Mild AS

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I don't think the autistic spectrum can be measured on a single axis, or even two or three - the ramifications and effects of the condition cover so much of life that it cannot be reflected in such a manner.


M.

Hopefully the system I proposed would facilitate a complete reversal of attitude toward autistics, to one where our skills and talents are seen as valuable. To prevent us from contributing those skills and talents-- is a waste of the most precious natural resources.

We would be dx'ed and classified on the basis of what we CAN DO, as opposed to what we CAN"T DO.....thereby enabling a diagnostic tool devoted to helping us, rather than hindering us. A diagnostic tool emphasizing the potentially huge contribution we can make in terms of innovation, specialization, creativity, and improved technical efficiency.

Such a system would constitute a framework for the typical person to see how moderate, high, and exceptionally high functioning autistics-- can make unique and needed contributions to the fast paced technological society, of which we form a vital part. The role autistics play in present day society-- could be pivotal in terms of ensuring brilliant solutions for the devastating global issues humanity must now address, if it is to survive into the next century.


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Last edited by alba on 12 Oct 2009, 8:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

Honestly, I don't really care. You have it, or you don't. Symptoms differ among persons. This debate is stupid in my mind, and quite pointless.

I think that mild AS is a perfectly legitimate distinction. I, in fact, am diagnosed with mild AS. The only major social symptom I have is an inability to read body language. I can pick up on unwritten social rules, more often than not, and I am very good at small talk (I don't blurt out unrelated things like "I like turtles!"). When I do these things, it's rare enough that people write it off as me being scatterbrained. If I had more severe AS, this would not be the case.

Mild AS is a very legitimate distinction to me.

I think that's called being bi.

Actually, sexuality has a spectrum too... well, three spectrums, that I can think of, maybe more--gender identity, homo/hetero orientation, and level of sexual desire. Not to mention the spectrum of orientation stereotype and gender stereotype, which measure how much of a match there are between your non-sex-related characteristics and the average person with that gender or orientation. (For example, a lesbian construction worker fits orientation but not gender stereotypes...) I'm not making up the gender-stereotype thing, btw; they actually measure it on the MMPI.[/quote]


Where would 'uniforms' fit on the sexual preference spectrum

I am assessed as having AS..Which is not the same as a diagnosis...it was not discerned as to whether the specialist thought I was mild or not..I guess it was obvious enough to her that I had it that she could tell just from talking to me..but I guess that is not the same as being severe....Also, I have never been a "pretend to be normal" sort of person...so I easily present as odd to many people.
There are ways in which I am higher functioning than many and ways in which many are higher functioning than me...My sensory issues aren't so bad anymore, and I have found a comfortable social "niche" ...but I spend lots of time trapped in repeatative non-productive routines...My executive functioning is the pits...I may never learn to drive...Finding normal jobs is sure to become harder as I get older, as I have very little education beyond High School....and once my niche collapses, there is a chance that things could become very uncomfortable for me...but the fact that I have relationships and whatnot, and have been dulled to a lot of sounds due to constant exposure...probably sets me in the "High-Functioning" range...
But maybe I am not "Extremely High Functioning"

Based on discussions with the professional who diagnosed me (who I am pretty sure has AS himself).

-Either you are on the spectrum or you are not, there is no gray area between normal and AS. This has something to do with the makeup of the prefrontal cortex.
-Some people are milder than others
-AS is only part of the story of what makes up one's outward appearance
-Like everyone, upbringing, other genes, and IQ can play a significant role...
-Yes, IQ. One distinguishing factor of those on the spectrum is that mental ability and disability are much more exagerated than with our NT kin
-Drastic differences would tend to suggest Autism and and less drastic differences might suggest Aspergers
-However, someone with Aspergers can have a very high IQ meaning that even the disability is not so bad, but the ability is very high (for extreme examples of this think Einstein, Mozart, Jefferson).
-Also, it is possible that high ability in certain areas can compensate for the disabilities (including the social disability, which pretty much comes along with AS ...the social disability also has something to do with the prefrontal cortex)
-It is possible to have AS and be very successful, even with social situations.

"Mild" is a subjective appreciation, after all. Who determines what's mild and what's strong AS? As pat's therapist diagnosed, an inability to read body language would be mild AS, while I'd call it strong AS due to the limitations I imagine it'd cause in my life - such as unemployability, because how you interpret and use body language is crucial for passing interviews where I live.

I think Asperger's is just Asperger's. Symptoms just vary in degree from person to person, and may even change over a long period of time. I freaked out over sirens and vacuum cleaners as a child, while today loud sounds just irritate me. Some people obsess over one particular subject, and I tend to obsess over several. There's no one defining quality, really, except social dysfunction. I suck at interviews because I don't make a lot of eye contact, and when I do get hired I get too stressed to keep the job for more than a week. That, plus my physical disability, just might make me eligible for SSI.

This point about IQ is one that I have read on WP a few times now.


In my case with a Mensa tested IQ in the top 2% I have had a lot of compensation for my condition.

I think I would probably be considered as someone who had been successful academically, professionally and career/business wise.

What they probably wouldnt see is my struggle to work in the NT world and the exhaustion caused by having to use my intellect instead of my (impaired) intuition

Now that I think about it, that does sound like a pretty severe symptom. I think the reason I consider it more mild (already proving your "subjective" point) is what Mixtli said about compensating through abilities in other areas. I have been able to compensate for this with my extremely strong memory. I can remember what people's stances and facial expressions were and then tie that to how they acted.

I would say that one symptom by itself can't be classified as mild or severe; instead, one would have to consider how the symptoms meshed together. If I was not good at starting conversations (for instance, responding to "How are you?" with a lecture about the inner workings of a jet engine), my inability to pick up on body language would be much more debilitating, as I would not be able to pick up on how put off people would be by this. Thus, I would never learn what an appropriate conversation starter was, and my social life would be very empty.

Someone above (on my BlackBerry, can't check who) said that "Asperger's is just Asperger's. Symptoms just vary in degree from person to person..." I know this person was arguing the opposite point from me, but they got it exactly right. Asperger's is Asperger's, but the symptoms vary (from "mild" to "severe," for instance). Whatever the underlying neurology might be, I think that having different "degrees" of AS is perfectly legitimate based on how the symptoms interact and manifest themselves.

There is no "on switch" for AS; there are multiple brain systems involved. It is a multidimensional and heterogeneous category. There clearly is a grey area; for example, PDD-NOS and broad autism phenotype (BAP).

You're opening up a whole different can of worms there. This is just focusing on different levels within the same diagnosed condition, not different diagnoses entirely.

I do agree with you about the "on switch" though.

I have a different way of looking at this, and it might not be original. I haven't read the various theories. What if everyone is on the spectrum, it's just that with some people you can't tell because it doesn't cause them problems, while, with certain others, it's more obvious and they aren't happy with their overall situation for whatever reason. Others with the same life could be perfectly content with it while someone else could be utterly miserable.
Maybe, everybody is "mildy autistic"?

No, there are documented differences in brain structure and growth between NT's and those on the spectrum.