Heather Kuzmich does NOT have Asperger's (misdiangosed)

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More thoughts on effect; I have been reading about effect on wikipedia. i dont think i really have a flat effect as such. when i am daydreaming I appear incredibly spaced out, but when something is happening, I find it hard to control my facial expressions.

Also, if I am in a group, I can be having a completely differerent experience to people in that group so I will have a different facial expression to them.

I remember when I was a kid, my mother taught me to say thank you to a present, whether I liked it or not. Apparently then i would say "Thanks Aunt, I really like it." but I would have a very disappointed expression on my face. I would say the right thing, but not change my expression to match it.

I struggle with this still in adulthood. If i have some emotional reaction which is inappropriate to what others would have I find my face stretching into that inappropriate expression, and I have to use all my mental energy to stop this.

Yet I have often been told, when younger, "You always look so serious.' "Stop frowning." "Smile, its not that bad." So I would have a flat effect in a neutral situation..

havent really been following this thread or this story, as i just found out about Heather a few hours ago, but according to her wikipedia page, she seemed to have reached a limit in her time on the show where her behaviours became a problem - they were an impairment to her (eye contact and delivering lines), which would fit the criteria for diagnosis.

First of all, I have no idea whether Heather does or does not have Asperger's. I have never seen her or her show, nor have I ever expressed an opinion about her.

This whole discussion points out the weakness of diagnosing someone - especially an adult - on the basis of superficial behaviors.

When I knew nothing whatever of Asperger's, a test like Simon Baron Cohen's AQ would indeed be highly predictive of my autistic traits. But now, with significant awareness, I could take that test and score pretty high or pretty low, almost at whim. Anything that asks for a thoughtful answer with a time limit is subject to manipulation in that way, even if unconscious.

My awareness of Asperger's has grown significantly since I learned I had it, but it's really taken off in the past three years. Indeed, I have learned enough that I don't even look Aspergian much of the time. But how much has really changed in me? How much changes in any of us?

There are more sophisticated tests that show the same autistic differences I had ten years ago, right now. Tests that flash a face in front of me for 120 milliseconds and ask for a response, or tests that use eye tracking to look where I look when answering questions are telling. Even if I know where I am supposed to look, I cannot game the results because whatever drives my gaze is dominant.

We also have more sophisticated Q&A tests like the ADOS which will work pretty well in the hands of a trained psychologist but again are weak when diagnosing aware adults.

Then we have the TMS lab tests that measure plasticity. Those tests - in a recent study - were able to separate AS and NT groups with 99% accuracy; a greater degree of precision than any previous screening tool. I think there is great promise there, because a TMS tests measures a hard difference in the brain that's associated with autism, and one's attitudes, culture, language skill, etc do not enter into the scoring at all.

This whole discussion just highlights the need to get better screening tools into the field.

With regards to Asperger's being a "fad" disorder, that may be true to some extent. It is a legitimate medical condition, but I think there are a significant amount of false diagnoses. It is analogous to how some criminals who plead not guilty due to insanity may have legitimately had no control over their actions, but others are just saying they didn't to get off. Many people diagnosed with Asperger's legitimately have it, but many don't. And those who don't are hurting those who do by making it seem to some observers that all diagnoses are fake.

I watched Heather on ANTM, and as lovely as she is, she is one autistic chicken. I grew up with family members and friends with AS, and I have seen the many forms and levels of functioning it can take.. I also have a psychology degree and have an interest in the area.

Sounds to me this clinicial psychologist has her own agenda about what AS is. Well ok, but it's not unheard of to have a doctorate and still be totally ignorant.

Mehhh, i thought the person's assessment was pretty spot-on up until i got to this bit.

not to say there aren't misdiagnoses though.
I do agree that some people who are simply just introverted are prolly being misdiagnosed by by the ignorant..
But in alot of cases, it's also being correctly diagnosed too.

i've also got to wonder if that particular professional who said that about Heather is also knowledgeable of the fine differences in women's symptoms as opposed to men's, or if he's just used to diagnosing men who generally have more obvious symptoms .

Can we let this troll-driven topic die?

I think it's pretty unprofessional to be making asumptions of people you've never met and never had the time to analyse. Sure - the videos are helpful, but they're only a fraction of what the guy needs to make a legitimate diagnosis (or non-diagnosis). We barely know anything about her past other than the fact that she was diagnosed at the age of 15. How do we know what was going on before ANTM?

Also, he's using some very subjective points that don't really hold much water. I'm on the spectrum - I worked damn hard to get to where I am now. I used to start off drawing eyes when I was younger (I don't do it anymore because I realised out that you need to figure out your proportions before you add the details). The only reason why I can draw facial expressions is because of a little something called "practise". I was roughly 6 or 7 when I realised how to draw an angry face. When I was roughly 9 years old, I realised how to draw an evil grin (honestly). Also, as an artist, I HAVE to look at people and analyse their movements. As an aspiring animator, I HAVE to analyse body language. It's f*****g difficult, but I do it because I love it!

Also, the point the psychologist makes about "dead eyes" is hilarious. How the hell do they know what I would think "dead eyes" are? Just because I have AS, it doesn't mean I am completely incapable of learning figurative language. Part of my therapy was learning how to deconstruct language! I don't know what kind of therepy Heather Kuzmich recieved or what her upbringing was like, but I'm guessing that she got some help for that too.

From time to time, it does fly over my head or I use imagery and metaphors that the people around me couldn't possibly understand because the images are only significant to me. Maybe "dead eyes" is the best way she can describe an expression she doesn't know how to describe or which she think is imposing or unnerving.

Also, the psychologist imposes the idea that EVERY aspie will have a MAJOR MELTDOWN if they are in unfamiliar territory or that ALL aspies share the same degree of anxiety about everthing. BULL-SHIT! I went to a special autism unit at primary school and we went to an outdoor centre for several days (all of us were between the ages of 10-12). We were more excited than anything. Some of us did get very emotional there, but it had nothing to do with our regular routine being gone (though we had been in the building before, so I can't speak for everyone when I say that many of us were not worried about the environment either). In fact, we had a strict routine and I loved it. It seems like the girls on ANTM had a routine as well (well, there was some order).

I'm not going to go through the entre thing, but it's obvious that the psychologist has a totally different agenda to simply pointing out that she may be misdiagnosed. I mean, they go on and on about how aspergers is so over diagnosed and how it's a fad. Gee, this reminda me of ADHD denial........

Yeah, this person obviously got their qualifications from a cereal box.

The person claims they know it is a spectrum yet they only think Asperger's is the utmost severe type of Asperger's.

Bleh.

I have never thought that she had it. She doesn't act like it at all!