NationStates Jolt Archive

Because autism is such a broad term, it pains me to think that anyone could have a mental problem. I have a friend with Asperger's and whatever his symptoms are I could readily dismiss has a part of his personality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

explains it.

Autism is a spectrum of disorders ranging from the mildest forms (such as Asperger's) to the more severe form.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

explains it.

Actually, I am challenging dictionary definitions and wikipedia articles.... Such biases......

Because autism is such a broad term, it pains me to think that anyone could have a mental problem. I have a friend with Asperger's and whatever his symptoms are I could readily dismiss has a part of his personality.

My only brother has Asberger's.

I can see everyone in the world having a mental problem of some sort-acute or not. Maybe I have a huge mental problem that results in me being a nerd. Maybe the person next to me has a mental problem that results in minor learning deficiency-almost unnoticeable. Who knows.

Autism is a spectrum of disorders ranging from the mildest forms (such as Asperger's) to the more severe form.

How do we know these are even disorders? It seems like we are persecuting people because their brain cells aren't aligned properly.

As a person with autism, I'm getting a kick out of these replies.

/Asperger's syndrome

As a person with autism, I'm getting a kick out of these replies.

/Asperger's syndrome

A kick, huh? Some kids at my old school had impunity for everything because they had Asperger's syndrome.

Doesn't work like that 'round these parts, and for that I'm sincerely grateful.

Actually, I am challenging dictionary definitions and wikipedia articles.... Such biases......

Well, go study psychology and you'll have the expertise to "challenge" the definitions.

How do we know these are even disorders? It seems like we are persecuting people because their brain cells aren't aligned properly.
Persecuting people? Really?

The persecution comes from ignorant bigoted people, not from being giving the diagnosis. If I had brain cancer and people doesn't go near me because of my condition, does it mean that diagnosing me with brain cancer amounts to persecution?

… it pains me to think that anyone could have a mental problem.

Yes, anyone could — but, wait, to whom is it a problem? Since the diagnostic criteria for the Asperger's Syndrome (AS) and other disorders on the spectrum of ‘pervasive developmental disorders’ are based on behavioural ‘symptoms’ – which are typically considered (socially) maladaptive – then it's entirely possible that individuals who (i) share certain characteristic neurological patterns common to patients diagnosed with AS, but (ii) exhibit minimal or no socially maladaptive behaviour, would be considered free of the disorder. In those cases, do they have a mental ‘problem’ or not?

In fact, just a couple of hours ago I had a discussion about AS with some people who have met me in person on several social occasions, and read quite a few of my comments on their blogs over a number of months to know something of my personality, and when I told them I have AS they all claimed they wouldn't (or couldn't) have guessed it. Also, my girlfriend's sister is a psychologist (with a Ph.D., too), and she couldn't tell either. So do I have a problem or not? I don't know. All I can say is, to blend in with others socially takes work, and I expect it is easier for ‘neurotypical’ people.

Persecuting people? Really?

The persecution comes from ignorant bigoted people, not from being giving the diagnosis. If I had brain cancer and people doesn't go near me because of my condition, does it mean that diagnosing me with brain cancer amounts to persecution?

Autism and cancers are not contagious.

Persecution comes indirectly at times. Body language and sarcasm can come across as persecution.

Autism and cancers are not contagious.

Persecution comes indirectly at times. Body language and sarcasm can come across as persecution.
And so? The fault is in the people who persecute, say bad things about these people, discriminate against them... not in being given the diagnosis. Like I said, just because people with brain cancer are being persecuted, should a diagnosis of brain cancer not be given?

I found this definition of Autism, but I don't know if it covers it:
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_home

Autism is the bigoted, intolerant contempt that cyclist show motorists by not hopping up on the sidewalk to speed traffic along.

I found this definition of Autism, but I don't know if it covers it:

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_homeThat's what I find really odd about autism is that a child can hugely interactive and social and then come the age of 2 or 3 it suddenly drops off and they become very exclusive.

I'm working with a child at the moment. His mum's got him on a program called Son-rise which claims to help children with ASD become much more socially interactive. From working with this child I would have to say it does help. He still gets exclusive periods where he stares off into space or engages in certain behaviours, but for the most part he's very engaged and interactive now. Though he also has other problems in that he has verbal dyspraxia and quite a lot of allergies.

I'm not sure what Autism is, but this need to occasionally be exclusive seems integral. And he'll come out of it and we can resume whatever we were doing before.

