I met some rather interesting (and slightly odd) people, and it was only after several years (3 or 4) that I became aware that it was a youth club for people with Aspergers/Autism, and that that was why I went to see that psycologist. When I found out, all I thought was "Oh, so THAT'S what that was...", and... I'm rambling about stuff that no-one cares about. I'll leave your thread alone now. Sorry about that.

 

[Baneat]

Asperger's is reasonably rare.. I doubt 20% of users actually have it.

The term Internet Asperger's Syndrome was recently picked up by Jonathan Kimak in a humorous piece for Cracked ("6 New Personality Disorders Caused by the Internet", 6/30/2009). Kimak writes that Asperger's Syndrome, a rarely diagnosed but often claimed disorder, is a mild form of Autism that comes with what seems to be a biological inability to show empathy for other human beings, as well as (and maybe stemming from) an inability to recognize nonverbal cues. They continually do weird, upsetting things because they don't know it's upsetting you. That part of their brain is broken.

People cringe when they hear this term because they know that a large number of the teenagers claiming Asperger's are, in fact, merely dicks.

I definitely see the appeal in a convenient excuse to not show empathy towards one another.

"Why did you punch me, you dick!"

"Asperger's, untouchable!"

 

[bobmus]

You're asking if many people here have this generation's ADHD.

I'd argue that that was dyslexia, which is massively over-diagnosed. It's such a tricky condition to define that anyone who is slow at learning to read or do maths is slapped with it and coaxed through school exams.

 

[bobmus]

My pet hate is people slapping the term OCD on anyone who has any form of habit - there's a difference between habit and an obsessive compulsion. In my book it's comparable with calling someone who does something dumb 'retarded', but is seen as socially acceptable by society.

 

[ms_sunlight]

Asperger's is reasonably rare.. I doubt 20% of users actually have it.

While it is indeed rare, I'm still surprised the number of people claiming it is so low. Several websites I go to have dozens of members claiming asbergers. And, of course, it's not always clear on the internet who the legits and the phonies are.

I'm frankly surprised the number isn't close to 50% claimed.

I suspect that the self-diagnosed cases here are suffering from nothing more dramatic than confirmation bias. It's like people who read horoscopes and say, "ooh, that's so true!"

 

[SneeringCanuck]

To be quiet Anne Frank, has anyone really been so far as to want what more like?

I'm disappoint by the overstacking of Teutonic disorder in mainstream hoody wearing people, even more badtouch in white trenchcoat wearing anal prober, newthinking about brain fuck is starting to stab my nerves, blasphemous is who does not realize wiping of toilet dirt on wall is bad, all becum of assburgers.

Pardon my bad speak, but american not first language, am speaking unto voice traslator.

 

[geK0]

I'm quirky enough that I'm sure a psychologist would have some condition to diagnose me with. Do I think I have a problem? nah not really.

I've noticed a lot of people like to diagnose themselves with these conditions... weird isn't it?

 

[Yureina]

I ended up getting officially diagnosed with AS last summer, which was a very difficult moment for me because it dramatically changed my perceptions about my life at the time. For a time I started thinking that I was not good at things because of natural talent, but rather that some disease had made it possible. I was depressed for a while until I ended up getting over it.

But... truth is, I don't think my case is particularly severe, or even that big of a problem. Sure, I didn't have a good social record back in High School, but that has dramatically changed. Sure I have extremely narrow interests and do not care in the slightest about anything else, but I don't really see this as a problem. The only severe consequence of my AS is that is seriously hinders me in the job market, since there are so many careers that I simply wouldn't be able to deal with, specifically ones that involve the public or dealing with large numbers of people. But... that might have more to do with my significant level of introversion than anything else.

