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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TF on October 2, 2004, at 8:21:43
I found out on June 23rd that I was diagnosed with this disorder. At first, as the doctor explained it to me, some of it made sense. The general social ineptitude, difficulty initiating interaction, monotone voice, restricted and intense areas of interest, obsessive preoccupation with fullfillment of routines (ALthough I think I'm fully capable of breaking out of them if I want.), etc...
However, after leaving his office and (when home) going online to check up on some information, it began making less and less sense. For one thing, many people with aspergers tend to be gifted in certain areas of functioning and have excellent memories. Also, I've read that people with AS have trouble empathizing with others and recognizing figures of speech (sarcasm, metaphors, etc..). I have average intelligence (Although my memory was pretty good compared to most people, before being stricken with a bad case of brain fog. Now it's only a little bit better.) and (I think) good ability to empathize with people (I believe this is actually what causes most of my social phobia.). I can also recognise figures of speech, although I tend to be slow at that. The major thing that convinced me that I don't have AS, however, was that a number of people on an AS message board are convinced (by my online behavior) that I'm nuerotypical, or at the very least not AS. And I tend to take the word of people who have lived with AS more seriously than someone who has a more detached understanding of the mindset that comes with it.
Posted by Dinah on October 2, 2004, at 9:13:40
In reply to Asperger's Syndrome, posted by TF on October 2, 2004, at 8:21:43
I can only tell you my experience.
I was convinced for a while that if I didn't have Asperger's I was at least Asperger-ish. Because it is a contimuum, not a yes or no condition. Have you ever read the book "Shadow Syndromes"?
I have some of the neurological signatures of Aspergers in addition the psychological ones. I had been diagnosed as schizotypal, and some researchers consider that schizoid/schizotypal are diagnoses often given on a psychological basis to those a neurologist would diagnose as having Aspergers.
But as I grew more familiar with myself, I discovered that some of my Asperger tendencies resulted from being completely cut off from my emotions for years after trauma. I don't think I would say any longer that I have Aspergers.
However, I am left with a constellation of neurological signs that would point to Asperger's. I can't recall them all now, but one major one is toe walking.
Have you been evaluated by a neurologist? Or a neuropsychologist? I think you'd be most likely to get an accurate evaluation there.
Oddly, I've seen two neurologists since my first suspicions, and I've never mentioned it to either of them. Perhaps they would be able to give me an explanation.
But don't worry, in either case. People with Asperger's and people with Asperger traits are just different, that's all.
Posted by Daisym on October 2, 2004, at 13:19:11
In reply to Re: Asperger's Syndrome » TF, posted by Dinah on October 2, 2004, at 9:13:40
I agree with Dinah, I'd get a second opinion. I don't know how old you are, but based on your writing style and skills, I don't see some of the hallmarks. (except reaching out through a web chat instead of in real life, but there are LOTS of reasons for that, now aren't there?)
A Developmental Pediatrician might be a good option as well. If the diagnosis sticks, it does open some doors for services, depending on where you are and your level of functioning.
Remember it is just a word, a descriptive picture. It isn't your name, or your identity. Don't let it it throw you. Play to your strengths and keep working on what you want to improve.
Posted by jane d on October 2, 2004, at 23:06:11
In reply to Asperger's Syndrome, posted by TF on October 2, 2004, at 8:21:43
Like Dinah I'm a believer in a continuum from "normal" to Aspergers. If it is caused by some abnormality in the way the brain develops it makes sense that there would be different degrees of impairment and different combinations of symptoms. It's also another one of those newly discovered diagnoses that doctors seem to overapply in their glee at having a new angle to describe people from.
I've been interested in this for a number of years and I've inventories my own traits often enough trying to see if this shoe fit. In my case it doesn't though I still find it fascinating.
> I found out on June 23rd that I was diagnosed with this disorder. At first, as the doctor explained it to me, some of it made sense. The general social ineptitude, difficulty initiating interaction, monotone voice, restricted and intense areas of interest, obsessive preoccupation with fullfillment of routines (ALthough I think I'm fully capable of breaking out of them if I want.), etc...
> However, after leaving his office and (when home) going online to check up on some information, it began making less and less sense. For one thing, many people with aspergers tend to be gifted in certain areas of functioning and have excellent memories.I think "gifted" is probably largely a stereotype although in the end we don't know what happens to those neural connections that would otherwise be reading peoples expressions and guessing what they are thinking. What I believe often happens is that doctors, teachers and everybody else are more likely to start looking for an explanation when faced with someone who is extremely talented in one area and extremely inept in another. It violates the "normal" persons understanding of just how people are supposed to act. And I suspect that the "gifted" are over represented among Aspergers activists and those who post on aspergers bulletin boards. Plus I think we want to believe that every negative has a silver lining.
>>Also, I've read that people with AS have trouble empathizing with others and recognizing figures of speech (sarcasm, metaphors, etc..). I have average intelligence (Although my memory was pretty good compared to most people, before being stricken with a bad case of brain fog. Now it's only a little bit better.) and (I think) good ability to empathize with people (I believe this is actually what causes most of my social phobia.). I can also recognise figures of speech, although I tend to be slow at that. The major thing that convinced me that I don't have AS, however, was that a number of people on an AS message board are convinced (by my online behavior) that I'm nuerotypical, or at the very least not AS. And I tend to take the word of people who have lived with AS more seriously than someone who has a more detached understanding of the mindset that comes with it.
The one problem with Aspergers diagnosing Aspergers it that IS that characteristic lack of an ability to get inside another persons head. This is one area where the insiders view may be far less accurate than your own although you seem to have reached the same conclusion. It may make sense just to take each symptom separately. For instance I'm quite sure I'm not ADD but I show some of those traits and I'm quite sure I'm not Aspergers or Autistic despite some traits that tend in that direction.
Then again if the package makes sense to you and the label helps you break out of the patterns you don't like then use it. And it may get you more services should you ever need them.
Jane,
who couldn't recognize the emotions in those darned pictures of faces they used in those studies either
Posted by terrics on October 3, 2004, at 9:53:13
In reply to Asperger's Syndrome, posted by TF on October 2, 2004, at 8:21:43
Your first explanation does sound like asperger's, yet as you continue your description of yourself, it does not sound like it. By the way many having asperger's are not gifted in any area. I have worked with many teenagers diagnosed with it. So, don't worry about it. It is a meaningless diagnosis in your case. terrics
Posted by TF on October 3, 2004, at 18:13:27
In reply to Re: Asperger's Syndrome, posted by Daisym on October 2, 2004, at 13:19:11
Thanks for the replies, all.
Daisym, just curious, but how did you come to that conclusion by looking at my writing style/skills? Are they that bad? I'm 23, by the way.
This is the end of the thread.
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