That's what I find really odd about autism is that a child can hugely interactive and social and then come the age of 2 or 3 it suddenly drops off and they become very exclusive.

I'm working with a child at the moment. His mum's got him on a program called Son-rise which claims to help children with ASD become much more socially interactive. From working with this child I would have to say it does help. He still gets exclusive periods where he stares off into space or engages in certain behaviours, but for the most part he's very engaged and interactive now. Though he also has other problems in that he has verbal dyspraxia and quite a lot of allergies.

I'm not sure what Autism is, but this need to occasionally be exclusive seems integral. And he'll come out of it and we can resume whatever we were doing before.

The work you're doing is comendable. So, kudos to you.:)

A kick, huh? Some kids at my old school had impunity for everything because they had Asperger's syndrome.

Do some have jealousy issues because they can't act up in class?

Because autism is such a broad term, it pains me to think that anyone could have a mental problem. I have a friend with Asperger's and whatever his symptoms are I could readily dismiss has a part of his personality.

Ahhh, I feel bad for people with Autism. One of my friends has it, and it's just sad. But the guy is so nice,

How do we know these are even disorders? It seems like we are persecuting people because their brain cells aren't aligned properly.

That would pretty much be the definition of a disorder, no? Sort of like how we give huge ammounts of resources to people whos cells just happen to have lost the ability to regulate growth and reproduction rates?

That would pretty much be the definition of a disorder, no? Sort of like how we give huge ammounts of resources to people whos cells just happen to have lost the ability to regulate growth and reproduction rates?And how about people who are left-handed? They are clearly abnormal in brain structure. Obviously they have a disorder.

[/parody]

The point is, any and all deviances from the norm, and genetic factors play a great part in personality characteristics judged according to cultural values (which differ, hence what is normal/abnormal differs within fuzzy bounds) to be both normal and abnormal. People diagnosed with Asperger that are perfectly functional albeight eccentric are judged disordered. Similarly, anyone both aloof (by cultural standards) and introverted is judged to have a pathological condition.

Because autism is such a broad term, it pains me to think that anyone could have a mental problem. I have a friend with Asperger's and whatever his symptoms are I could readily dismiss has a part of his personality.

I am virtually certain that the vast majority of people who "have Asperger's" don't actually have asperger's.

If you're on the internet, the ratio is even higher.

I am virtually certain that the vast majority of people who "have Asperger's" don't actually have asperger's.

If you're on the internet, the ratio is even higher.Given that the diagnosis simply means that you have been subjectively judged to display to a sufficient degree some of a possible set of symptoms, there's not really much of a distinction to make between "real" and "false" Asperger's so long as it is judged by a "professional". You "have it" if they say you do and the fuzzy criteria largely match.

Given that the diagnosis simply means that you have been subjectively judged to display to a sufficient degree some of a possible set of symptoms, there's not really much of a distinction to make between "real" and "false" Asperger's so long as it is judged by a "professional". You "have it" if they say you do and the fuzzy criteria largely match.

Which is sort of the point. I tend to be of the scole of thought that Asperger's is a real disorder, but is significantly overly diagnosed. I think it's part of a new wave of parenting that insists on believing that if your child is just not quite "normal" there must be something wrong with him.

I think Asperger's does exist, but it's a condition of basic inability to conform to social norms, and to be essentially incapable of functioning in social situations. Not merely being socially awkward. And I think the prevalence of the "diagnosis" does more harm than good. Much like studies have been done demonstrating that individuals who drink what they think is alchohol will appear drunk, even though it was, in fact, not alchoholic, I think these false diagnosis just reinforce the idea, and instead of helping kids develop normal, healthy social skills, just tell them that they're doomed to not be.

Asperger's Syndrome means many different things to me.

It means feeling isolated and somehow apart from everyone else, and even myself.

It means I can't look the ones I love in the eye for too long, as it causes me massive discomfort to do so.

It means that as hard as I try, I will always be a little gumpy.

It means that no matter what, I will never be fully able to read the people I am interacting with.

It means that a lot of what I do, displaying facial emotions and the like, is manual and rather forced, which makes things complicated.

But most importantly, it means being me, and a lot of people seem to like me :D

Don't get me wrong, having Aspergers Syndrome isn't easy and requires a fair bit of work on your end and on your peer's end, but it's not all that bad. At the end of the day, I've got a good group of mates, I've outdone most of them at sexual stuff, and I'm making my way steadily to university with some good (But not overly fantastic) grades.