What AS does for me however, in some ways, far outweighs the costs. Unlike a large majority of people who have AS, I have above average intelligence (some call it genius-level). Since I have effectively taken control of it, I am able to use it to channel all of my focus and energy on a specific task or objective. It gives me a significant advantage whenever I choose to apply that energy. It has allowed me to write first-class research papers in University quickly and efficiently. It has allowed me to accumulate enormous amounts of knowledge about a subject in a very short period of time, making my learning speed something worthy of envy (if I actually care about the subject). It has also allowed me to put in extreme amounts of effort in dealing with personal concerns, most notably personal conflicts or direct threats to my person. My life is peaceful and free of conflict largely because those that try to disrupt that end up facing an all-consuming fanatic with limitless energy that ultimately becomes too overwhelming for anyone to deal with.

AS isn't something I really like much. It is a demon, in alot of ways. But... I am it's master, rather than the other way around.

 

[Lionsfan]

Nope, my biggest health problems were all cancer related and that was over 10 years ago

 

[ezaviel]

22%? Jesus Christ. Even taking in account the bullshit factor that's still high.

Or, you know, there is a selection bias by asking about aspergers on a board with a high percentage of people with limited social skills and a high degree of interest in a specific topic?

 

[JoJo]

22%? Jesus Christ. Even taking in account the bullshit factor that's still high.

Or, you know, there is a selection bias by asking about aspergers on a board with a high percentage of people with limited social skills and a high degree of interest in a specific topic?

To add to that, people with Asperger's or Autism are probably far more likely to read this thread and vote in the poll than someone without the condition. I was diagnosed with Aspergers when I was younger and while I've learned to make up for a lot of the short-comings, it's never something I will be able to completely "cure" myself of. I've learned to socialise close to normally and make friends, that's good enough for me.

A lot of people here have Asperger's just because "Asperger's disorder" sounds cooler than "Narcissistic personality disorder".

In my opinion that's the only reason. Get yourself a "cool" diagnosis and grab some attention.

What the heck is "cool" about Asperger's syndrome? Yeah, I'm having a whale of a time finding it hard to understand what other people are thinking half the time, or not being able to tell whether someone is joking or being serious

 

[Colour Scientist]

I do wonder how many of the people who voted aspergers actually have it, and don't just think they have it.

Tip: Not being able to talk to girls doesn't mean you have aspergers.

Of course it does, socially awkward=Aspergers, have you not heard? It's the latest thing.

I clicked on this thread expecting a huge number of madey-uppey Aspergers/Autism cases but over a quarter? This is a joke, right?

Just because you might have some self-diagnosed autistic-spectrum traits, does not mean you have autism, note the difference. It takes away from the people who genuinely have to live with the syndrome/condition on a day-to-day basis.

 

[GothmogII]

I do wonder how many of the people who voted aspergers actually have it, and don't just think they have it.

Tip: Not being able to talk to girls doesn't mean you have aspergers.

Of course it does, socially awkward=Aspergers, have you not heard? It's the latest thing.

I clicked on this thread expecting a huge number of madey-uppey Aspergers/Autism cases but over a quarter? This is a joke, right?

Just because you might have some self-diagnosed autistic-spectrum traits, does not mean you have autism, note the difference. It takes away from the people who genuinely have to live with the syndrome/condition on a day-to-day basis.

It...does? Takes what away exactly? Be specific now, otherwise your latter statement is meaningless.

 

[Colour Scientist]

It...does? Takes what away exactly? Be specific now, otherwise your latter statement is meaningless.

In countries where Aspergers is largely mis-diagnosed, it drains support and care that is made available for those who genuinely need the resources. The same goes for people with severe dyslexia.

On a less physical and fiscal level, if every Tom, Dick and Harry has self-diagnosed "Aspergers", people aren't going to take it, or more severe forms of Autism, as seriously. Like when everyone had ADD/ADHD if someone said they (or a member of their family) had been diagnosed with either the response was generally 'well, who the fuck doesn't have it?' I've spent time in a school with kids who genuinely suffer from Autism and it pisses me off when every second anti-social teenager wears an 'I've got Aspergers'(or rather 'I think I've got Aspergers') badge of honour.