I've noticed the main criteria for being an aspie on many of these forums seems to be high IQ. But, isn't the main trait of an aspie a lack of social symmetry with others? And, Luna certainly seems to come from a different planet in that regard!
In fact, consider the WikiPedia. If you consider that an authoratitive source, then note that there is no reference in the diagnostic criteria for AS referring to IQ. Here is the link..
I'll list them here as well:
DSM-IV 229.80:
Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
- Marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction.
- Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level.
-A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people).
- A lack of social or emotional reciprocity.
Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
- Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal in either intensity or focus.
- Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals.
- Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting or complex whole-body movements).
- Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.
The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age two years, communicative phrases used by age three years).
There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills or adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.
Christopher Gillberg has a definition as well:
Severe impairment in reciprocal social interaction (at least two of the following)
- inability to interact with peers
- lack of desire to interact with peers
- lack of appreciation of social cues
- socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior
All-absorbing narrow interest (at least one of the following)
- exclusion of other activities
- repetitive adherence
- more rote than meaning
Imposition of routines and interests (at least one of the following)
- on self, in aspects of life
- on others
Speech and language problems (at least three of the following)
- delayed development
- superficially perfect expressive language
- formal, pedantic language
- odd prosody, peculiar voice characteristics
- impairment of comprehension including misinterpretations of literal/implied meanings
Non-verbal communication problems (at least one of the following)
- limited use of gestures
- clumsy/gauche body language
- limited facial expression
- inappropriate expression
- peculiar, stiff gaze
Motor clumsiness: poor performance on neurodevelopmental examination
Nowhere in there does it say the person must have an above average IQ. An obsessive preoccupation with something does not necessarily lead to unusual ability with that something. Perhaps it is the association with Einstein that makes people assume that being brilliant is a required trait? Einstein /may/ have had AS, but that does not follow that all people who have AS will become equal to Einstein. Aspies /tend/ to have extreme gifts in one or more areas, but a tendency is not an absolute. Based on this, could Luna (or, George Bush, as I talked about in another thread) possibly represent someone with AS?
10 Feb 2006, 10:53 pm
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