And yes, I am declaring that I am Autistic for the first time...don't hate me :P

How do we know these are even disorders? It seems like we are persecuting people because their brain cells aren't aligned properly.

Well, they should learn to have properly aligned braincells then, dammit!

I think what you perceive to be your friend's "personality" is substantially different than severe cases of autism. I worked with a severely autistic boy who, at 10 years old, could not speak, use the bathroom or dress himself, who was prone to screaming when something (usually a noise) upset him, and who seemed to find his greatest comfort in mechanical things that moved in repeated patterns. That's not a "personality", that's a disorder.

Which is sort of the point. I tend to be of the scole of thought that Asperger's is a real disorder, but is significantly overly diagnosed. I think it's part of a new wave of parenting that insists on believing that if your child is just not quite "normal" there must be something wrong with him.

I think Asperger's does exist, but it's a condition of basic inability to conform to social norms, and to be essentially incapable of functioning in social situations. Not merely being socially awkward. And I think the prevalence of the "diagnosis" does more harm than good. Much like studies have been done demonstrating that individuals who drink what they think is alchohol will appear drunk, even though it was, in fact, not alchoholic, I think these false diagnosis just reinforce the idea, and instead of helping kids develop normal, healthy social skills, just tell them that they're doomed to not be.

I agree with this. We went through the same thing with ADD/ADHD in the last decade. I was diagnosed with ADD at 7, and I actually have ADD--not surprising as my father is severely ADHD. I see kids now and then who, in my opinion, clearly suffer from unregulated ADD that cripples their education. Most of these kids are very bright, and so often their parents refuse to believe they have a problem because "so-and-so is smart, they're just lazy."

Sadly, these children with ADD have suffered from the backlash of the "OMG my child needs Ritalin!" movement. SO many kids are medicated, and ADD has been SO over-diagnosed, that people start to think it's all made up and it's not a real issue. And, like Asperger's, I think it is--just not an issue that affects as many children as everyone thinks.

/rant

I was diagnosied with Aspergers before it was the "In thing" to get.

So most of the responses by people were "Asperwhat?"

BTW I seriously believe that due to the social processing problems, people with Asperger's are more likely to socialize using impersonal methods. Since they can't screw up as easily. Hence as a result, I do believe a large percentage of people with Asperger's tend to be computer nerds.

It means that no matter what, I will never be fully able to read the people I am interacting with.
…
But most importantly, it means being me, and a lot of people seem to like me :D


Ah, good on ya. :D

The truth is that no-one is ‘fully’ able to read others; some people are simply better at it, for all sorts of reasons. Reading emotion from faces, for example, is an ability that can be learnt and/or enhanced through repetition — look into the work by Paul Ekman, especially on the Facial Action Coding System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_Action_Coding_System) (FACS), for example. Picking up signals from ‘body language’ is another; there are enough books on that subject (but I have no specific recommendations there), but I've found martial arts training heightened my ability to sense aggression, hostility and fear in others – even without direct interaction – and a friend of mine is particular acute in detecting interpersonal attraction through, *ahem*, ‘sarging’ practice.

Also, to increase sensitivity to nuances in speech patterns and modulation, there are lots of exercises that one can do, starting from such games as getting someone to put a mark – unseen by you – on the back of one of three cards numbered 1, 2 and 3, and then requesting him to answer “yes” each time you point to a different card in turn while asking him, “Is the mark behind this card?” (The idea is, of course, to pick out the response that stands out in terms of tempo, volume and/or tonal variation.)

Autism is when some of the brain that's suppsoed to cover social stuff instead covers geeky stuff.

My definition may not be 100% accurate, but...

Edit: To clarify, I'm not saying that *ALL* of the social part of the brain is doing geeky stuff (except maybe in the most extreme cases), only some of it. It still, however, leaves them with above average math skill and below average social skills.

Not always ^_^ I'm taking Calculus at the moment and I go out drinking at least once a week. Granted I haven't been laid since the start of the year but I think I'm doing pretty good :D

For the definition of autism and other mental disorders, I would like to recommend the DSM-IV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-IV).

My friend has autism/aspergers and he is probably one of the coolest and funniest kids on our grade. He sings better than most of the singers that don't have autism and I actually knew him before I knew his "regular" twin brother. the autism has affected him earlier in middle school and I heard he was a drama queen in elementary school but he has changed a lot and has made significant progress. He is still eccentric and goes a littledramatic sometimes but he can stand up for himself and his friend support structure stands with him and keeps him on the right track.

Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more.